Faces of Homewood: Kenyon Ross

Many community initiatives have been brewing in West Homewood, and Kenyon Ross is at the heart of them.

Ross and his wife, Ami, graduated from Samford University 20 years ago and have been active in Shades Valley Community Church for almost 18 years. Over those years, he’s facilitated a church men’s group, served as a cub scout leader and organized church retreats. He also created a kid’s night out event for children of single moms, where he and other male role models spend time with children who don’t have a father figure in their lives.

After living in Homewood for many years, he and his family now live in Bluff Park and by day he works as director of marketing at Staypoints, a nationwide guest reward program, but they spend much of their time investing in West Homewood.

On Tuesday nights Ross meets with a group of 15 fellow church members to discuss “What is Good” initiatives. They strive to seek the good of their community with neighbors through activities that encourage relationships and build trust — all to share together that which is good. It is from these ideals that the West Homewood Farmer’s Market was born.

“We decided early on that our market would be intentionally kept small in size where we never plan on having more than 14 booths,” Ross said. “We really don’t have any other agenda other than to host and to enjoy a really good farmer’s market. It’s great to see the neighborhood attending the market and bringing their pets with them.”

Ross said he hopes for the market to welcome food trucks in the future as well as add specialty vendors, but overall they simply want it to be what the neighborhood and church desire it to be.

To learn more about the market, visit westhomewood.com.