ABOUT US

Our People

Helping kids, families, and communities build a healthier, kinder, more sustainable future.

Meet the Team

Barbara Gates

**Founder & President**
Barbara has been a children’s health educator and advocate since her own children entered public school, and in 2003 spearheaded a CA coalition to successfully pass the first ever school lunch legislation calling for daily plant-based school lunches and nutrition education that includes a plant-based perspective (ACR 16, CA 2003). Three more states followed suit. She founded HKHP in 2010, to further the goals of the legislation. Barbara earned a BFA in theatre, and every now and again works as a professional actress in So Cal.
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Andrea Flowers

**Program & Outreach Manager**
Andrea joined HKHP in 2022 and has since brought our live presentations to thousands of students, first across the Los Angeles area and now in Portland, Oregon. As Program and Outreach Manager, she helps keep our programs running and growing, coordinating presentations across schools, building relationships with educators and districts, and supporting the outreach, communications, and fundraising behind the scenes. Equity-centered and drawn to social justice and systemic change, she's especially energized when she gets to build something new from the ground up. With over a decade of experience working with kids of all ages and a background in acting, she brings warmth and energy to every program, and a deep belief that every child deserves access to healthy food.
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Abby Crowley

**San Diego Education Coordinator**
Abby joined HKHP in 2024 to expand our *Eat for the Planet* program in San Diego County. She has a background in childcare, a passion for making our food systems more sustainable, and a strong commitment to climate action. After earning her BS in Business Management and Environmental Sustainability, her energy and passion make her a dynamic ambassador for our programs. She primarily delivers our *Healthy Eating for a Greener World* presentation to middle schoolers and loves inspiring students to fight climate change through healthier food choices.
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Nikki Symanovich

**San Diego Education Coordinator**
Nikki is the newest member of the HKHP team, joining in 2026 with experience in mental health advocacy, community engagement, and nonprofit event coordination. She earned her B.A. in Psychology, and her passion for mental health inspired a deeper interest in mindful food choices, holistic health, and sustainable living. Her work has centered on building meaningful connections, fostering inclusive communities, and promoting compassionate, sustainable lifestyle choices. Originally from San Francisco and now based in San Diego, Nikki enjoys connecting with her local community and spending time outdoors. In her free time, you can find her at her neighborhood food co-op, adventuring with her two rescue pups, staying active through running, soccer, and yoga, or exploring new plant-based recipes.
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Meet Our Board of Directors

Lita Esposito

Board Member
Lita Esposito is a middle and high school cross country track and field coach and recently retired middle school science teacher. Lita is an avid runner, traveler, reader, hiker, and foodie, who loves exploring new restaurants. Exercise and nutrition have been a lifelong passion of Lita’s who has spent her career educating thousands of students on the lifelong benefits of both. She and husband Joe have 2 adult children and reside in Oceanside, CA. They enjoy spending time in their garden and taking long walks with their dog, Bowie.
Elizabeth (Lisa) Nadiv, MD

Board Member
Dr. Nadiv is a pediatrician at Permanente Medicine (aka Kaiser) in Daly City. Originally from San Diego. She completed her undergraduate at Duke University and medical school at UCSD. She moved to the Bay Area in 2005 and joined Kaiser full time in 2014. Dr. Nadiv lives in San Carlos with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys exercise of any kind, eating and cooking plant-based meals, being with family, spending time in nature, reading and participating in book clubs, photography, and traveling. drnadiv.com
Tina De La Rosa

Board Member
Tina is a recently retired elementary physical education teacher, having enjoyed her dream job in the Oceanside Unified School District for 32 years, recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2001. She was a founding member of the OUSD District Wellness Committee and continues to serve there post retirement. Tina has always been passionate about health and fitness, and played Volleyball and Softball at Palomar Community College and then Sonoma State University, where she was inducted into the SSU Athlete Hall of Fame in 1999. After a colleague (science teacher) introduced her to a whole food diet, it set her on a path to a plant-based diet that changed her life. She carries that passion forward, supporting HKHP in its nutrition education mission. Tina lives in Oceanside, California with her husband Augie.
Steve Bailey

Board Member
Steve has been an education professional since 2000, currently serving as Director of Adult Ed – Career Technical Education for the Grossmont Union High School District. Prior to his current position, he served for 5 years as principal at Madison Middle School in the Vista Unified School District and 5 years as principal of Emerald STEAM Magnet School in El Cajon. Steve has a B.A. in social sciences from San Diego State University, a master’s of science in special education degree from National University, and a masters of arts in educational leadership from San Diego State University. His life long passion is to help students discover their inner strengths and values, through education. Steve is an avid cyclist and organic gardener, and resides in La Mesa with his wife and two daughters.