August’s recipient of the Making a Difference Award is Kimberly High. Kim is a relatively new Master Gardener, Class of 2023, but she is not new to gardening. Kim is the owner, founder, and mastermind behind the creation of Joppy Momma’s Farm in the Dallas neighborhood of Joppa. She has rolled gardening and community advocacy into a super power. The farm is named for Kim’s grandmother and since its launch in 2021 it has grown over 10,000 pounds of produce and hosted hundreds of volunteers of every age group. The Joppa community, located in southeast Dallas is isolated from the rest of the city both physically and in opportunity. It has been designated a food desert by the US Department of Agriculture. Those living in Joppa’s zip code are the third most vulnerable to chronic disease in Dallas County. Clearly

understanding the relationship between diet and disease, Kim saw an abandoned lot as an opportunity to bring fresh produce to the community where she was raised to help combat generations of the chronic illnesses that have plagued neighborhood residents.  Today, the mission statement of Joppy Momma’s Farm states that it is to provide education, resources, job training, and safe spaces for women, children and families while aiming to empower individual development while providing affordable, healthy food options to underserved communities. Unquestionable, their mission is being realized.

Kim is a media star, having appeared in the DMN and D Magazine, also on CBS News Texas, and in an X (formerly known as Twitter) post by the US Department of Agriculture, all promoting urban farming, very specifically Joppy Momma’s Farm. A master of accessing community resources, she has also partnered with other nonprofits and urban farms for growth and to share produce. The farm hosts volunteer days, Eagle Scout projects and recently sponsored a neighborhood Diabetes Walk to raise both money and awareness. It is also an approved volunteer opportunity for Master Gardeners.

Kim’s classmates described her as a serious, totally focused student, but an absolute natural in the garden. They say she truly represents what Master Gardeners should do to serve and educate our communities.