Ashley Cavender (she/her) serves as the Equitable Nutrition and Food Access Director at the Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council (ARCD), where she leads initiatives connecting people to dignified local food access. While spearheading initiatives rooted in community resilience across NE Tennessee. Her work focuses on strengthening farm-to-community relationships through programs that emphasize “food as medicine,” equity, and farmer support.
In Summer of 2025, Ashley traveled to Thailand as part of an international exchange focused on sustainable food systems and cross-cultural learning. During her visit, she met with Thai farmers, educators, and local food leaders to share ARCD’s approach to nutrition and farm resilience, while learning from Thailand’s own traditions of community-based agriculture and climate adaptation. The trip deepened ongoing partnerships between ARCD and Thai food system innovators, building on previous collaborations through the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), where ARCD hosted Thai fellow Pongpoonat “Saill” Rungrueng earlier that year.
Ashley’s experience—spanning Appalachian farms and global networks—underscores her belief that resilient food systems depend on shared knowledge, cultural exchange, and care for both people and the land. Join us for an evening of conversation and expansive learning as Ashley breaks down her month abroad.
How to register: No registration needed. Drop-in.
Cost: Food/drink purchases encouraged.
Location: Living room/Fireplace, 1st floor
More about Ashley:
Ashley Cavender, Equitable Nutrition & Food Access Director at Appalachian RC&D Council
A native-born to East Tennessee and an ETSU Alumni, Ashley Cavender is elated to be in this role and to work on meaningful initiatives that focus on local food and dignified access. She is inspired by grassroots agriculture movements, educational programming, and sustainable conservation efforts.
Ashley garners support and community connections to leverage access to healthy local foods in low-income communities. With over a decade of experience working in food systems, she is passionate about engaging and educating people from diverse backgrounds to grow and consume local healthy foods. Prior to this position, Cavender was employed by Visit Johnson City as their Event Coordinator and was Director of Meet the Mountains Festival. Before that she served as the Volunteer and Development Coordinator for One Acre Cafe, a community cafe. Her passion for food systems blossomed while attending ETSU where she fell in love with the local agriculture community and ETSU Farmers Market. From there, she found her home in Jonesborough and served as the market manager for Jonesborough Locally Grown for a number of years.
When she is not working or volunteering, you will find her on the Nolichucky River with her Jack Russel, Banjo. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and trying new things. She loves being outdoors and traveling abroad any chance she gets. But Appalachia is her home through and through. Connect: 423-427-0547 /
ashley@arcd.org
