Congratulations to Our 2025 Changemaker: Heather Weiss!
Every year, Children's Day School recognizes alums who embody the change-making spirit of our co-founder, Josef Cooper. We’re thrilled to announce the recipient of the 2025 Josef Cooper Changemaker Award: Heather Weiss, Class of 2009!
The Josef Cooper Changemaker Award at Children's Day School (CDS) honors the legacy of Joe Cooper and his wife, Tracy Kirkham, who founded CDS as a nonprofit school dedicated to justice and respect for all people. Joe's deep commitment to the CDS community lives on through this award, which recognizes alums who embody his change-making spirit. By celebrating their efforts, we aim to inspire future generations to carry forward Joe’s mission of making a difference in the world.
We are thrilled to announce that the 2025 Josef Cooper Changemaker Award recipient is Heather Weiss, Class of 2009!
Heather is currently pursuing a PhD in Anthropology and Social Change. A graduate of Lowell High School, UC Santa Barbara, and the California Institute of Integral Studies, she has dedicated her career to environmental nonprofits, focusing on food systems and their potential to become more just—both for people and the planet. Most recently, she served as the Interim Assistant Director of The Friends of Alemany Farm and continues to contribute as an Advisory Committee Member, leading regular volunteer days on-site.
Located just off Highway 280 on the south side of Bernal, Alemany Farm produces 30,000 pounds of food annually—all of which is given away for free. The farm prioritizes food access for communities with limited access to fresh produce, supports neighbors and volunteers in growing food, and nurtures community green spaces. Additionally, the farm provides paid apprenticeships with outreach focused on historically underrepresented communities, hosts public workshops, and holds two weekly volunteer days to engage and educate the San Francisco community.
An Enduring Connection to CDS
About Alemany Farm
Located just off Highway 280 on the south side of Bernal, Alemany Farm produces 30,000 pounds of food annually—all of which is given away for free. The farm prioritizes food access for communities with limited access to fresh produce, supports neighbors and volunteers in growing food, and nurtures community green spaces. Additionally, the farm provides paid apprenticeships with outreach focused on historically underrepresented communities, hosts public workshops, and holds two weekly volunteer days to engage and educate the San Francisco community.
An Enduring Connection to CDS
For the past two years, Heather has visited the first-grade Owls and Hawks classes, bringing a bit of the farm to CDS. She has shared her knowledge of native plants and fresh produce while reminiscing about her favorite memories at CDS. Today, as part of their studies on how to be changemakers in their own communities, the Owls and Hawks visited Alemany Farm to see Heather’s work in action.
Heather’s dedication to environmental justice and community-building is both inspiring and deeply aligned with the values of CDS’s Farm and Garden program. Her work exemplifies the power of education, sustainability, and civic engagement, and we are proud to recognize her meaningful contributions to our city.
Join Us to Celebrate Heather!
CDS community members and alum families are invited to join us for Friday Assembly on May 2 to celebrate Heather as an outstanding alum and present the Josef Cooper Changemaker Award. We look forward to celebrating her impact and continuing to foster the spirit of changemaking within our community!
Learn more about past Changemaker Award recipients.
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