Board of Directors
The Reality Kitchen Nonprofit Board of Directors is composed of community members with diverse skill sets essential for guiding our organization.
Their expertise includes finance, business and nonprofit governance, food service management, and special education. Each board member contributes financially, dedicates time and vision, and offers their expertise, skills, and in-kind services to the organization.
Co-Founder/
Program Director
Board President
Board Vice President
Board Secretary
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
co-founder / executive director
Jim Evangelista
Jim earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Oregon and worked in Lane Educational Service District classrooms in both middle school and transition programs prior to co-founding Reality Kitchen Nonprofit. Committed to changing how established agencies and the larger community perceive individuals who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities and the benefits of supported employment, Jim has worked to create meaningful jobs experiences and skills training opportunities with life changing outcomes for these valuable members of our community.
Before his work in special education, Jim has spent a lifetime professionally working as a scenic artist and designer with credits in film, theater, ballet and television. He gained a deeper insight into the dynamics and character of Lane County businesses and local government by freelancing his skills and producing many public and private murals. Jim’s knowledge of the uses of technology, video and documentary production, as well as stop motion animation as empowering communication tools earned a BFA in Visual Design from the University of Oregon. He previously owned and operated a 24-hour coffeehouse in Gainesville, Florida and gave Jim the experiences and background to organize and manage a community based facility open to diverse groups and organizations.
co-founder / program director
Catherine Pickup
Catherine has worked closely with students of all abilities in a variety of workplace settings. A native of Vancouver, B.C. Catherine worked with children in the Squamish Nation program, as well as for the North Vancouver Outdoor School and North Vancouver School District, supporting students with extreme behaviors and disabilities. While in B.C. she participated in the Special Education pilot program at Capilano University.
Since moving to Oregon, Catherine worked for many years in the classroom for Lane ESD, as well as for Autism Support Services.
Catherine co-founded Reality Kitchen Nonprofit in 2010 and serves on the Board, as well as the Academic Program Director. She coordinates curriculum development and Supported Staff kitchen, baking and customer service activities in the Café and bakery, as well as managing Business Operations with Jim Evangelista.
board president
Leonard Krause
Leonard is a regulatory consultant and president of FDA Connect, inc., an independent consulting company which assists small pharmaceutical manufacturers and marketers of OTC medications, homeopathic remedies, dietary supplements and cosmetics to comply with US Food and Drug Administration regulations.
In the non-profit world, he has served on numerous boards over the last 30 years in various capacities. His areas of interest are education, the arts, promotion of community mental health, conflict resolution, sustainability, and human development. His focus has been on non-profit corporate governance, financial oversight, and fundraising.
In the realm of fundraising, in 2007 he organized a successful event in Eugene on behalf of the Oregon Ballet Foundation to break the Guinness World Record for largest indoor ballet class. On behalf of the Eugene Rotary club, he was a co-creator and designer of the Inspirational Invocation book to raise funds for the organization’s community programs. The book was subsequently adopted by the national Rotary organization.
Leonard was enthusiastic and honored to have been invited to join the board of Reality Kitchen. He had been following the progress of the organization over the years through his long-time friendship with its founder, Jim Evangelista. According to Leonard, “Reality Kitchen is a vital resource not only for our community; but it also has the potential of becoming a model for the entire country. Its practical approach and hands-on curriculum is an excellent way to provide real-world work-skills and life-skills to the developmentally disabled community. I have seen with my own eyes the joy and dignity in its students when they have the ability to express themselves through the pride of work.”
Leonard is an avid vegetable gardener, loves to dance and ski, and can often be found on weekends at the top of Spencer Butte.
board vice president
Joel Korin
Joel Korin is a retired New Jersey trial attorney, who practiced law for 40 years and taught a course in Trial Advocacy at Rutgers Law School Camden for 30 years. He has an AB from Dickinson College, Carlisle PA. and a JD with honors from Rutgers School of Law, Camden. Joel was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers and served as the NJ State Chair for a term.
Joel brings his deep sense of Board Governance from his service on the Board of Trustees of the Camden County, Gloucester County and New Jersey State Bar Associations, as well as the Boards of the Camden Regional Legal Services, Camden Free Dental Clinic and Temple Beth Israel in Camden.
