To request ASL interpretation, email info@foodforthespirit.org
before July 31, 2024
Join us for this important event exploring the power of communications and collaboration, taking a close look at two states, Kentucky and New York, and how advocates there are working together to use strategic communications, storytelling, and other power-building methods to change systems, narratives, and policies. During this virtual event, you will learn about the efforts of three Kentucky-based food and farm advocates, and how their work aligns with Food for the Spirit’s efforts in collaboration with two New York State-based partners. We will also share how you can join our efforts to build power with Black and brown farm and food actors in Buffalo and across New York State.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
2:00 PM – 2:10 PM Welcome and Opening Remarks by Food for The Spirit (F4tS)
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM Presentations by Kentucky food and farm advocates
3:10 PM – 3:40 PM Collaborative Projects with New York partners
3:45 PM – 3:55 PM Q&A Session
3:55 PM – 4:00 PM Closing Remarks
PRESENTERS
Rebekah A. Williams, Co-Founding Director, Food for the Spirit
Rebekah is an activist, organizer, and trainer from Western New York and co-founder of Food for the Spirit, the Buffalo Food Equity Network, and the Good Food Buffalo Coalition. With nearly thirty years working in nonprofits, Rebekah has experience encouraging youth leadership, social and racial justice, environmentalism, and the arts. She is a board member of Black Farmers United NYS, proud and loving mother of Bhakti Williams-Brown, and auntie of Ezekiel, Tafari, Axel, Tor, and Ylva-Li.
Von Barnes, Founder, Kentuckiana Backyard Farms
Von is the founder of Kentuckiana Backyard Farms, a micro-urban demonstration farm in the Louisville metro area. Von serves on the steering committee for Food In Neighborhoods, he serves as the urban agriculture extension agent for the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension, and he is the host and producer for the Blacker Berries Podcast for Community Farm Alliance. He has been interviewed on several podcasts, served as a panelist on an NPR segment, and notably gave a TED Talk on food insecurity in 2023.
Tiffany Bellfield, Director/Founder, Kentucky Black Farmers Association
Tiffany was raised outside of Richmond, Kentucky, where her family raised tobacco and instilled a passion for horticulture. A college degree from the National College led her to work at a local hospital where she decided that the best way she could help her community was to become a local food advocate. She started her advocacy journey volunteering in local community gardens, and later became part-owner of her childhood family estate, which she turned into a space for kids and adults to reconnect to the land. Tiffany is a dedicated pollinator conservationist, Mother of one daughter, Makayla, homeschool teacher, and community organizer.
Joanna Dorsey, Executive Director of Policy & Social Impact, Black Farmers United NYS
Joanna is an urban farmer and entrepreneur with experience in business leadership, marketing, and project management. Joanna studied Public Administration at CUNY Medgar Evers College and served as the President of the college’s NAACP Chapter. She serves as the co-advisor for the collegiate chapter of the NAACP, while also pursuing a Master in Public Administration with a focus on non-profit development at CUNY Baruch College. Joanna is the Executive Director of Policy & Social Impact for Black Farmers United- NYS, where she works to communicate the stories of Black farmers to legislators to push for equitable and inclusive laws that affect our food systems.
Ashley C. Smith, Co-founder, CEO, Black Soil KY
A native of Lexington, KY, Ashley C. Smith graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2008. She is the Co-founder and CEO of Black Soil KY and has worked for such brands as KentuckyOne Health, Bluegrass Hospitality Group, Community Ventures, NetGain Technologies, Smiley Pete Publishing, The Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center and Fayette Alliance. Smith’s leadership roles also include serving on the Management Team for the Crave Food + music festival and serving as a Steering Committee member for the Kentucky Rural Urban Exchange. Smith and Trevor Claiborn are the proud parents of Caroline and Trevor, Jr.
Jaime Swygert, Founder and Chair, Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion
Jaime Swygert is the founder of the Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion in Buffalo, NY. Swygert worked for the United States Department of Agriculture in Natural Resources Conservation Services where she was appointed as New York State’s Black Emphasis Program Manager for NRCS. There she began developing relationships with farmers across the state and she attended fairs and events on behalf of the USDA. Jaime is a member of the Buffalo Food Equity Network (BFEN), which is a group of individuals and organizations working in Buffalo’s food space convened by Food for the Spirit, and she is passionate about creating collaborative opportunities to share information in the collective food space. Jaime is the proud mother of James.
About Food for the Spirit: Food for the Spirit uses the arts and creative facilitation to support racial healing, ecological justice, and equitable food systems.
About Black Farmers United – New York State: Black Farmers United NYS is a group of over 100 Black farmers, educators, and food justice advocates from across the state, whose mission is to advocate for, unify, amplify, and create pathways to ownership for NYS Black farmers through education, policy development, networking, and mutual aid.
About Black Soil KY: Black Soil KY is a one-of-a-kind Black woman-owned small business established in 2017 which has invested over $1 million into Black farming operations, culinary businesses, creators, craftspeople, and makers through grants, strategic partnerships, sales, and agritourism activities.
About The Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion: Founded in Buffalo NY in 2019, the Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion is a space dedicated to agricultural education and lifting up the contributions and innovations of African Americans in farm science and entrepreneurship.
About Kentuckiana Backyard Farms: is community education and support group for aspiring Backyard Farmers.
About Kentucky Black Farmers Association: The Kentucky Black Farmers Association advocates for BIPOC farmers and displaced persons in agriculture by creating a solid leadership foundation. They are liaisons for accountability from agriculture agencies and provide minority landowners with education and awareness for equitable economic development.