Heile Gantan-Keo is a Program Manager with the Food in Prison Project with over 10+ years of experience in improving food environments inside of prisons from the inside-out. Her background in nutrition, public policy, and lived experience with the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation motivates her work to improve the provision of essential resources throughout jails and prisons. She works closely with other nonprofit, civic, and state organizations in her advocacy efforts to support those impacted by the criminal justice system.
Heile supports food access for justice-impacted populations in marginalized communities via affiliations with food justice organizations in Los Angeles County. Her policy experience includes her role as a former Policy Fellow with the Underground Scholars Initiative and the Anti-Recidivism Coalition to improve conditions of confinement and support access to rehabilitative programs for people currently incarcerated and those reentering from incarceration. Prior to her role with Impact Justice, Heile helped students, seniors, and justice-impacted adults experiencing food insecurity during her internships with the CalFresh Outreach Program.
Heile obtained her B.S. in nutrition with a double minor in business administration and marketing from California State University, Sacramento. She received her master’s degree in public policy at the University of California, Irvine, with a special focus on health equity and justice.
