.jpg "Sophia Torrijos photo")
Executive Director
Friedens Food Pantries
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sophia has served as Executive Director at Friedens Food Pantries since 2019 where she has taken an active role in developing robust programming around food access, food education, food waste and sustainability, and community health and wellbeing. During her time at Friedens, she has introduced best practice models and currently oversees the implementation of the community food center across all sites. Her people-centered style and collaborative approach to problem-solving continues to build on Friedens legacy of transcending the limits of traditional food pantries.
Previously, Sophia worked for the Milwaukee Christian Center (MCC), a multi-service agency located in Milwaukee’s Southside, where she directed the Muskego Way Forward Initiative. Through this initiative, Sophia provided support for resident leadership and community improvement projects within the Muskego Way and Historic Mitchell Street neighborhoods. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she has strong connections to Milwaukee’s Southside and is passionate about the quality-of-life issues affecting families across Milwaukee.
Sophia has experience developing grassroots leadership, organizing residents, program development, and engaging volunteers in a variety of settings including MCC, Marquette University’s Center for Community Service, and Friedens, where she began her non-profit career as the AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator. Sophia further advocates for community food needs as a board member of the Milwaukee Food Council and member of the City of Milwaukee’s COVID-19 Food Response Team.
Sophia has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs and History from Marquette University and a Masters in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Sophia was born in Spain, raised in Iowa, but considers Milwaukee her home.
Disclosure information not submitted.
Thursday, May 26, 2022
12:00 PM – 1:10 PM ET