To read this article in English, please click here.

Escrito por Starletta Watson

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La acción comunitaria en Greensboro, Carolina del Norte, ha estado plenamente activa en el vecindario East White Oak para hacer frente a su actual crisis de acceso a los alimentos. El 24 de febrero de 2024 Greensboro Mutual Aid (GMA) inauguró su segunda Nevera de la libertad y organizó su Mercado realmente gratuito en el Centro Comunitario East White Oak (EWOCC). La Nevera de la libertad se instaló en un lado del edificio de EWOCC dentro de un contenedor con estantes destinados a productos perecederos, pintado con colores vibrantes y cálidos, como un faro de apoyo y bondad para la comunidad.

GMA es un grupo comunitario dedicado a conectar a la gente para compartir recursos en toda la ciudad con el fin de apoyar iniciativas de vivienda y de necesidades esenciales. Desde su aparición en 2020 durante la pandemia, GMA ha utilizado recursos compartidos o de ayuda mutua para la comunidad a través de plataformas digitales y sociales de recaudación de fondos, ha organizado protestas, reuniones comunitarias y eventos, ha creado mercados gratuitos y un sinfín de otros proyectos de apoyo para personas con necesidades. Este aliado comunitario del Comité sobre Equidad Racial en el Sistema Alimentario (CORE, por sus siglas en inglés) ha colaborado con varios organizadores comunitarios de Greensboro en los proyectos de la Nevera de la libertad, entre ellos la Iglesia Luterana Prince of Peace y EWOCC.

Fue muy gratificante ver cómo GMA incorporaba la celebración de la segunda Nevera de la libertad a otra iniciativa comunitaria, el Mercado realmente gratuito. Durante todos sus mercados gratuitos, piden a los miembros de la comunidad que traigan cosas como ropa y artículos para el hogar que no necesiten y que se lleven las cosas que sí necesitan. El espacio en EWOCC, también conocido como La Gran Casa Verde, se llenó de artículos para el hogar, ropa, libros, juguetes, suministros médicos, pequeños electrodomésticos, artículos de limpieza y mucho más, entre otras cosas, con la alegría de la comunidad.

Las Neveras de la libertad son neveras públicas y gratuitas mantenidas por GMA y la comunidad a la que sirven. Conceptos similares han ido apareciendo por todo el país con comunidades de distintos orígenes para ayudar a remediar las injusticias alimentarias, como por ejemplo la nevera gratuita de Southside Community Farm en Asheville y la Nevera comunitaria gratuita de Charlotte. Greensboro Mutual Aid se ha inspirado para la Nevera de la libertad en proyectos de organizaciones de distintas ciudades de EE UU. Esta es la segunda vez que GMA ha organizado una Nevera de la libertad. La primera (una colaboración en la que también participaron estudiantes de N.C. A&T) se instaló en la Iglesia Luterana Prince of Peace, en la zona sur de Greensboro.

La EWO es conocida por su capacidad para organizarse y ser su propio líder, ya que el centro comunitario tiene su propia y rica historia de proveer para sí mismos. Antes de inaugurar la Nevera de la libertad, dos habitantes de la zona desde su infancia, Cathy Gant Hill y Alice Drake, que son miembros de la junta directiva de EWOCC, hablaron del pasado del centro cuando era una escuela en 1916. La escuela East White Oak abrió sus puertas específicamente para educar a los hijos de los trabajadores de Cone Mill del vecindario, y tras su funcionamiento durante 35 años como escuela, además de iglesia y YMCA, evolucionó hasta convertirse en el centro comunitario que conocemos hoy. Durante la década de 1950, una coalición de líderes comunitarios se unió para evitar que el concejo de la ciudad arrasara con “La Gran Casa Verde” reuniendo suficiente dinero a través de recaudaciones de fondos y venta de placas para comprar y operar las instalaciones como un centro comunitario.

