The story of the Southside Community Garden
Our founder, Patrice Jones and co-founder Alison Pope met speaking out against police brutality at Fort Worth city council in 2020. Patrice Jones, a fixture in the 2020 protest following the murder of George Floyd, was inspired to organize mural to memorialize Atatiana Jefferson when she noticed murals going up in Fort Worth for Vanessa Guillén, a Fort Hood soldier who disappeared April 2020. During that time murals of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were painted in cities across the country, two victims murdered by police. The city of Fort Worth or country barely knew Atatiana's name. Patrice was determined to change that.
With the help of legendary Fort Worth activist Opal Lee and community donations Jones secured the building at the intersection of Evans Avenue and Allen Avenue for the memorialization and mural for Atatiana.
"It's symbolic that Fort Worth PD is gonna have to drive by here and remember what someone from their department did to Atatiana Jefferson, an aspiring doctor” Jones said.
While organizing the mural for Jefferson, Jones realized healthy snack options and stores were limited in the community while Pope found that racial disparities in 76104 impacted the health of residents, despite the proximity to hospitals on the west side of 76104; two sides of the same zip code, divided by I-35W a dedicated method of present day segregation and redlining. With limited resources, Patrice decided she would help this community grow their own fruits and vegetables. SCG now has over 60 gardens serving over 220 people in 76104. They also facilitate healthy cooking courses and group fitness classes at community centers in 76104 at no charge to the community.
PATRICE JONES
FOUNDER
Patrice is the founder of Southside Community Garden and Executive Director of By Any Means 104. SCG is the inaugural program of BAM 104. Patrice is a social entrepreneur, impact architect and community organizer that focuses on systemic inequities in underserved BIPOC communities.
Prior to stepping into community organizing and activism Patrice was an independent insurance adjuster, life and health insurance agent and financial advisor.
She is the owner of First Class Consulting LLC where she educates, empowers and equip people to be the change they desire to see. It is no secret that are major gaps in our educational system surrounding systemic racism, food apartheid, and injustices in our judicial system and her purpose is to fill those gaps. She partners with organizations, institutions or teams regarding relationship building, effective community organizing and action-based solutions to the problems and believes that access to healthy food should be a right in the best country in the world.
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ALISON POPE
CO-FOUNDER
Alison is the co-founder of Southside Community Garden with Patrice Jones, connecting through the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and by both speaking out at Fort Worth City Hall against the lack of action and accountability in the murder of Atatiana Jefferson by FWPD.
Alison earned a Master in Public Administration from the University of North Texas in 2020. Areas of professional interest and experience include: anti violence work, education, homelessness, data analysis, and economic development. As a Fort Worth native, Alison is passionate about working for food justice in her hometown.
