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About Us

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Our Story

Founded in 2016 as an initiative of the Hayden-Harman Foundation, Growing High Point became a 501(c)3 in 2019. GHP works to transform disadvantaged neighborhoods by converting vacant lots to urban agriculture, increasing economic mobility by fostering small business development, increasing fresh food availability in neighborhoods, and engaging residents in building a shared sense of purpose and possibility in their neighborhoods.

 

Growing High Point works to expand and improve our local food system to increase access to, and availability of, locally-produced agricultural products, develop strategies for value-added agricultural production, and deepen collaboration throughout our local food system in an effort to improve resiliency and create community green spaces that improve overall mental and physical health.

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Our Vision

A city that has dynamic and vibrant neighborhoods that provide access and opportunities to every resident.

Our Mission

To transform under-resourced neighborhoods through community engagement, empowerment, and entrepreneurship. 

2022

Annual Reports

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Meet The Team

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Willa Mays has 30 years of leadership experience with environmental and community-focused non-profit organizations. Before joining Growing High Point, she worked with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Appalachian Voices, Catawba College Center for the Environment, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and Thomasville Medical Center Foundation. Mays joined Growing High Point because the work is about growing opportunity, growing food, and investing in the future. She is thrilled to be a part of such a great organization.

Willa Mays

Executive Director

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Andre was born and raised in the city of High Point, and has become a community member at large with years of farming experience. Andre runs Drozik’s Urban Farms which consist of three urban farms, Thissell Grow Urban Farm, Furlough Youth Garden, and Garden in the Hood. Andre has been invested in educating youth in the neighborhood for several years and is a positive role model to each child he meets. Andre has grown a wide range of seasonal vegetables and cultural cultivars using organic practices. Andre has been with GHP as an urban farm leader since 2017 and officially joined our team as our Community Outreach specialist in January 2023. He works closely with our Youth Employees to provide them mentorship and guidance while working alongside us in agribusiness.

Andre Davis

Community Outreach Coordinator 

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Jose was born in the mountains of Dominican Republic, in the late 1990's his family immigrated to NYC where he grew up in and around Bodegas learning the trade of Grocer. In 2008 he moved and established a life in HP working for his mentor and uncle in a supermarket. He was offered the opportunity to purchase that supermarket in 2010, and continued to own and manage Superior Foods for the past 13 years. In that time he’s taken an active role in trying to eliminate food insecurity and advocating for healthy food consumption. He volunteered and offered his expertise to Growing High Point through various programming avenues and many other organizations focused on food insecurity, and officially joined the GHP team in 2021. He currently serves as a board member of Greater High Food Alliance, Piedmont Triad Region Food Council and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Member Advocacy Team.

Jose Abreu

Director of Operations

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The AmeriCorps VISTA changes from year to year (August - July of the following year). The VISTA is responsible for managing community volunteers specifically from High Point University’s campus but also the greater High Point community, provide additional leadership support for planning and executing events, suggest technological needs to streamline processes and maximize organizational effectiveness, and mainly expanding the capacity of GHP’s programming through recommendations and suggestions on how to expand each program’s marketing tactics for increased participation. Each VISTA has made their mark on GHP throughout the years and will continue to expand the capacity for years to come.

Current AmeriCorps VISTA: Alec Garfield

Specializations: Biology, Ecology, Photography, Graphic Design, Event Management

AmeriCorps VISTA

Capacity Builder

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Amanda has a passion for cultivating plants. She specializes in environmental biology, sustainable development, and plant propagation. Additionally, she enjoys sharing with others the knowledge that she’s gained through her own education and growing experiences. Empowering members of the community with fundamental information about plants is essential to building connections among people and their environment. Growing High Point provides opportunities for the community to access their potential in ways that she has been pursuing her entire life. Her methodology is to plant a garden, feed a family, build a business, and share with neighbors. Amanda joined our team as the food hub manager in February 2023.

