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Araksya Kennard
Araksya Kennard's journey from earthquake survivor to food security advocate began in Armenia when she was 12. After surviving the devastating 1988 earthquake that left her family without utilities for 13 years, she worked five jobs while attending university, including serving as an English translator for aid workers. This role led to meeting her future husband, Jim Kennard, an agricultural expert developing sustainable gardening solutions in Armenia.
Today, as a mother and co-founder of FoodForEveryone.org, Araksya combines her firsthand experience of food insecurity with practical knowledge of sustainable food production. She specializes in food preservation techniques, particularly freeze-drying, and advocates for practical, panic-free preparedness. Drawing from her mother's example of maintaining dignity through extreme adversity, Araksya teaches that true preparedness encompasses not just physical resources, but also mental and spiritual resilience.