EWO ha sido una comunidad históricamente marginada que carece de acceso alimentario desde que Winn-Dixie cerró en 2005, dejando a la comunidad entre dos supermercados fuera de su alcance. Otras comunidades de Greensboro similares a EWO que experimentan inseguridad alimentaria indican disparidades socioeconómicas que perpetúan los malos resultados en materia de salud. Una forma en que los vecindarios como EWO hacen frente a estas barreras sistémicas es colaborando con organizaciones como Greensboro Mutual Aid en iniciativas comunitarias para mejorar el apoyo y el acceso alimentario en el lado este de Greensboro. Pero éste no es el único lado de Greensboro que sufre la desigualdad en el acceso alimentario, ya que la primera Nevera de la libertad se encuentra justo al sur del centro de la ciudad, en la Iglesia Luterana Prince of Peace, en el vecindario de Warnersville.

Este mapa de alimentos locales creado por la Fundación Wesley de UNCG muestra que GMA está combatiendo la disparidad del acceso alimentario en ese vecindario, al igual que EWO. Otros estudios de diversas instituciones muestran que Warnersville y EWO se ven inmersos en un efecto periférico. En esta situación, los minoristas del sector alimentario tienden a elegir sedes directamente adyacentes a carreteras concurridas y de fácil acceso. A menudo se extienden a lo largo de secciones censales y otros límites geográficos, lo que hace que el acceso alimentario adecuado quede fuera del alcance de vecindarios como Warnersville y EWO.

Al final del evento de inauguración, GMA pidió a los jóvenes del vecindario de EWO que cortaran la cinta inaugural de la Nevera de la libertad. Fue refrescante ver la participación de los jóvenes de la comunidad en la inauguración del Mercado realmente gratuito y la Nevera de la libertad. Algunos jóvenes trajeron productos no perecederos para ayudar a llenar las áreas de despensa del contenedor exterior de la nevera. La artista mural y directora de CORE, Bevelyn Ukah, rindió homenaje a un joven llamado Amuarin Niquae Watkins pintando un mural lleno de colores cálidos y vibrantes por todo el contenedor exterior de la nevera, incluido el dibujo de una mochila rebosante de naranjas. Un día, Watkins llevó naranjas al centro comunitario para compartirlas con los demás. Ukah declaró en su discurso: “Nadie le pidio que lo hiciera. Este fue un acto de amor y de bondad. Este acto ejemplificó perfectamente lo que significa ser una comunidad y lo que significa practicar amorosamente la ayuda mutua.” Desde los actos generosos que inspiraron este mural, ver a los jóvenes mantener secciones del Mercado realmente gratuito, hasta los que ayudaron a limpiar el centro comunitario tras la inauguración de la Nevera de la libertad, la ayuda mutua es un acto que se siente a través de múltiples generaciones. Estos momentos, llenos de generosidad mutua y cariño en los eventos organizados por GMA, ponen en perspectiva la urgencia del movimiento por la Justicia Alimentaria, concretamente que GMA y los miembros jóvenes de la comunidad están dispuestos a hacer el trabajo por la equidad en el acceso alimentario.

To read this article in Spanish, please click here.

Written by Starletta Watson

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Community-based action in Greensboro, NC has been in full effect in the East White Oak neighborhood to address its ongoing food access crisis. On February 24, 2024 Greensboro Mutual Aid (GMA) unveiled their second Freedom Fridge and hosted their Really Really Free Market at the East White Oak Community Center (EWOCC). The Freedom Fridge sat on the side of the EWOCC building inside of a container with shelves for perishables, painted with vibrant and warm colors, like a beacon of community support and kindness.

GMA is a community group dedicated to connecting people to share resources across the city to support housing and essential needs. Since its emergence in 2020 during the pandemic, GMA has utilized shared resources or mutual aid for the community through digital and social fundraising platforms, hosted protests, community gatherings, and events, created free markets, and a host of other projects supporting folks in need. This Committee on Racial Equity in the Food System (CORE) community partner has collaborated with several Greensboro community organizers on the Freedom Fridge projects, including the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and the EWOCC.

It was great to see GMA incorporate the celebration of the second Freedom Fridge with another community-run initiative, the Really Really Free Market. During all of their free markets, they ask that community members bring things like clothing and home goods that they don’t need and take the things that they do need. The space at the EWOCC, aka The Big Green House, was filled with household items, clothes, books, toys, medical supplies, small appliances, cleaning supplies, and so much more – including joy from the community.

