Working with Metro Caring in Denver, Jess talks activating, educating, and gardening as part of their mission to end hunger at it's root.
Episode 07 Summary
What do you want this world to look like? In this episode we get to find out how Jess Harper is working hard every day to do her part to make it a better place for all people by growing, educating, activating and sharing her experiences working on food justice and localized food systems in the Denver area with the Metro Caring. We explore the beauty of connection to community through local growers and gardening, the power of listening, and the importance of everyone having access to healthy food.
Notable Quotes
One of the most powerful things in my life was the first time that I really thought about growing seeds, planting seeds, and then watching them come up.
I think that one of our greatest challenges, and one of our greatest opportunities, is policy change around farming, around transportation, around environment, around zoning, around loans, and around red lining.
Some of the things that that really inspire me are putting my hands in the dirt next to someone who is teaching me something new about both gardening and the world.
One of the best questions that I have ever been asked is “what do you want this world to look like?”
About our Guest
Jess Harper (she/her/s) believes in building powerful relationships with people through food. She works as a community activator and gardener for Metro Caring, an anti-hunger organization in Denver, CO. Jess grew up in the country outside Portland, Oregon, climbing trees and eating blackberries. More recently she's been learning how to play broomball and how to not kill her houseplants. She's been working with non-profits in Denver for the past 8 years and is constantly in awe of the creativity and resilience of her coworkers and the Denver community. Jess stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter to demand justice for state-sanctioned violence against Black and POC people.
Connect with Jess on LinkedIn
Photo Credit Michelle Christiance Photo
About Metro Caring
As Denver's frontline anti-hunger organization, Metro Caring works with our community to meet people’s immediate need for nutritious food while building a movement to address the root causes of hunger. Metro Caring offers innovative programming in Healthy Foods Access, Nutrition Education and Cooking Classes, ID Procurement, Urban Gardening, and Community Activation.
Metro Caring's garden programs help community members connect with resources to grow their own food and hold space for community to act against harmful systems of power within the food system. https://www.metrocaring.org/what-we-do#gardens
In May, 2020, Metro Caring distributed over 280,000 pounds of food to families and individuals in the Denver Metro Area. Join their movement or donate to your local hunger-relief organization.
Metro Caring: www.metrocaring.org
Facebook MetroCaring
Instagram @metrocaring
Connect with Metro Caring on LinkedIn
Mentioned in the Episode
Here are links to companies and organizations that were mentioned or are some of Jess's favorites, we invite you to visit them.
Businesses owned by people of color (POC):
Other's mentioned:
Thanks to our Sponsors and Production Team:
NETZRO, SBC - www.netzro.us
Upcycled Food Association - www.upcycledfood.org
Produced by Hi-Fly'n Productions www.hiflyn.com
Executive Producer | Host: Kevin May
Associate Producer: Amy Gilbert
Creative Development: Sue Marshall