Since retiring in 2011, Joel has served as Chairman of the Program Committee and is a Past President of the City Club of Eugene and is a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer and peer coordinator. Soon after joining the Reality Kitchen Board, Joel agreed to serve as Vice President and Co-Chair of Reality Kitchen’s Fundraising Committee, and we thank him for his generous support!
board Secretary
K Daniels
As the mother of two adults with special needs, K is acutely aware of the need for workplace training. While searching for such a program for her daughter, she discovered Reality Kitchen—and has been a fan ever since!
Armed with a masters degree in Special Education, K spent several years working with neurodivergent students. While helping these students find and keep a job, she quickly realized that the educational system does not provide the skills these students require to be successful with employment.
Hence, she is delighted to serve on the Board of an organization that addresses this training issue. The staff of Reality Kitchen is dedicated, patient, and practiced at developing and implementing programs that build and reinforce employment skills.
In her free time, K enjoys hiking the Buttes in Eugene, reading British mysteries, and eating scones baked at Reality Kitchen!
board member
Amelia Abel
I was born January 14, 1990 and graduated high school from Sheldon High School in 2008. I lived independently in my own apartment for 11 years but moved back with my parents during Covid. I have Downs’ Syndrome.
For 12 years I worked in childcare as a classroom aid, but that stopped at the beginning of Covid. I have enjoyed working with young children and helping them learn and participate in games and learning activities. I am still employed by the city of Eugene as staff for Eugene Parks and Recreation summer park program.
I really enjoy public speaking opportunities and have spoken at events, fundraisers, Rotary clubs and other civic organization meetings, universities, and classrooms where I am able to share my experiences of living as an individual with Down’s Syndrome. These opportunities to meet with many people in the community and speak about my life led me to become a founder of the “Look Me in The Eye Campaign,” along with Rick Dancer, a local media personality.
Finding new ways to communicate and share my interests and experiences led me to become involved in classes where we learn to make videos and films. I really enjoy working with others on film making and will be exploring this more as a Reality Kitchen Board member.
I first became involved with Reality Kitchen when I took classes there and gain skills and training in customer service and cooking. I particularly enjoyed baking pastries, cakes and pies. I really like working with others at the restaurant and being part of the organization because of the supports and opportunities that they provide to people with disabilities. Because they create a social environment where people can meet and talk and learn from each other, I look forward to helping them in the future and benefitting from my ongoing connection with Reality Kitchen.
For people with disabilities, finding “work friends” and having a social life through work is very challenging. Regular people do not make an effort to connect with people with disabilities. Catherine says that being a social and engaging organization, building community, is Reality Kitchen’s mission. I would like to support Eugene becoming more inclusive and compassionate toward all people with disabilities and life challenges and hope to be part of changing the way people with many different abilities work and learn together.
board member
Gerry Stolp
My first career position was as a professor and Director of Admissions at a small college in Oakland, CA. My professional career in Oregon began in 1986 and centered on work with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
I earned an MS in special education at the University of Oregon, and directed a program for learners with special needs at Lane Community College, was Executive Director of Oregon Supported Living Program, and subsequently headed the Housing Section at Seniors and People with Disabilities at DHS. I am now retired, and serve on several nonprofit boards, including Reality Kitchen.
board member
Chris Calise
Chris Calise is a retired medical equipment engineer who has always had a passion for volunteering for organizations that make a difference. Presently he is on the board of Friends of KRVM public radio station and was the founder of the station’s remote broadcast program and helps put on the broadcasts as a radio engineer. He is also the liaison for Masonic Lodge 11 AF&AM to the board of the Eugene Masonic Cemetery Association. He is an active fundraiser and volunteer for Eugene Burrito Brigade who helps relieve food insecurity in our community.
As a board member for Reality Kitchen, Chris brings his longtime appreciation of all they do with a focus on fundraising especially with social media. He has a particular insight as he has run multiple Facebook groups. His Eugene Foodies group he founded in 2010 now has 30,000 mostly local members who love supporting our community especially Reality Kitchen which makes delectable treats and gives education to help those who might otherwise not normally be employed in the culinary community.
A dash of kindness
Our Mission
Reality Kitchen is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing employment path experiences that nourish and inspire all learners, with and without disabilities. We serve delicious food while fostering personal and professional growth through supportive resources in an inclusive community setting. Your support fuels our mission and helps us bake a brighter future.