Freedom Fridges are free and public refrigerators that are maintained by GMA and the community they serve. Similar concepts have been popping up across the country with communities of different backgrounds to help food injustices, like the free fridge by Southside Community Farm in Asheville and the Free Community Fridge in Charlotte. Greensboro Mutual Aid has cited its inspirations behind the Freedom Fridge from projects by organizations across cities in the US. This is the second time GMA has curated a Freedom Fridge, with the first fridge – a collaboration that also included students from N.C. A&T – located at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on the south side of Greensboro.

EWO is no stranger to coming together and being its own leader, as the community center has its own rich history of providing for itself. Before the ribbon cutting of the Freedom Fridge, childhood residents Cathy Gant Hill and Alice Drake, who are board members of the EWOCC, spoke of the center’s past as a school in 1916. East White Oak School opened specifically to educate the children of Cone Mill workers in the neighborhood, and after its 35-year run as the school – as well as a church and a YMCA – it evolved into the community center we know today. During the 1950s, a coalition of community leaders came together to avoid city council’s raze of “The Big Green House” by raising enough money through fundraisers and selling plates to buy and operate the facility as a community hub.

EWO has been a historically marginalized community lacking food access since Winn-Dixie closed in 2005, leaving the community between two grocery stores that are out of reach. Other communities in Greensboro similar to EWO experiencing food insecurity indicate socioeconomic disparities that perpetuate poor health outcomes. One way neighborhoods like EWO address these systemic barriers is by collaborating with organizations like Greensboro Mutual Aid in community-based initiatives to improve support and food access on the east side of Greensboro. But this isn’t the only side of Greensboro suffering from unequal food access, as the first Freedom Fridge is just south of downtown at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in the Warnersville neighborhood.

This local food map created by the Wesley Foundation at UNCG shows that GMA is challenging the disparity of food access in that neighborhood, as well as EWO. Further studies from other institutions show that Warnersville and EWO are situated in an edge effect. In this situation, food retailers tend to choose locations directly adjacent to busy and easily accessible roads. They often run along census tracts and other geographic boundaries, resulting in adequate food access being out of reach for neighborhoods like Warnersville and EWO. 

At the end of the unveiling, GMA asked young people from the EWO neighborhood to cut the ribbon of the Freedom Fridge. It was refreshing to see the involvement of young community members at the Really Really Free Market and Freedom Fridge unveiling. Some young people brought non-perishables to help fill up the pantry areas of the fridge’s outside container. Mural artist and CORE Director Bevelyn Ukah acknowledged a young person named Amuarin Niquae Watkins by painting a mural full of warm and vibrant colors all over the fridge’s shell container, including a drawing of a backpack overflowing with oranges. One day, Watkins brought oranges to the community center to share with others. Ukah stated in her speech, “This act wasn’t prompted. This act was loving, it was kind. This act perfectly exemplified what it means to be a community, and what it means to lovingly practice mutual aid.” From the generous acts that inspired this mural, watching young people maintain sections of the Really Really Free Market, and those helping to clean up the community center after the Freedom Fridge unveiling, mutual aid is an act that is felt throughout multiple generations. These moments, filled with mutual sharing and caring at GMA-hosted events, put into perspective the urgency of the Food Justice movement, specifically that GMA and young community members are ready to do the work toward food access equity.

To read this article in English, click here.

Escrito y transcrito por Daphne Hines, consultora de comunicación creativa del Comité sobre Equidad Racial en el Sistema Alimentario (CORE), en colaboración con Cleaster Cotton y Cynde Allen, cofundadoras de WNC EarthMates.

WNC EarthMates es una visión colectiva creada y dirigida pensando en la salud y el bienestar de la comunidad de Asheville. Celebramos a las cofundadoras Cleaster Cotton (conservacionista cultural, inventora de los códigos ALNUGE, educadora, agricultora, autora y artista) y Cynde Allen (herborista, agricultora, educadora y artista). Su trabajo se enfoca en revitalizar la interdependencia comunitaria y es un llamado conmovedor a recuperar las prácticas indígenas y recordar las tradiciones culturales dentro de los sistemas alimentarios a través del arte y la agricultura.

