The people behind the tables

The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation is a Rhode Island-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating life, healing, and recovery. Founded in 2004 in memory of Gloria Gemma, the foundation offers over 20 free mind, body, and spirit wellness programs, education, and patient navigation services to individuals and families affected by cancer across Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts, and eastern Connecticut. Through initiatives like its Lincoln-based wellness center, the mobile Hope Bus, and signature community events like Flames of Hope, the organization provides a vital, holistic support system to ensure no one faces a cancer diagnosis alone.

ZAAZEY® is an award-winning, woman-owned extra virgin olive oil brand that seamlessly bridges artisanal Mediterranean tradition with modern culinary excellence. Founded in 2018 by Laura Qureshi and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the company is built on a mission of tree-to-table transparency, sustainability, and the empowerment of female agricultural workers. By partnering directly with multi-generational family estates along the Aegean coast of Turkey, ZAAZEY® produces premium, early-harvest, cold-pressed olive oils that have captured multiple gold medals at prestigious global competitions in New York, London, and Canada. Guided by a commitment to ethical trade and high-polyphenol quality, ZAAZEY® delivers an exceptional, health-conscious finishing oil designed to elevate everyday dining.

Plant Docs is a Providence-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization co-founded and led by Dr. Sandra Musial that treats unprocessed, whole-food, plant-based nutrition as powerful medicine to prevent, manage, and even reverse chronic human illnesses. Established by a dedicated team of medical physicians, the organization bridges the gap between clinical science and daily lifestyle habits by educating both the general public and healthcare professionals on the profound health benefits of a plant-based diet. Through structured community programs, cooking classes, and personalized telehealth consultations, Dr. Musial and her team empower individuals to reduce their reliance on prescription medications and take control of their health through the food on their plates.

Professor Dr. Reza Malik who is a liver diseases and liver transplant specialist at the Lahey clinic representing his company The American Liver & Metabolic Center which is a concierge white glove service in Boston providing Liver Health Screening with a specialist questionnaire, blood panel and AI guided liver scan all in one visit. Individuals with risk factors including obesity, diabetes and alcohol consumption should be screened and those with a high ALMC score can enter into our lifestyle and GLP 1 programs.

Susan Sklar is the Interfaith Manager at Equal Exchange, a 40 year old fair trade organization, where she is an administrator, an organizer, and an educator presenting their produce. She is also the Chair of J Street Rhode Island.

Breaking Bread USA is a Rhode Island-based non-profit organization founded in 2025 by hospitality veteran and Johnson & Wales University professor Akanksha Aga. Dedicated to bridging the talent and opportunity gap, the organization provides accessible leadership development and career mentoring to individuals who traditionally lack corporate training budgets. By focusing heavily on small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the hospitality and tourism sectors, the non-profit fosters a unique ecosystem centered around four pillars: Competency, Connections, Confidence, and Community. The organization's flagship offering is a 6-week peer-group mentorship program that meets weekly to build real-world managerial skills. To ensure economic status is never a barrier to professional growth, Breaking Bread USA utilizes an equity-focused, pay-what-you-can model alongside a "One for One" corporate sponsorship framework. Backed by a prominent local board that includes leaders like Kristen Adamo (President and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau), the nonprofit actively drives economic mobility in Rhode Island through its rolling cohorts, workshops, panel discussions, and local networking events.

The MAE Organization for the Homeless is a dedicated 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Cranston, Rhode Island, that has been serving individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity since 2008. What sets the organization apart is its holistic "mind, body, and spirit" approach to rehabilitation, which combines immediate, vital street outreach with long-term mental health and wellness support. Beyond providing daily necessities like hot meals, clothing, and emergency shelter coordination, they offer therapeutic services such as yoga, meditation, Reiki, and art therapy to help individuals heal from the trauma of displacement and successfully transition toward self-sufficiency. Operating from its main center on Reservoir Avenue, the organization runs a vital food pantry and coordinates mobile outreach units across Rhode Island, including major hubs like Providence, Woonsocket, and West Warwick. By focusing on both immediate survival needs and foundational emotional wellness, the MAE Organization works closely with local communities and volunteers to restore dignity, hope, and stable housing to the state's most vulnerable populations.