Alyssa M. Densham serves as the Associate Pastor of Food Access and Food Justice at Rising Hope Mission UMC with a dynamic and rich background in community development work and a deep passion for helping create a more equitable and sustainable food landscape.
Prior to her call into ministry, Alyssa worked with food system issues to help change the food landscape in the United States. As a food systems consultant, she worked across the country with a wide variety of partners and advocates to improve children’s health and strengthen the ways in which food moves from where it is grown to where people are eating it. She is passionate about changing the food conversation in this country through the application of what she calls “practical nutrition.” Alyssa provided training and technical assistance to schools and other institutions interested in enhancing their current food service programs with nutritious and delicious foods and supported communities working to improve their food system through farm to fork initiatives, food hubs, food access programs, nutrition education and policy change.
She served as the Family Ministries Director and Associate Pastor of Discipleship at the Kingstowne Communion, and most recently served as Pastor of Washington Farm UMC. A proud Army
spouse, she lives with her beautiful children, Keegan and Coraline, and incredible husband, John in Springfield, VA.
Alyssa’s LEAD talk topic: Our table experience pulls us to move beyond our altars and bread and juice and into the world where God is with us at every meal we share.