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Con legados personales basados en el empoderamiento de comunidades subrepresentadas, el trabajo de Cotton y Allen se basa en enriquecer las mentes en formación de Asheville a través del arte y las experiencias inmersivas que celebran el legado natural y cultural de la interdependencia agrícola. Como profesionales del sistema alimentario BIPOC, Cotton y Allen consideran que las prácticas indígenas, las relaciones cultivadas en comunidad y los espacios agrícolas son de naturaleza simbiótica.

Con un enfoque clave en el desarrollo de la juventud, WNC EarthMates colabora con Youth Artists Empowered (YAE, por sus siglas en inglés) , una iniciativa juvenil de Asheville que utiliza el arte, la educación y la naturaleza como marco bajo el cual se enseñan habilidades esenciales para comprender mejor la interdependencia entre los seres humanos y la naturaleza, y empoderar económicamente a los jóvenes.

A menudo se subestiman los recursos necesarios para apoyar a los jóvenes, pero YAE y WNC EarthMates Creative Workshop Series son un excelente ejemplo de apoyo al crecimiento personal y profesional de los jóvenes. En 2022, el Museo de Arte de Asheville expuso el documental fotográfico y cinematográfico de los estudiantes de EJA llamado “The Faces of Change [Las caras del cambio]”, que fue el resultado de un proyecto de fotoperiodismo dirigido por jóvenes que duró siete meses y se centró en los efectos inmediatos y desproporcionados del cambio climático sobre las comunidades BIPOC y los vecindarios con bajos ingresos. WNC EarthMates ha descubierto que “una parte importante para poder crear estas experiencias es poder contar con los recursos necesarios para contratar a personas que puedan trabajar con los jóvenes y darles todo lo que necesitan”.

De 2020 a 2022, muchos vieron que las restricciones a la interacción social obstaculizaban la participación comunitaria con fines bienintencionados, pero WNC EarthMates lo vio como una oportunidad para volver a la naturaleza, dirigiendo talleres de arte para jóvenes en entornos naturales como por ejemplo a lo largo del río y en Southside Community Farm. Estas experiencias proporcionaron a muchos jóvenes la interacción, recursos y espacio que tanto necesitaban para expandirse creativamente. WNC EarthMates cree que los huertos proporcionan un lienzo donde se puede encontrar “libertad, alegría, facilidad y un sentido de lugar y pertenencia”.

WNC EarthMates colabora con diversos granjeros, agricultores, administradores de la Tierra y creativos BIPOC, con sede en la comunidad históricamente negra de Southside, en Asheville, donde Southside Community Farm es un centro de alcance comunitario dirigido por las comunidades BIPOC. Esta comunidad fortalece las conexiones, apoya el bienestar colectivo, organiza talleres locales, un mercado de agricultores BIPOC estacional y otros eventos.

Lo más importante para Cotton y Allen es que su trabajo trata las disparidades de nuestros sistemas alimentarios y las necesidades de la comunidad. Desde la perspectiva de Allen, “nuestro trabajo con las artes, educación y capacitación económica se une al acceso a los alimentos, administración de la tierra y equidad racial – estamos fusionando esas piezas de una manera intencional que inspira a nuestras comunidades”.

