Valerie Nicholson-Watson leads Harvesters—The Community Food Network, the regional Feeding America food bank serving 26 counties in northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas. Valerie joined Harvesters in this capacity in 2013 and had previously worked as Harvesters’ director of community services, responsible for the food bank’s advocacy, agency network, communications, nutrition services and volunteer program from 1999-2004. She served on the Harvesters board of directors from 2007 to 2013. Prior to Harvesters, Valerie was a leader in the local nonprofit community as the president and chief executive officer of the Niles Home for Children. The agency in 2008 was one of two agencies nationwide awarded the “Innovative Practices” Award from the Council on Accreditation (COA) for its Hip Health initiative. She also has held communications positions at Gateway, Inc., and the Kansas City, Missouri School District and worked as a journalist for The Kansas City Globe and The Kansas City Call. Valerie currently serves as chair of the board for the Missouri Food Bank Association, dba Feeding Missouri and is immediate past board chair of Nonprofit Connect. She also serves as treasurer for the W.E.B DuBois Learning Center and is a member of the US Bank Advisory Board. In 2018 she was recognized by United Media Association, Inc. with its Time Well Spent Award. In 2017 she received the Allied Food Club of Kansas City Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Community Service Award from the South Kansas City Alliance. She was named Humanitarian of the Year in 2016 by Church Women United of Kansas City, MO. In 2015, she was recognized with the Women of Distinction award by Friends of Yates, Inc. She received the Nefertiti Award from Societas Docta, Incorporated in 2014. Valerie was recognized for her volunteer service with a 2013 President’s Volunteer Service Award, and by the 100 Black Men of Kansas City with their 2012 Health and Wellness Award. She was named by the Kansas City Globe as one of the 100 Most Influential African Americans in Greater Kansas City. Valerie has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from Webster University.