Meet Our Staff
Ashley Daniels – Program and Organizing Director
Ashley brings years of issue organizing, coalition building, and facilitation to her role as Program and Organizing Director with Toxic Free NC. In her previous role as Regional Organizer with the Carolina Federation, Ashley worked with community members to establish New Hanover for All, a non-partisan organization committed to building grassroots political power in New Hanover County. She also served as a Field Organizer with the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network where she supported environmental justice communities impacted by CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations). Ashley is a founding member of the New Hanover Tenants Union, a local chapter of the North Carolina Tenants Union. She is passionate about empowering grassroots and rural leaders and loves good books and good food. She also enjoys live music and being outdoors at Lake Waccamaw State Park, Carolina Beach State Park, and the beach at Fort Fisher. She is the owner of Speak Life Consulting, where she provides facilitation, training, and coaching to grassroots organizations. Ashley is a southeastern North Carolina native and attended Appalachian State University.
Alexis Luckey – Executive Director
Alexis joins Toxic Free NC as Executive Director after five years at Eastern Carolina Organics, working in partnership with organic farmers committed to building a more sustainable food system that is free from toxic pesticides and pollutants. As COO of ECO, she led the company’s efforts to join a national movement of Certified B Corporation businesses that prioritize people and planet above profit. She has worked to promote organic agriculture and strengthen community access to safe and healthy food through local and national non-profits and as an environmental project manager and educational facilitator for the U.S. Peace Corps in Malawi. Alexis has undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia. She is committed to advocating for a precautionary approach to regulation of chemicals in our fragile ecosystem and advancing environmental health and justice in North Carolina.
Eduardo Páez – Health & Justice Organizer
Eduardo Páez joins Toxic Free NC as Health and Justice Organizer after working as a Writing and Research Assistant in television development at the Los Angeles based American Dream Studios for two years. Eduardo recently completed his MA in English Literature at Wake Forest University and seeks to utilize his professional narrative, writing, and communication skills on behalf of underprivileged farmworker and minority communities. Born and raised in an under-resourced suburb of Los Angeles, Eduardo traces his roots to Mexico, where his family hails from rural Sinaloa and the rural mountainous Zapotec regions of Oaxaca, working as poor and subsistence farmers. In his free time, Eduardo is involved in local Research Triangle Catholic and Latin dance communities. Eduardo loves global literature and film too. Eduardo is committed to racial and communal equity, the arts, social democracy, and environmental justice.
Kendall Wimberley – Policy Manager
Kendall joined Toxic Free NC in 2023 as the Policy Advocate following years of environmental advocacy and student organizing in the region. Kendall’s previous work has held utilities and representatives accountable on a range of environmental and climate issues in Tennessee and North Carolina. They served an AmeriCorps term with Appalachian Voices on the Energy Democracy team and as an intern with the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Kendall received their Bachelors in Environmental & Soil Science at the University of Tennessee and their Masters in Environmental Management focused on Environmental Economics and Policy at Duke. Kendall’s commitment to environmental justice, health, and agriculture stems from their upbringing in rural Tennessee with an active history of farming in their family and from their continual interest around how we all impact and are impacted by our environment.
Afraka Yates – Women of Color Farmers Network Coordinator
Farmer Afraka is a North Carolina native, dedicated mother of four, lifelong learner, and community service advocate with a Bachelors of Science from Winston-Salem State University. With a strong passion for fostering growth, both in people and communities, she has served as a former 4-H parent volunteer, a community garden organizer, and a small business owner. As the owner of Old 30 Dirty Family Farm in Jacksonville, NC, Afraka is committed to sustainable farming practices and believes in the power of food as a tool for health, wealth, and social change. The farm specializes in growing a variety of crops, including herbs, edible flowers, garlic, onions, and ginger. In addition to farming, Old 30 Dirty Family Farm offers a welcoming space for BIPOC and small farmers, and community members to gather, practice wellness, and engage in educational opportunities about farming, agriculture, and entrepreneurship. Outside of her work on the farm, Afraka enjoys spending time at the beach, exploring nature, traveling, and savoring delicious food. She is passionate about creating connections within her community and fostering a healthier, more sustainable future for all.