Promise Of Peace Board Members
The people who leads Promise Of Peace. Educators, chefs, attorneys, shop owners, and neighbors, all rowing the same direction.
Our board steers the organization toward a sustainable future. We adopt sound, ethical governance and financial policies, and they make sure Promise of Peace has the resources it needs to carry out its mission.
Our Founding Director
Elizabeth Dry
POP Founding Director
As a professional educator for over three decades, I became frustrated as I observed more and more children becoming lost in the system, and when I realized that these same children were experiencing extremely high levels of hunger, I decided to do something about it. I could no longer hear the stories of children crying themselves to sleep at night as a way to soothe themselves. And now, as all children are on screens and sometimes exposed to negative influences, we must create opportunities that ground, nourish, and inspire them. Promise of Peace Gardens is dedicated to doing this for everyone who steps into the P.O.P. food gardens. We want all children and their families to have sustained access to locally grown, nutrient-dense food.
Meet the Board
Mynetta Cockerell
POP Vice President
Mynetta has served as executive chef in some of the most prestigious kitchens in Dallas, and she has mentored hundreds of young, now-renowned chefs over her career. She joined the POP family in 2017 and has served as culinary coordinator for many of our farm-to-table dinners and for Okrapalooza. Today she coordinates our Soup It Forward food sharing program and contributes delicious recipes and dishes to our community events.
Alexis Ramsey
POP Secretary · Blog & Newsletter Coordinator
The POP Gardens and food justice platform has profoundly resonated with me. When I learned about the significant impact of the POP Dallas gardens, I felt a strong calling to become involved with this mission. I have a deep commitment to yoga and holistic health. My wellness journey began with a 200-hour Registered Yoga Therapist certification in 2012, next a Health Coach and Integrative Nutrition certification in 2016, followed by a 300-hour certification in 2019. It is a true privilege to share and promote overall wellness within my Mineola community, and I am excited to contribute to the POP Gardens' mission.
Katharine O'Brien
POP Legal Advisor
I first moved to Dallas over 10 years ago and had the good fortune of living near POP's very first garden. As an educator, I was shocked at how disconnected our children were from their food. As POP expanded, I witnessed the transformative power of the garden, not just for children, but for families and the community. Working with POP has helped me grow as well, to understand the importance of sustainable agriculture, the seed-to-table cycle, and fueling your body with nutrient-rich organic food. Now, as a mom, competitive rower, attorney, and law firm owner, I am proud to serve on the POP board to help further POP's mission within our community and beyond, so that others can experience the same growth, connection, and empowerment in the garden.
Francis Stroup
POP Volunteer Coordinator
For years I would hear from my chef friends about Elizabeth and her work with the POP Gardens. After being laid off from my job and receiving a cancer diagnosis, I finally had the time to go see what this wonderful work was about. Sitting in the garden one day proved quite therapeutic. I met some of her student volunteers, who were tasting okra right off the stalk and letting their parents taste it, then gathering some for mom to cook later. One middle-school-aged girl told me her mom had started cooking vegetables because of her work in the garden. That is when I realized how important Elizabeth's work was, and how she was changing lives. Fast forward to 2018. After going through my cancer treatments, I became very interested in nutrition as a preventative measure against cancer and other chronic disease. I became a volunteer at the garden, and then a board member in 2021.
Terry Lynn Creenshaw
POP Soup It Forward Coordinator
Terry Lynn Creenshaw serves as our Soup It Forward Coordinator. A fuller bio is coming soon.
Deborah Mushock
POP Marketing Coordinator
Deborah Mushock is an East Texas entrepreneur, oil painter, and community leader whose creative vision and entrepreneurial spirit shape everything she does. She is the owner and sole operator of Reel Inn and Lodge in Quitman, Texas. Deborah is passionate about creating meaningful spaces that inspire connection, beauty, and a sense of belonging. Her work blends art, hospitality, and community engagement, reflecting her belief that thoughtfully designed environments can bring people together and foster healing. Deborah's commitment to creativity, hospitality, and service makes her a natural fit for the Promise of Peace board. She is honored to contribute her artistic perspective, business experience, and passion for building spaces that offer comfort, hope, and food security to Promise of Peace Gardens.
Jennifer Crutcher
POP Fundraising & Development
Cara Goldberg
POP Community Engagement Coordinator
Cara enjoys eating whole foods and learning more about the importance of healthful eating and the idea of "food as medicine." She grew up in Dallas, and when she first moved to Mineola, she discovered the Promise of Peace garden while visiting the Nature Preserve. Cara fell in love with the idea of providing nutritional and environmental educational opportunities for kids and families, and empowering our local community. She is a TV producer and real estate professional by trade. Having served on a nonprofit board in the past, she is excited to contribute her energy to supporting our local communities.
Marquita Stottern
POP Webmaster
Learning about the Promise of Peace mission and seeing what it brings to our community has been exciting, and I am eagerly anticipating all that is to come. My background includes raising three children in Mineola, owning a Mineola shop, 20 years in technology and educational learning in the Mineola area, where I am currently employed at Mineola ISD, running an online business, and developing a future Airbnb with a small venue setting. I am thrilled to have POP in our community and to become part of their team. It will be inspiring to watch God move this innovative project forward through Elizabeth's energy and her desire to help our children and families as POP betters our community.
Kim Raymond
POP Event Coordinator
Kim Raymond serves as our Event Coordinator. A fuller bio is coming soon.
Salvador Nava
POP Web Designer
Gardening has a way of connecting people like no other hobby. Meeting Elizabeth for the first time was a memorable experience for me. I was impressed with her passion and her desire to care for, teach, and inspire children using the garden. The mission of Promise of Peace is a necessity within the school system and community, at a time when people are disconnected from how food gets to their table. I can see the benefit of all people learning to garden. Learning about what you eat can teach people how God made our bodies as a temple that we need to take care of. I believe in connecting to God through the garden, and Promise of Peace is a perfect avenue to share the love that I have with the people around me, especially the children.
Help Our Board Keep This Growing
Our board gives their time. You can give the resources that turn their work into gardens, soup kits, and kids who know where their food comes from. Every dollar stays local.
Board Questions
Who governs Promise of Peace Gardens?
Promise of Peace is led by founding director Elizabeth Dry and guided by a volunteer board of community members, educators, culinary professionals, attorneys, and business owners who oversee its governance, finances, and mission.
How can I join the board or get involved?
We welcome community members who want to give their time and skills. To ask about serving on the board, volunteering, or partnering with us, call Elizabeth at 214-240-9220 or use the form on this page.
Is Promise of Peace Gardens a nonprofit?
Yes. Promise of Peace Gardens is a nonprofit organization based in Mineola, Texas, and every dollar donated stays local to support youth farm programs and food security across East Texas.
Promise of Peace Gardens
Elizabeth Dry | 214-240-9220
Sunshine Acres Community Farm, Mineola, Texas
©7:11 PM Promise of Peace Gardens. All rights reserved.
