In April 2023 the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (FSC/LAF), Berkeley Food Institute (BFI), American University’s Center for Environment, Community, and Equity (CECE) and Antiracist Research Policy Center (ARPC) hosted Pointing the Farm Bill Toward Racial Justice, a Farm Bill Summit & Briefing.
It was a historic convening of farmers, advocates, policy-makers, scholars, students, and the general public invested in making the next Farm Bill a policy vehicle for advancing equity across each of the twelve titles in the bill.
DAY 1
Day 1: Welcome Remarks at the Airlie Farm
Summit Overview followed by an opening prayer led by Ben Burkett, FSC/LAF Mississippi State Association.
Day 1: Overview of the summit
Speaker: Dãnia Davy, Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistant Fund
Day 1: Facilitated Discussion II – Racial Equity Definitions
Facilitated Discussion II – Racial Equity Definitions FromBlack Farmers, to Socially Disadvantaged Producers, to an IntersectionalMatrix Framework. Speakers: Dãnia Davy, FSC/LAF; Dr. Jasmine Jackson, National Black Food & Justice Alliance; Susuyu Lassa, Soul Fire Farm.
Day 1: Recap of Advocacy Institute Listening Sessions
Speakers: Ebony Woodruff, FSC/LAF Land Retention Attorney; Eric Hilton, Federation Fellow (FL); Tamara Veal, Federation Fellow (TX).
Day 1: Black Farmer Art Photo Exhibit
Speaker: Tandelyn Daniels, Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund
Day 1: Farm Labor and the Farm Bill (summarizing Alianza's April Convencia)
Speaker: Mily Treviño-Sauceda, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas
Day 1: Truth and Racial Healing Grounding Discussion
Speaker: Dr. Gail Christopher, National Collaborative for Health and Equity.
Day 1: Facilitated Discussion I – Excluded Communities
Facilitated Discussion I – Excluded Communities: Separate Histories, Shared Struggles & Solidarity Speakers: Sommer Sibilly-Brown, Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition; Abi Fain, Intertribal Agriculture Council; Edna Rodriguez, Rural Foundation Advancement International; and Jordan Treakle, National Family Farm Coalition. Moderated by Dãnia Davy
Day 1: Closing Remarks & Gratitude
Speaker: Sakeenah Shabazz, Berkeley Food Institute
DAY 2
Day 2: Welcome Remarks at the Airlie Farm
Day 2 overview and welcome from Sara Clarke Kaplan, AU Antiracist Research and Policy Center; Sakeenah Shabazz, BFI
Day 2: Pointing the Trade and Research Titles toward Racial Justice, Agroecology, & Solidarity
Speakers: Leaders of African Food Sovereignty.
Day 2: Closing Remarks
Farm Bill Summit Planning Team
Day 2: Farm Bill Introduction- Commodities Title
Speakers: Garrett Grady-Lovelace, American University; and Ben Burkett, FSC/LAF Mississippi State Association.
Day 2: Farm Bill Discussion 3- Credit and Rural Development Titles
Speakers: Darnella Burkett-Winston, Rural Coalition; John Zippert, FSC/LAF and Rural Coalition; and Dãnia Davy, FSC/LAF
Day 2: Farm Bill Discussion 2- Trade and Nutrition Titles
Speakers: Sakeenah Shabazz, BFI; Alberto Gonzalez, FNS-USDA; and Mark Clack, Oxfam
Day 2: Horticulture and Crop Insurance Titles; Research & Extension; & Miscellaneous Titles
Speakers: Bonetta Adeeb, UJAMAA Coop Farming Alliance, Bobby Wilson, FSC/LAF and Metro-Atlanta Urban Farm; Mchezaji “Che” Axum from UDC – College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES); and Lorette Picciano, Rural Coalition.