Amanda Mitchell

Food Hub Manager

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Kahlil Siler is one of Growing High Point’s Youth Enrichment and Employment program youth employees. In this role, Kahlil has gained hands-on skills in urban agriculture, sales transactions, event planning, and leadership. While working with us, Kahlil learns all about sustaining a greater local food system and is committed to supporting us in any way he can. Additionally, Kahlil is a youth farmer, running his own small farm under the mentorship and guidance of Jose and Andre.

Kahlil Siler

Youth Employee

Our Board

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Founder and Board Chair, Dr. Patrick Harman, a High Point native, has been the Executive Director of the Hayden-Harman Foundation since April 2001. He is responsible for giving recommendations as well as monitoring and guiding the Foundation’s processes for determining charitable activities. In 2016, the Foundation began a core city neighborhood transformation initiative, Growing High Point, that is focusing on developing urban farming microenterprises, renovating homes to increase home ownership, and engaging residents through community events. In 2019, he initiated Resilience High Point, which encourages public, private, and non-profit collaborations that support a compassionate community of promise and opportunity empowering all residents to thrive. He is a founding board member of the Friends of John Coltrane and serves on the board of Forward High Point. In his off-time, Dr. Harman enjoys reading, traveling, and playing guitar for his church.

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Dr. Patrick Harman

Founder and Board Chair

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Rishaunda Ewings Moses was born in Durham, North Carolina and spent her childhood and adolescent years in a number of places including Durham and High Point, North Carolina, Kansas, and Germany. She graduated from Ragsdale High School in Guilford County, NC. Rishaunda later earned her BS in Communications from Howard University, with minors in business and Spanish. While working full-time with the child welfare system in Washington, DC, she worked toward a law degree with a Certificate in Law and Public Policy in the evening division of the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. After passing the bar exam, she was licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland. She also holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Alliance University, formerly Nyack College. She is an active member of the Alpha Art Club, a civic organization in High Point. Rishaunda has also served in various ministry roles. She is happily married to Gerard Moses.

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Rishaunda Ewings Moses

Secretary

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Kristin Boggs was born and raised in High Point. She has worked in the nonprofit space for the majority of her career, specifically in refugee resettlement and immigrant services. Kristin was drawn to GHP when she learned about the food insecurity of our area, and the amazing and intentional work GHP was doing to address it. The intersection of these with the needs of the immigrant community was what drew her to start volunteering and getting to know the incredible staff and team of GHP. She is grateful to continue her involvement as a board member where she joined  in January 2021. Kristin is married, and has two kids, ages 10 and 8, who are currently enrolled at the Spanish Immersion Program at Kirkman Park Elementary. She currently works at Church World Service in Greensboro as their Finance Manager. She enjoys all the regular introverted activities - reading, running, gardening, piano playing, cooking, baking, one-on-one time with friends, and exploring the beautiful outdoors.

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Kristin Boggs

Board Member

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We are currently cultivating this bio.

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Michelle McNair

Board Member

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Jerry Mingo was born and raised in High Point and is a proud graduate of William Penn High School. He attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After serving three years in the United States Army with the 66th Military Intelligence Group, in Munich, Germany Jerry completed his military service as a Staff Sergeant. He retired from Banner Pharmaceuticals in 2008 after working thirteen years as supervisor of the Medicine Department. Jerry’s roots in High Point run deep. Since his retirement, he has become widely known for his tireless involvement in community affairs which has led him to several leadership roles. As president of the Burns Hill Neighborhood Association, Jerry has been a powerful force in establishment of the Burns Hill Community Food Pantry and the Burns Hill Community Garden. He uses his tireless energy and positive attitude to encourage others to work hard and succeed. His favorite motto is “I will give out before I give up.” 

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Jerry Mingo

Vice President

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Lee Gann is one of the founding members of Growing High Point. He currently serves as the High Point Farmers Market manager at the High Point Public Library. In addition to this, he also runs his own farm stand, and has been known to set up around at other community sites.

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Lee Gann

Board Member

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