Curiosity into Action: Genesis Cabrera’s Path to Food Justice

Meet Genesis Cabrera, chapter leader and a third-year Environmental Science major at the University of Denver .

Born and raised in Guatemala, she witnessed firsthand how food, health, and community are tightly interwoven—and how they change when resources are scarce or unevenly distributed.

“I was able to witness the change in the communities and see how the food system had a drastic change in the communities’ health and their structures.”

That shift wasn’t abstract, it was visible. In Guatemala, food was embedded in traditions, shared across generations, and shaped by proximity to land. In the U.S., Genesis saw communities shaped by vastly different systems: processed supply chains, limited access, and uneven health outcomes.

This contrast sparked questions. Why do some communities thrive while others face barriers? How do food systems shape our bodies, our neighborhoods, and our futures? And what would it take to build something different?

“That is when I became curious to see how these structures seem to change due to the different quality and quantity of resources that are offered in those communities—resources that many times are limited and impact communities in multiple ways.”

For Genesis, that curiosity didn’t fade, it deepened. When she found Plant Futures, it felt like alignment: a space where her questions could grow into collaborative action.

“Plant Futures is a perfect combination of all those things I have become curious but now passionate about. Reading about their mission and their reasoning, it was something that created a spark in my heart, because this is one of those few times in life where a passion meets a solid and real structure where great things can be created.”

As a chapter leader, Genesis is bringing that spark to the University of Denver, where she’s helping to shape dialogue, build community, and empower fellow students to explore the intersections of food, environment, health, and justice.

We’re proud to support student leaders like Genesis who are not only asking the right questions, but organizing for systemic change.

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