Collaborators

Dr. Stacy Rebich Hespanha is a systems designer, interdisciplinary researcher, and social entrepreneur focused on co-creating transformative solutions for local food systems. With a Ph.D. in Geography and an emphasis in Cognitive Science from UC Santa Barbara, she brings a comprehensive systems approach to developing sustainable, equitable alternatives that serve and engage the entire food community.

During her academic career at UC Santa Barbara, her research combined computational, cognitive, and behavioral science approaches to understand how people engage with complex environmental challenges. Her work included developing novel methods for analyzing environmental communication, studying how people process and respond to climate change information, and assessing organizational readiness for sustainability transitions. Using techniques from content analysis and topic modeling to visual analytics and survey research, she focused on making complex environmental data more meaningful and actionable for diverse audiences.

Building on her research background, she gained practical experience in local food systems as founder of Loca Vivant Kitchen and co-owner of Goleta Coffee Co. Now, as Co-Founder and President of Flourish Local, she brings together food lovers, local entrepreneurs, and community members to collectively reimagine their food system. Her approach weaves together physical infrastructure (shared kitchens and food hubs), enabling technology (online marketplaces and logistics), and—most importantly—community-centered models of ownership and decision-making. Through cooperative business structures and community investment opportunities, she creates pathways for everyone—from food workers to conscious consumers—to participate in building a better food system.

Dr. Rebich Hespanha's innovative systems approach demonstrates how intentionally designed relationships and business models, supported by appropriate infrastructure and technology, can create a more resilient and equitable food system. Through her leadership at Flourish Local, she continues to foster community-driven solutions that simultaneously advance social justice, environmental sustainability, and collective wellbeing.