Centrada en la sanación, la equidad y el empoderamiento, WNC EarthMates es una colaboración multigeneracional con fundamentos basados en la educación y la confianza. Como explica Cotton, “la confianza es lo que nos ayuda a establecer las relaciones y la comunicación necesarias para apoyar a nuestra comunidad. En WNC EarthMates utilizamos nuestras similitudes y experiencias como “estudiantes de la Tierra” para respetar el planeta. Nuestra cultura, tradiciones y herencia de caminar por el planeta de forma respetuosa están inspiradas en nuestros antepasados y El Creador”. Su compromiso con el fortalecimiento de las relaciones sociales y de colaboración en su comunidad; es una responsabilidad que no se toma a la ligera y refleja la forma en que cultivan durante todo el año una variada mezcla de semillas, productos y hierbas de raíces nativas. Al pasar a apoyar y cultivar sistemas alimentarios locales, muchos vuelven a descubrir la alegría, accesibilidad y diversidad de los cultivos nativos y los métodos tradicionales de cultivo. Su equipo, en el que se incluye la administradora de granja, Chloe Moore, guía a jóvenes y miembros de la comunidad a través de visitas de degustación a granjas, compartiendo sus ofertas para ayudar a otros a experimentar una sanación multisensorial que también revitaliza las conexiones de los participantes con la tierra.

Con un profundo amor por la comunidad que promueve e inspira iniciativas, los esfuerzos de Cotton y Allen por involucrar a su comunidad animan a agricultores, trabajadores agrícolas y miembros de la comunidad a hacer posibles los sistemas alimentarios locales. Por ejemplo, organizaron “Feed The Farmers” [Alimente a los agricultores], degustaciones de productos específicos de los agricultores que incluyen comidas preparadas gourmet y mezclas de té artesanal entregadas a los agricultores, ofreciendo a los agricultores una deliciosa experiencia de los frutos de su trabajo. La organización también ha ofrecido eventos improvisados como “ensaladas del huerto” para los nativos de Asheville que tal vez no tengan los medios o la oportunidad de probar productos frescos del huerto, celebrando al mismo tiempo la belleza que podemos cultivar cuando colaboramos con la tierra. Desde la perspectiva de WNC EarthMates, “como cuidadores y responsables de la tierra, estas plantas confían en nosotros para hacer lo correcto” Existe una conexión emocional, una relación y una responsabilidad. Ese huerto llamado “Three Sisters [Tres Hermanas]” con la imponente planta de frijoles Cherokee, calabazas y maíz… somos responsables de lo que necesita… amor, agua, cosecha… todo”. Para WNC EarthMates, la responsabilidad con la Tierra y la alimentación de su gente también se destaca en el mantenimiento y almacenamiento de la comunidad de Southside “Free Fresh Food Fridge” [Nevera de alimentos frescos gratuitos], donde se hacen donaciones de productos locales y alimentos y la gente puede tomar lo que necesitan sin dinero a cambio.

Si desea apoyar a WNC EarthMates y a los agricultores y artesanos locales de la comunidad de Asheville, no deje de visitar el Mercado Agrícola BIPOC que abrirá sus puertas para la temporada 2024 el 5 de mayo de 2024. Consulte aquí el calendario completo de 2024.

WNC EarthMates y Youth Artists Empowered agradecen cualquier tipo de apoyo: monetario, recursos compartidos, voluntarios en la granja, materiales de arte y para huertos, semillas e historias compartidas, o cualquier otra forma en la que quiera contribuir o colaborar. Tienen patrocinio fiscal para recibir donaciones. Para contactar con ellos o hacer un donativo, puede encontrarlos en Instagram en @WNCEarthMates, @YouthArtistsEmpowered o a través del correo electrónico: wncearthmates@gmail.com o youthartistsempowered@gmail.com.

The Committee on Racial Equity in the Food System (CORE) developed this leadership series thanks to generous private donors.

To read this article in Spanish, please click here.

Written and transcribed by Daphne Hines, Committee on Racial Equity in the Food System (CORE) Creative Communications Consultant, in collaboration with WNC EarthMates Co-Founders Cleaster Cotton and Cynde Allen.

WNC EarthMates, a partner of CEFS’ Committee on Racial Equity in the Food System (CORE), is a collective vision created and orchestrated with the health and wellbeing of the Asheville community in mind. We celebrate co-founders Cleaster Cotton (Cultural Conservationist, ALNUGE Codes Inventor, Educator, Farmer, Author, and Artist) and Cynde Allen (Herbalist, Farmer, Educator, and Artist). Their work is fixed in reinvigorating communal interdependence and is a soulful call to reclaim indigenous practices and recall cultural traditions within food systems through art and agriculture.

