Julie Burford
Julie Burford is the founder of the Ceres Community Project of Marin. A two year old non-profit, based in San Rafael, California, Ceres teaches Marin County teens to cook and appreciate whole, healthful foods that are crafted into meals designed to support cancer patients during the rigors of treatment. These meals are delivered by a team of volunteers to cancer patients and their families living in Marin communities. She launched the Marin project as a pilot program in October, 2010, as an affiliate of the Ceres Community Project, founded in 2007, in Sonoma County. Since beginning with a handful of teens from local middle and high schools and four clients referred by local cancer support agencies, Ceres’ Marin project has delivered more than 18,000 healing meals, prepared by more than 150 enthusiastic teens during the last two and a half years. More than simply a meal delivery program, Ceres’ is committed to building a healthy community around an understanding of the role that whole, sustainably produced food plays in health, healing, and its ability to connect people in heart-centered ways to themselves, others, and the planet we share. By teaching youth about the relationship between real food and its role in health and healing, Ceres engages teens directly in learning about the healing power of community. Julie brought to Ceres an enthusiasm for health-supportive food and a history as a passionate home cook. She served as part of author Rebecca Katz’s culinary team in developing two successful cookbooks, Cancer Fighting Kitchen (2009) and The Longevity Kitchen (2013), both published by Ten Speed Press. Prior to her work with the Ceres Project, Julie had spent more than 20 years in senior management at San Francisco’s Moscone Center where she was instrumental in managing the convention center’s multiple expansion programs. She lives in San Rafael with her husband, Stan Burford, and is a proud grandmother of five.
