Ms. Honeybee, a founding elder of the Lead, Seed & Feed program, is an avid gardener whose expertise spans from vegetables to ornamental flowers. With her seasoned skills as a garden coach and teacher, she played a pivotal role in establishing the program’s first garden bed and now curates all floral displays, infusing beauty and vitality into the community space. In addition to her hands-on gardening work, she leverages her experience to manage retired volunteers and contributes significantly to the program’s sustainability through active grant writing. Her dedication and nurturing presence make her an invaluable pillar in the Lead, Seed & Feed community.

Erika Ms. Plant Whisperer is a vital member of the Lead, Seed & Feed team at Charity Services Midwest, serving as both a garden consultant and an educator. With her extensive background, including positions at Cultivate KC and Nile Valley Aquaponics, and her status as a Master Gardener since 2014, Erika brings a wealth of knowledge in planting cycles and sustainable gardening practices. Her dedication shines through in her management of the program's teenage delivery participants and her engaging gardening classes for the youth. Erika’s commitment to empowering the urban community, especially in fostering self-sufficiency through gardening, underscores her role as a key figure in the local agricultural movement and a passionate advocate for nurturing connections with the earth.

Priest Hughes, a master gardener and seasoned educator with Charity Services Midwest, plays a pivotal role in the Lead, Seed & Feed team by constructing essential garden structures and crafting our garden beds. His expertise guides the organization's planting plans, ensuring robust growth and sustainability in our community gardening initiatives. Through his hands-on approach and deep horticultural knowledge, Priest significantly contributes to nurturing the program's success and community impact.

Ms. Ten, the Garden Steward and driving force of the Lead, Seed & Feed team, began her horticultural journey with a single goal: to enjoy the taste of home-grown heirloom tomatoes. With no prior gardening experience, she learned from the wisdom of the elders, cultivating a lush garden that ignited her passion for planting. Beyond managing the garden, Ms. Ten plays a crucial role as a teacher and children's program manager, nurturing the next generation of gardeners by coordinating educational programs, creating interactive planting plans, and designing inviting garden spaces that inspire young minds to explore the wonders of growth and nature.