Welcome to Lisa Roberts, New Executive Director of Nourish!

Meet Nourish’s new Executive Director, Lisa Roberts! She began working side-by-side with outgoing ED Margo in mid-May. Lisa was the MLA for Halifax Needham from 2016 to 2021. Previously, she worked as a journalist and in the non-profit sector. Food has been a constant interest, whether as agriculture critic for her caucus, as a community organizer, or as a mom scrambling to pack lunches while preparing breakfast.

We asked Lisa a few questions to learn more about her:

Q: How have you been involved in food work before?

I helped in the early dreaming stage of the Mobile Food Market, after I shared a post about the Ottawa Food Bus on a neighbourhood Facebook group and it brought in a flood of comments. The neighbourhood had lost a local grocery store - that was replaced with a liquor store – and accessing food became quite difficult for people who rely on transit. I was there for the first Mobile Market events in the North End of Halifax and it has helped with food security in many ways. I also got an unused kitchen in a non-profit certified for commercial use, organized food safety training for community members, and helped to establish a new community garden. When I became an MLA, I had the opportunity to learn about food issues across the province.

Q: What is your hope for Nourish Nova Scotia under your leadership?

Nourish has already had a tremendous impact and is a food treasure trove of facilitator’s guides, recipes and garden tips. I want to see Nourish recognized for our role in supporting children and youth to be healthy and well-nourished and I would love to grow our work in communities, where we partnered with many non-profit organizations during COVID. I also want to see Nourish better reflect the diversity of the residents of Nova Scotia, so that all communities can find food resources that appeal to them. 

Q: What do you make most often in your slow cooker?

Black beans! In the late 1990s, I lived in Guatemala, where black beans and tortillas are staples. After years of frustration, I finally figured out how to make soft, delicious black beans and now it’s a staple in my family. Black beans can be eaten for any meal of the day.