Conversation Guide

In response to the COVID Pandemic, many community organizations have stepped into unusual roles in food and agriculture systems to address immediate supply chain and food security issues exacerbated by the pandemic. They have responded thoughtfully and creatively to the exceptional challenges presented by the pandemic, but in doing so are developing solutions that begin to address much deeper and long-standing food and agriculture system issues that disproportionately impact communities of color. 

This panel dives deeply into the overarching theme of the conference, illuminating creative and powerful ways that communities are coming together to survive and thrive in times of uncertainty. Our discussion will address the many unknowns of the pandemic and the ongoing harm of racism.

BIPOC- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (not to be confused with “colored”)

Interdependency- A form of symbiosis, of mutual benefit to parties involved. This can be between both human and non-human organisms.

Emancipatory Approach- the encouragement of people to develop the awareness that an injustice exists, and through the process of reflexivity, they can deeply examine the processes of power that create injustice to then engage in activities that will lead to equitable outcomes.  

• How do you define your community? How could this expand?  Who “else” might be in your community?
• Where have you observed any unexpected collaborations to help fill the unprecedented need in agriculture systems?
  • Did you or your community take part in such an opportunity?
• Are there community resiliency opportunities that keep you up at night?
  • Have you taken steps to move them forward or address them? 
    • What supports do you need to do so?

• How does my work connect with this?
• How could my work connect more deeply into this space?
• Are there concepts/ideologies from this plenary that I should shape my work going forward?
• Conversely, are there concepts/ideologies in the way that I currently work that need to let go of?  What will it take to do so?

Organizations/Projects to Check Out:

New Mexico Acequia Association

Alianza Agricultura de Taos

Tewa Women United

Find a Mutual Aid Network near you

Decolonizing Wealth

NDN Collective

SOCO Farmers Market

Sierra Seeds

Additional reading:

Books:

Land Justice: Re-Imagining Land, Food, and the Commons in the United States – Edited by Justine M. Williams and Eric Holt-Giménez

As Long as Grass Grows – Dina Gilio-Whitaker

Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement – Monica M. White

The New Food Activism: Opposition, Cooperation, and Collective Action – Alison Hope Alkon & Julie Guthman: 

Farming While Black – Leah Penniman

Braiding Sweetgrass – By Robin Wall Kimmerer

Grass, Soil, Hope: A Journey Through Carbon Country – By Courtney White

Articles:

“A pig and a garden”: Fannie Lou Hamer and the Freedom Farms Cooperative 

Womanism and Agroecology: An Intersectional Praxis Seed Keeping as Acts of Political Warfare 

Ecospheric Care Work

Rethinking Resilience from Indigenous Perspectives 

Roots Deeper than Whiteness 

Red Nation Reclaims Communism

White Allies, Let’s Be Honest About Decolonization

Other Media/Opportunities:

All My Relations – Podcast from Matika Wilbur and Adrienne Keene

Uprooting Racism in the Food System – regular training from Soul Fire Farm

Funding Sources:

First Nations Development Institute

Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico

Native American Agriculture Fund

List of sustainable agriculture and food systems funders

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