About Us

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S.N.U.A.A.P. | Program Director 

Khalif decided to answer God’s calling upon his life in 2006 after serving

Grayson United Methodist Church as a Sunday school teacher for adults and

Senior High youth. He is a graduate of the Candler School of Theology at

Emory University has completed a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of

Ministry (DMin) with a focus on Food Insecurity and Asset-Based

Community Development.

I look forward to serving Zion United Methodist Church in Las Vegas,

where I believe that my gifts for building community, passion for social

justice in food insecurity, and adaptive leadership skills will be used to

Steward the vision of our incredible Conference, “A healthy church for a

healthy world.” I believe that my history of serving in leadership as a bridge

builder will help me to strengthen the connections within the ministries of

the Las Vegas community, and the connections to the agricultural

community and the people that they serve.

Bay Point Resources | Educational Specialist

Linda decided to answer God’s full-time calling upon her life in 2011, while she served at Page Community Methodist Church as Director of the Soup Kitchen. She completed her undergrad work in Theological Studies and received her Master of Business Education Degree with a Major in Organizational Leadership at the Christian University of Southern Indiana. After pastoring Zion United Methodist Church for eight years, she will continue her role as the Director of the Zion Urban Farm as Rev. Dr. Khalif Smith is appointed Pastor.

While going to college, Linda worked for 12 years as the Assistant Development Director of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. Continuing her education, she ministered on several reservations with the Native People, mostly on the Navajo Nation later. She grew up in her grandmother’s gardens in Waco, TX, where her great-grandfather was native American. Linda heard a call to full-time agricultural ministry after receiving the vision to get ready for the switch in NV. She says she’s always willing to obey the call of God, being committed to the tenacious task assigned with attention to detail, to operate with ethics and strength, serving and working with others to bring success.

S.N.U.A.A.P. | Program Associate

I was at Zion as a Community Service worker. In 1996, I was hired there for a part-time job, which became full-time, and I am still working at Zion in 2025. It has helped me to achieve a place in the community.  I have never tried to promote myself or my work. I am just trying to connect with others. I have given my life to the Lord. 

I work in the garden at Zion because I have an interest in working with Mother Earth, and I have a sense of achievement in planting and working with kids, training them in how to cultivate the dirt, pull up water lines, plant, and harvest. have come to the garden on Sundays after church to work with the kids from Desert Spring UMC, and it was beautiful. 

The Lord planted seeds, and we're planting seeds. 

This is my journey as far as today. 

S.N.U.A.A.P. | Nutritional Specialist 

Food has always been my way of serving others. As the Nutritional Specialist for the Southern Nevada Urban Agriculture Assistance Program (SNUAAP), I have the privilege of helping people discover how fresh, locally grown food can transform their health and enrich their lives. Through Garden to Table workshops, hands-on cooking demonstrations, and practical nutrition education, I strive to make healthy eating approachable, realistic, and enjoyable for everyone. I believe that every seed planted, every recipe shared, and every meal prepared creates an opportunity to build healthier families and stronger communities. My mission is to inspire people to grow with confidence, cook with purpose, and nourish themselves from the garden to the table.

S.N.U.A.A.P. |  Finance Associate

 I believe thoughtful financial management provides the foundation for meaningful and sustainable community work. As the Finance Associate for the Southern Nevada Urban Agriculture Assistance Program, I help manage financial records, monitor program expenses, and support accurate grant reporting. I value organization, accountability, and transparency, knowing that responsible stewardship allows every resource to make the greatest possible impact. I am proud to support a team that is helping individuals and families gain access to fresh food, agricultural education, and opportunities for greater self-sufficiency. Through my role, I help ensure SNUAAP remains financially organized, mission-focused, and prepared to continue serving communities throughout Southern Nevada.

S.N.U.A.A.P. | Agricultural Specialist

Chef Mitchell Bryant - Agricultural Specialist, urban agriculture trailblazer, educator, and fearless community advocate who believes agriculture should do more than grow food; it should grow people, careers, opportunity, and stronger neighborhoods.

Bryant serves as an Agricultural Specialist with the SNUAAP team, taking a leading role in developing data-collection and analysis protocols that will support the publication of USDA reports. His research, field experience, and community insight will also help shape powerful, relevant content for urban agriculture workshops.

Working alongside ZARC, Bryant helps drive project planning, workshop development, guest-speaker coordination, event organization, administrative operations, and logistical management. He also steps to the front as a facilitator and speaker, connecting agriculture, nutrition, research, workforce development, and real community needs in a way that motivates people to take action.

Bryant does not simply participate in community engagement he helps ignite it! His leadership is focused on expanding access to agricultural education, creating pathways into green-collar careers, and advancing urban agriculture initiatives throughout Southern Nevada.

As the founder of Green Side Up Vertical Farms and Green Side Up Academy, Bryant brings his unmistakable energy to every room, every workshop, and every community he serves. He empowers youth, seniors, veterans, families, and underserved populations through hands-on education, fresh-food access, culinary integration, mentorship, and workforce development. His mission is bold and clear: educate the people, grow the food, build the workforce, crush the barriers, and strengthen the community, one seed, one student, and one neighborhood at a time!