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With personal legacies rooted in empowering underrepresented communities, Cotton and Allen’s work is rooted in nurturing budding minds in Asheville through art and immersive experiences that celebrate the natural, cultural legacy of agricultural interdependence. As BIPOC food system practitioners, Cotton and Allen see indigenous practices, relationships cultivated in community, and agricultural spaces as symbiotic in nature.

With a key focus on youth development, WNC EarthMates collaborates with Youth Artists Empowered (YAE), an Asheville youth initiative that utilizes art, education and nature as the umbrella under which to teach life skills to better understand the interdependency between humans and nature, and economically empower youth. 

Oftentimes, the resources needed to support youth are underestimated, but YAE and WNC EarthMates Creative Workshop Series is an excellent example of supporting personal and professional growth for youth. In 2022, the Asheville Art Museum exhibited YAE students’ photographic and film documentary entitled, “The Faces of Change,” which was a culmination of a seven month long youth-led photojournalism project that focused on the immediate and disproportionate effects of climate change on BIPOC and low income neighborhoods. WNC Earthmates has found that, “a major part of being able to create these experiences is being able to have the resources to hire people that can work with youth and give them all that they need.”

From 2020 – 2022, many saw social interaction restrictions hinder well-meaning community engagement, but WNC EarthMates saw it as an opportunity to get back into nature, leading youth art workshops in natural environments such as along the river and at Southside Community Farm. These experiences provided many youth with much needed interaction, resources, and space to expand creatively. WNC EarthMates believes that gardens provide a canvas where “freedom, joy, ease, and a sense of place and belonging” can be found. 

WNC EarthMates partners with several BIPOC farmers, growers, Earth stewards, and creatives, based in Asheville’s historically Black Southside Community where Southside Community Farm is a hub for community-based and BIPOC-led outreach. This community strengthens connections, supports collective wellness, hosts local workshops, a seasonal BIPOC Farmer’s Market, and other events.

What is most important for Cotton and Allen is that their work addresses the disparities in our food systems and needs of the community. From Allen’s perspective, “our work with arts, education, and economic empowerment meets food access, land stewardship, and racial equity – we’re merging those pieces in an intentional way that inspires our communities.”

Focused on healing, equity, and empowerment, WNC EarthMates is a multigenerational collaboration with a foundation built on education and trust. As Cotton explains, “trust is what helps us build the relationships and communication needed to support our community. At WNC EarthMates we use our similarities and experiences being ‘Earth’s students’ to respect the planet. Our culture, traditions, and heritage of walking the planet in a respectful way are inspired by our Ancestors and The Creator.” A responsibility not taken lightly, their commitment to nurturing the social and collaborative bonds in their community mirrors how they cultivate an eclectic mix of indigenously rooted seeds, produce, and herbs year round. By shifting to supporting and cultivating local food systems, many are rediscovering the joy, accessibility, and diversity of native crops and traditional methods of farming. Their team, including Farm Manager Chloe Moore, guides youth and community members through farmtasting tours, sharing its offerings to help others experience multi-sensory healing that also revitalizes participants’ connections to the land.

With a deep love for community that fosters and inspires action, Cotton and Allen’s efforts to engage their community empowers farmers, agricultural workers, and community members to make local food systems possible. For example, they have hosted “Feed The Farmers” –  farmer-specific produce tastings including gourmet prepared meals and artisan tea blends delivered to farmers – offering farmers a delightful experience of the fruits of their labor. The organization has also offered impromptu “Gardenside Salads” for Asheville natives who may not have the means or opportunity to try garden-fresh produce, while celebrating the beauty we can cultivate when we collaborate with the Earth. From WNC EarthMates perspective, “As caretakers and Earth stewards, we’re being trusted by these plants to do the right thing. There is an emotional connection, a relationship, and a responsibility. That ‘Three Sisters’ garden bed with the towering Cherokee bean plant, squash, and corn…  we are responsible for what it needs… the love, the water, the harvest… – everything.” For WNC EarthMates, the responsibility to the Earth and nourishing her people is also highlighted in maintaining and stocking the Southside Community “Free Fresh Food Fridge” where donations of local produce and food are made and people may take what they need without money being exchanged.

