About Arcadia
Arcadia cultivates vibrant regional food systems that build the health of our land, our food, and our community, from the farm forward.
Our Mission
Arcadia is a nonprofit organization rooted in the National Capital Region. We cultivate vibrant regional food systems that build the health of our land, food, and communities — from the farm forward. Grounded in equity and guided by history, we are creating sustainable, just, and regenerative solutions to food access and food sovereignty.
Our History
Established in 2010, Arcadia’s mission is to cultivate vibrant local food systems that prioritize health, equity, and sustainability from our farm forward.
We work to improve public health through equitable access to better food, increase the viability of local farmers, and preserve the environment for future generations.
Arcadia Farm is located on the historic grounds of Woodlawn Estate in Alexandria, Virginia, thanks to a landmark partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the support and vision of Arcadia’s Founder and Chairman, Michael Babin.
"I was so impressed at the organization, the level of enthusiasm of the counselors, the creativity of the program, and just how engaged my child was with the Camp.
It was a fabulous experience and you hit a home run!"
Farm Camp Parent
Our Staff
Pamela Hess - Executive Director
Executive Director Pamela Hess has been with Arcadia since March 2013. She came to Arcadia from journalism. A career national security journalist, Pam covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the Pentagon and CIA with the Associated Press and United Press International.
After a brief foray into national politics as a communications director on Capitol Hill, Pam returned to her first love: food and sustainable farms. In 2011, she took the helm of a local food and wine magazine that celebrated sustainable food and farming in the Capitol Foodshed, and in the course of it, met and fell in love with Arcadia.
She brings to Arcadia a deep commitment to its mission, a large and expanding network of farmers and food advocates, and a great reputation within the sustainable food community.
Matt Mulder - Director of Operations
Matt is Arcadia’s Director of Operations and Director of the Veteran Farmer Program. Matt has spent the last 25 years working on environmental and agricultural programs in the Washington, DC area.
Matt currently serves as Co-chair of the Fairfax Food Council. His academic experience includes a Master’s degree in Biology, with scientific research in the fields of Ecology, Pollination Ecology, Ornithology, and Herpetology.
Matt loves to garden and eat good food, and is excited to have a job that incorporates both of those loves.
Akio Lloyd - Farm Manager
photo coming soon!
Ephesia Sutton - Assistant Farm Manager
Juan Pablo Echeverria - Outreach and Education Manager
Juan Pablo is responsible for expanding farm education programs, creating strategic partnerships, and building capacity for schools and communities in Fairfax County - Route 1 Corridor to grow their own food.
He joined Arcadia in 2019 to address food system inequities in local communities with the intent of improving food access, reducing food insecurity, and fostering better nutrition.
He has 12 years of experience in agriculture and nonprofit management. In Guatemala, his home country, Juan Pablo co-founded an urban sustainability organization, owned and managed an urban organic farm, owned a bar and restaurant and served as president for a Public Health nonprofit.
He also completed a business management degree from Universidad Mesoamericana de Guatemala.
Shelby Hintz - On-Farm Education Manager
Shelby oversees all on-farm education programs including farm camp, field trips, small group visits and volunteer days.
Shelby joined Arcadia in 2023 from a position as a group home case manager for adolescents in which she oversaw and advocated for the safety, treatment plans, and wellness of resident youths.
Previously, Shelby worked as a program specialist with the Boys and Girls Club of America, teaching STEM and overseeing educational activities and youth development. Shelby also volunteered to support students with cognitive, physical and behavioral challenges in an equine therapy program.
She came to Arcadia with a deep commitment to sustainability and mad pizza-making skills.
Andrea Neal - Mobile Market Director
Andrea Neal is the Mobile Market Operations Manager. She joined Arcadia in 2020 as a market manager and was promoted in 2021 to overseeing inventory and staff operations.
She came to Arcadia with four years managing a DC farmer's market and 12 years of growing food and teaching farming and best growing practices.
She has an MBA from University of Phoenix and is a master gardener.
Alinah Kargar – Community Farm Market and Outreach Coordinator
Alinah is a recent George Mason graduate who earned a B.A. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a concentration in sustainable food systems and agriculture. She learned about Arcadia in college and started her work here at Farm Camp as a camp counselor.
She joined the Mobile Market team after farm camp was over and eventually was entrusted with opening the Hybla Valley Community Market this year.
While passionate about food justice and access, Alinah is quite happy to be moving Arcadia's food through the local community.
Casandra Lawson - Route 1 Community Farm Manager
Casandra became the Route 1 Community Farm Manager in November of 2023. She is responsible fo leading the effort to build community engagement, promote sustainable food production, and provide educational opportunities for underserved and military connected communities connected along the Route 1 corridor. She is also co-chair of the Fairfax Food Council's Urban Agriculture Working Group.
She came to Arcadia from a job as a farm worker at Potomac Vegetable Farms where she planted, tended, harvested and packaged vegetables. Prior to that Casandra was a government contractor working in the national security sector.
She is deeply nourished through her time spent in the garden and on her yoga mat.
Regan McLaughlin - Volunteer Coordinator
Regan joined Arcadia in 2021 to a newly created position responsible for both community and customer engagement and helping to create new programs and Mobile Market business models.
She came to Arcadia from project management across multiple fields, including national security and the film industry, and fundraising for Food & Water Watch. Regan is passionate about the Zero Waste movement and gardening.
She is an artist and founder of alteredeco.com, making art from trash.
Stephen Corrigan – Farmer Trainer
Stephen was Arcadia’s Farm Manager from 2012 to 2014 before pursuing his dreams of co-owning a distilling business (One eight Distilling in Washington, DC).
Stephen re-joined Arcadia as a part-time Farmer Trainer in 2017 to support the Veteran Farmer Program, and in the Veteran Farmer Reserve in particular.
Stephen has 9 years of farm management experience, and 10 years of experience in farmer training and curriculum development. Prior to joining Arcadia, he spent 2 years at the Farm School in Athol, MA, as Grower and Field Crop Educator.
While Stephen is an expert grower of many vegetables, he especially loves growing potatoes.
Jessica Zielinski-Meffer – Nutriments Manager
A graduate of Arcadia’s Veteran Farmer Program – both the Reserve and the Veteran Farm Fellowship – Jessica puts her prodigious organizational and people skills to work supporting Arcadia’s development program and Live Eat Grow program.
A veteran of the United States Air Force, Jessica worked on avionics on the F-16. Volunteering with an Air Force Pollution Prevention Office encouraged her to complete a BS degree in Sustainability Studies to pursue environmental work full time outside of the military.
She has worked on multiple farm crews, volunteered with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, and interned with Earth Sangha.
Jessica spearheaded the cultivation of a thriving native meadow at Arcadia in 2019, knitting together her love of environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture.