Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a podcast from Creative Collective that amplifies the voices and stories of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. In each episode, host Mikki Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique journey, what drives her, and where she’s headed next. Local economies thrive when women’s authentic experiences are shared and celebrated. That’s why this podcast goes beyond polished success stories to explore the real challenges, unexpected pivots, and genuine moments of inspiration that shape the entrepreneurial paths of Creative Collective members. Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry supports this podcast series, which illuminates the moments, motivations, and messy middles that shape women’s experiences as creators and business leaders in the creative economy.
In this nourishing episode, we explore how designing food access with dignity—and building cross-sector partnerships—can turn a pantry into a hub of belonging, equity, and community care. Before we talk systems, we talk humans: Robyn shares the practices that ground her outside of work—simple rituals that keep her present, curious, and connected to the people she serves.
The Power of Food to Build Community
What if a pantry could be a place not of need but of connection? That question frames this conversation with Robyn Burns, Executive Director of The Salem Pantry, who has turned food distribution into a creative expression of equity and care. As our community learns through Robyn’s story, food is never just about meals—it’s about belonging, dignity, and the relationships that sustain us.
“There’s so much power in food—whether it’s learning about people and cultures or creating spaces where exchange of ideas can happen.” – Robyn Burns
From Creative Roots to Food Systems Leadership
Robyn’s path began in Pittsburgh, a city alive with creative energy. She studied film and DJ’d at local events, learning how to see and hear the world through different lenses. A chance favor—driving a friend to an organic farm—became a turning point. Within months, she was working the fields herself and discovering the intersection between creativity and community food systems.
Those early experiences led her to Boston in 2005, where she joined The Food Project, collaborating with youth and neighbors to grow food on reclaimed urban land in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Lynn. She found that farming and filmmaking weren’t so different—both required vision, patience, and trust in the process.
Leading Through a Crisis
When Robyn stepped into her role as Executive Director of The Salem Pantry, she did not expect her first year to coincide with a global pandemic. Demand for services soared overnight, forcing her team to reimagine operations from the ground up.
“It was a real moment of immersing myself into that reality, learning, growing, trying things, iterating, messing up.”
Rather than retreat, Robyn leaned in—turning uncertainty into innovation. Under her leadership, The Salem Pantry expanded mobile markets, strengthened partnerships, and made food access more visible and dignified. The pandemic didn’t just test their mission—it helped the organization find its voice.
Outside the headlines, resilience looked ordinary: long walks, checking in on neighbors, and carving out quiet to listen. That personal cadence helped her team make clear decisions under pressure.
Access with Dignity
One of The Salem Pantry’s most transformative initiatives is its mobile market at Salem State University. By bringing fresh food directly to campus, Robyn and her team destigmatized food insecurity for students and normalized seeking support.
“Folks can just come up and access… it’ll be here next week.”
These consistent, low-barrier approaches allow people to receive support without shame or bureaucracy. It’s not charity—it’s community care in action.
Collaboration and Policy Change
Beyond direct service, Robyn works with the Salem Food Policy Council, building connections across local and regional partners. Her approach is deeply collaborative, rooted in listening and learning. That same ethos extends to her involvement with Creative Collective, where cross-sector partnerships between artists, business owners, and nonprofits spark new ways of thinking about community well-being.
Together, we see how creativity can be a bridge between people, industries, and ideas—and how leadership grounded in curiosity can transform systems.
Lessons for Our Community
From Robyn’s journey, our Creative Collective community is learning that:
- Food is a universal connector. It’s where cultures, stories, and values intersect.
- Equity requires design. Systems don’t shift by accident—they change when we co-create solutions.
- Vulnerability is a leadership superpower. Acknowledging uncertainty invites trust and collaboration.
- Community care is creative work. Each initiative is an opportunity to imagine better ways of showing up for one another.
Beyond the Pantry
Outside her role at The Salem Pantry, Robyn stays rooted in the simple practices that make community feel close: trading playlists with friends, wandering neighborhood markets, and lingering over meals where conversation does its quiet work. Her creative roots in film and DJ culture still shape how she listens—tuning into rhythm, story, and the small details that reveal what people care about. She shows up where food, art, and everyday life meet, believing that belonging is built one shared moment at a time. It’s a reminder that the work of equity isn’t only policy or programs—it’s also how we greet a neighbor, set a table, and make space for each other’s stories.
Robyn’s story invites us to see food as a foundation for connection. Get involved with The Salem Pantry by volunteering, donating, or spreading the word. Learn more about how you can support a North Shore movement that’s redefining what community care looks like today.
Join the Conversation
We’re curious to hear from our creative community. Where have you seen food act as a connector–bringing people together across identities, ages, or neighborhoods? What does “access with dignity” look like in your world, and how could your organization (or you personally) design for it more intentionally? If you could create a low-barrier support system on the North Shore, what would it be–and who would you bring to the table to co-create it? Please share your insights and continue this exploration with us at creativecollectivema.com.
Credits: Creativity Connects is hosted by Mikki L. Wilson, founder of Dot Connector Consulting, and produced by Randyll Collum for Peabody TV (peabodytv.org). This is a Creative Collective podcast (creativecollectivema.com), sponsored by Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry.
Connect with Robyn Burns:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brobyn/
- Email: robynburns@thesalempantry.org
Connect with The Salem Pantry:
- Website: thesalempantry.org
- Instagram: @thesalempantry
- Facebook: facebook.com/thesalempantry
Episode Description
In this heart-centered episode of Creativity Connects, host Mikki Wilson sits down with Robyn Burns, Executive Director of The Salem Pantry, to explore how food can do more than feed—it can connect, dignify, and transform communities. From her creative roots in Pittsburgh’s film and DJ scene to leading a North Shore nonprofit through the pandemic, Robyn shares how her journey redefined what it means to lead with empathy, creativity, and collaboration.
Key Topics Discussed
- How a carpool to an organic farm sparked a lifelong passion for food systems and equity
- Leading The Salem Pantry through COVID and designing access with dignity
- Building partnerships across Salem’s Food Policy Council and creative community
- Why authentic leadership and vulnerability are essential in community work
Guest Connection: Robyn Burns is the Executive Director of The Salem Pantry, a nonprofit increasing equitable access to nutritious food across the North Shore. She also serves on the Salem Food Policy Council, shaping local approaches to food justice and community well-being. Visit thesalempantry.org or connect on Instagram @thesalempantry.
The Salem Pantry | Community Food Access & Distribution
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The Salem Pantry provides the North Shore with convenient access to fresh, free, healthy food. Our innovative pop up pantries, home deliveries, and brick-and-mortar storefront offer an abundant selection of produce, proteins, spices, and dairy products. We partner with local farmers and health organizations to nourish our community from the inside out. Our Food Seeks to reflect our community’s cultural,
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