If you would like to support WNC EarthMates and the local farmers and artisans of the Asheville community, be sure to visit the BIPOC Farmers’ Market opening for the 2024 season on May 5, 2024. View the full 2024 schedule here.

WNC EarthMates and Youth Artists Empowered are grateful to receive support in any form: monetary, resource sharing, volunteers at the farm, art and garden supplies, seed and story sharing, or any other way you would like to contribute or collaborate. They are fiscally sponsored to receive donations. To get in touch or donate they can be found on Instagram at @WNCEarthMates, @YouthArtistsEmpowered or through email at wncearthmates@gmail.com or youthartistsempowered@gmail.com.

To read this article in English, click here.

Written and transcribed by Daphne Hines in collaboration with Dr. Niesha Douglas in celebration of Women’s History Month (March 2024).

Las mujeres han tenido un rol fundamental en la estructuración de la agricultura y los sistemas alimentarios, contribuyendo significativamente al sustento y crecimiento de nuestras comunidades. Este Mes de la Historia de la Mujer celebramos a mujeres como la Dra. Niesha Douglas, investigadora comunitaria y coautora de “Everybody Eats: Communication and the Paths to Food Justice.” Este mes, conoceremos el compromiso de Niesha con los sistemas alimentarios equitativos, su investigación y su pasión por satisfacer las necesidades de nuestras comunidades en torno a los puntos de acceso.

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¿Cómo comenzó su trabajo relacionado con el sistema alimentario? ¿Qué la inspiró a empezar este trabajo?

Como estudiante de posgrado, volví a mi ciudad natal, Greensboro. Mi abuela me crió y participó activamente en la comunidad. Pero, hacia la época en que volví a Greensboro, ella ya no podía asistir a las reuniones de la comunidad. Como estudiante de posgrado y madre, no creía que pudiera asumir su cargo, pero otros miembros de la comunidad me animaron a hacerlo, reconociendo mi potencial para ser una voz que pudiera hablar de sus necesidades.

Cuando por fin asistí a una reunión, el debate se centró en la creación de un mercado de agricultores en nuestra comunidad. Cuando asistí a la reunión, escuché y me di cuenta de que algunas de las personas que querían construir este mercado no formaban parte de mi comunidad, y las que sí, no se escuchaban, así que empecé a hablar. Formulé preguntas importantes para asegurarme de que este mercado agrícola fuera más útil que perjudicial para la comunidad.

En el pasado tuvimos gente que venía a la comunidad a ayudar, pero se iban cuando los resultados no se ajustaban a sus necesidades. Personalmente, estaba decidida a impedir el tipo de dinámica extractiva que, a la larga, dejaría a mi comunidad con los mismos problemas que intentábamos resolver.

Al crecer, nunca pensé que mi comunidad fuese pobre porque la gente de mi zona era muy rica en historia, con muchos profesores, abogados, ingenieros y otros que trabajaban en puestos de alto nivel en empresas o fábricas. Al observar los problemas y desigualdades de mi comunidad, decidí iniciar mi carrera profesional en el sector de los sistemas alimentarios. Seguí yendo a más reuniones municipales y del condado, convirtiéndome en la representante designada de mi comunidad.

¿Qué elemento describiría como esencial para un futuro alimentario equitativo y justo?

Un futuro alimentario equitativo depende de la concientización y el empoderamiento de las comunidades para impulsar el cambio. El núcleo de la comunidad son las personas que viven en ella. Algunos miembros pueden aportar tiempo, otros dinero. Cuando combinamos nuestros recursos, el cambio siempre es posible.He presenciado personalmente el poder transformador de la colaboración comunitaria, ya que asistí al Centro Mount Moriah Church Outreach. Con sólo 75 miembros en esa época, crearon un banco de alimentos. Los miembros reunieron dinero para el banco de alimentos todos los meses y éste creció más y más; con el tiempo recibieron subvenciones y donaciones adicionales. En general, una comprensión compartida de la agencia colectiva es esencial para desarrollar sistemas alimentarios sostenibles y equitativos.

