NWIAA Texas Chair Leader
Kay Bell - Waco
Email: bellkay9@gmail.com Phone: (254) 227-2488
Kay Bell was born in Jacksonville, Texas where she was raised on a farm with her parents and siblings. Farming was something Kay did not have in her mind to do when she was preparing for her future. However, the need to live a healthier and more sustainable life motivated Kay to catch on to her roots of farming. Kay now resides in Waco, Texas.
Kay is a member of the community Race Relation Coalition, an organization that brings diverse races together while breaking down racism. In 2013 Kay founded the Global Revive Organization. This organization promotes the building of Kid’s Gardens throughout the city and the teaching of natural holistic health. In 2014 founded a new Farmer’s Market at the Waco Richland Mall, which goes from June to September. Kay is a certified herbalist, a certified doula, and a teaologist. She is the owner of Passion Garden, where she sells herbal teas from her herbs, which are grown, in her gardens. Kay’s Passion Garden vegetables and teas are sold at the year round Waco Downtown Farmer’s Market and her teas or in a local Health Store.
Kay is a graduate of Paul Quinn College, in Dallas, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Science. She currently teaches six-grade science in Waco, Texas
Nadiyah Phelps - Houston*
Email: nadiyahphelps@gmail.com
Phone: 832-889-8799
Nadiyah Phelps stands as a beacon of inspiration in the realm of gardening and sustainability. Her journey from being a self-taught gardener to a Certified Master Gardener and a Houston, Texas Chapter Leader in National Women In Agriculture Association is truly inspiring. Through her dedication and perseverance, she has not only honed her own gardening skills but also shared her knowledge and passion with her community.
As the founder of Serenity Roots, Nadiyah is committed to promoting the importance of reconnecting with nature and embracing a permaculture lifestyle. Her organization aims to empower individuals and communities to reclaim control of their food sources, thereby contributing to a more sustainable future. By providing education and raising awareness, Serenity Roots strives to foster a deeper connection between people and the environment while promoting a holistic, physical and mental well-being.
Nadiyah's journey exemplifies the transformative power of gardening and the profound impact it can have on individuals and communities. Her advocacy for a "grow your own" lifestyle not only cultivates lush gardens but also cultivates a deeper sense of connection, resilience, and vitality within communities for future generations.
Nadiyah's story serves as a testament to the potential for positive change that lies within each of us when we embrace the principles of sustainability, empower the community and sow the seed for the future.
Dr. Frederick Lynn Baldwin
Dr. Frederick Lynn Baldwin is a 2012 Life University graduate which is located in Marietta, Georgia. Where he received his Doctorate in chiropractic. He currently practices his craft at Pinnacle Point Clinic of Chiropractic. His profession specializes in helping with neuromusculoskeletal ailments. He has had a passion for this since he was introduced to it at a young age. He strives to help people of all creeds and cultures to live at the peak of health. He originates from Mississippi, where his love for the outdoors was cultivated by his father and family. Which drives his drive to get his bachelor's in biological science and Environmental science. The conservation of the ecosystem has been a solid fixture in his life because he cherishes the activities he participates in, in nature. His parents instilled in him that God is the foundation that he builds his life upon.
Yvette Leno
Founder/Director-Beauty's Community Garden
Yvette is a native Houstonian. She was raised by her grandparents in the beloved Independence Heights, one of 40 plus food deserts across Greater Houston. In 1991 her family's home was demolished by fire. Yvette wanted to create a meaningful legacy for her homestead. Twelve years ago Yvette founded Beauty's Community Garden on the land that was her family's home. The garden is a place where community grows along with fresh produce.
E. Jean Boone
E. Jean Boone is a fourth generation Texan Menifee descendant who is a graduate of HBCU Prairie View A&M University. She has been married for fifteen years to Joseph and they have a blended family of two children, a son, Gathan and a daughter, Jodi and five grandchildren. Gathan is a graduate of Texas Tech University and Jodi is a graduate of Lamar University and they are both Educators in the Houston area.
Jean served as the first Black female Judge elected in McLennan County for fourteen years as a Justice of the Peace for Precinct 7. This was a joy to her because she represented the people in the district and neighborhood where she grew up.
Later, in 2015, she became justice-impacted and after that journey she began volunteering with a non-profit service organization, Truth Be Told. They envisioned a society where justice-impacted women were restored to integrity through gender-focused programming, which aided in breaking the cycle of incarceration. And to date, they have had resounding success stories with the women who have graduated through their program.
In 2024, Jean became a Reentry Peer Support Specialist, certified by the Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals. As such, she has been able to provide transformative services for women who were behind and beyond carceral bars through the non-profit she volunteered with and served as Board Chair, Truth Be Told. Jean is pursuing a goal to expand NWIAA program’s reach to the women who are justice-impacted, so that they may learn a new skillset in agriculture, utilize its program as a therapeutic self-care technique, if applicable, and even as an entrepreneurial opportunity once they are released as returning citizens into society.
Jean also previously served as Vice-President of the NWIAA Waco Chapter where she was instrumental in acquiring a $7500 USDA grant for one of their community urban gardening programs.
Jean continues to advocate on many fronts for the justice-impacted, the mass incarcerated, marginalized communities, the unhoused, and generally “our Beloved Community.”
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