HEAL Food Alliance

2025 School of Political Leadership 

Mississippi Fresh

Sharon Jimerson

(she/her)

Student Researcher, 
Mississippi Fresh

It’s time to peel back the layers of disparity within our food systems, uncovering the realities of food apartheid, and together, with the power of community-driven solutions, cultivate a future where food justice nourishes all. The SoPL will be invaluable to my team and I as we strive to reimagine food and nutrition solutions for our communities that are more sustainable. This is an opportunity to learn from and collaborate with fellow food and farm leaders to create a long-term plan that brings employment and economic revival to the Mississippi Delta.

Meet Sharon

Sharon is a multifaceted advocate, community organizer, and graduate research assistant with a love for improving food systems and addressing health inequities. Currently pursuing an M.S. in Food and Nutrition Policy and Programs at Tufts University, Sharon is actively engaged in community-based work, including developing food system plans, advocating for socially disadvantaged farmers, and conducting community engagement strategy training. Prior to her graduate studies, Sharon earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Sociology from Tougaloo College in 2023, where she began working with the Reuben V. Anderson Center for Justice as a student researcher investigating the historical and contemporary experiences of food insecurity and its impact on African Americans in the Mississippi Delta. As a Mississippi native, she is dedicated to social justice and improving the lives of marginalized communities in her home state.