¿Qué preguntas responden sus trabajos e investigaciones?

Mi investigación responde a preguntas como: “¿Cómo podemos crear un entorno en el que la gente tenga acceso?”. Ya sea para el acceso a alimentos, servicios de cuidado infantil o servicios sociales, ¿cómo podemos crear un sistema en el que el camino hacia estos puntos de acceso sea más fácil? ¿Cómo podemos ayudar a esta comunidad a prosperar? ¿Cuáles son los pasos necesarios que debemos dar para ayudar a construir esta comunidad y con quién tenemos que hablar?”. Me fijo en todo el sistema porque representa más que solamente la seguridad alimentaria.

Es esencial comprender por qué las comunidades o grupos demográficos específicos sufren inseguridad alimentaria. La inseguridad alimentaria es un síntoma, mientras que la pobreza es el problema. Me fijo en el funcionamiento de todo el sistema para encontrar vías de acceso a mejores condiciones. Hago todo lo que puedo para ayudar a la gente de mi comunidad a encontrar un trabajo digno o a superar otras dificultades, utilizando la comida como catalizador del cambio.

¿Por qué cree que son importantes iniciativas como el Comité para la Equidad Racial en el Sistema Alimentario (CORE, por sus siglas en inglés)?

Como iniciativa centrada en la equidad, CORE es esencial y necesaria. Cuando las personas se sienten vistas o apreciadas en su trabajo, independientemente de su raza, clase social o género, y reciben un trato equitativo, se obtiene lo mejor de ellas, y eso es lo que hace CORE.

CORE nos recuerda que cada persona proviene de una cultura diferente y que conocernos mejor puede ayudarnos a crecer y desarrollarnos. CORE es también un recordatorio de que soy una persona como usted; de que debemos tener en cuenta nuestras acciones y cómo afectan a los demás, o a nuestros cuerpos. Gracias al trabajo que realizamos en CORE, nuestras respuestas son más informadas y menos reactivas, y se nos anima a responsabilizarnos de nuestras reacciones basándonos en el conocimiento.

La Dra . Niesha Douglas trabaja actualmente en proyectos de investigación comunitaria: “Visión de nuestro futuro alimentario”, en el que se está llevando a cabo un plan de evaluación alimentaria para los condados de Bladen, Columbus y Robeson, en el sureste de Carolina del Norte y el proyecto CORE de “Investigación del arte como método”.

The Committee on Racial Equity in the Food System (CORE) developed this leadership series thanks to generous private donors.

To read this article in Spanish, click here.

Written and transcribed by Daphne Hines in collaboration with Dr. Niesha Douglas in celebration of Women’s History Month (March 2024).

Women have played pivotal roles in shaping agriculture and food systems, contributing significantly to the sustenance and growth of our communities. This Women’s History Month, we celebrate women like Dr. Niesha Douglas, Community Based Researcher and Co-Author of “Everybody Eats: Communication and the Paths to Food Justice.” This month, we take a look at Niesha’s commitment to equitable food systems, her research, and passion for resourcing the needs of our communities around points of access.  

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How did you begin your work around the food system? What inspired you to start? 

As a graduate student, I moved back to my hometown community of Greensboro. My grandmother raised me and was active in the community. But, around the time I moved back to Greensboro, she wasn’t able to attend community meetings anymore. As a grad student and parent, I didn’t think I would be able to step in to take on her role, but other community members encouraged me to do so, recognizing my potential to be a voice that could speak to their needs.

When I finally attended a meeting, the discussion centered on creating a farmers market in our community. As I sat in on that meeting, I listened and I found that some of the individuals that wanted this market weren’t part of my community; and those that were, weren’t being heard – so, I just started talking. I brought up important questions to make sure that this farmers market would be more helpful than harmful to the community. 

In the past, we’ve had people come into the community to help, but leave when outcomes don’t suit their needs. Personally, I was determined to prevent the type of extractive dynamic that would ultimately leave my community with the same issues we sought to resolve.

Growing up, I never thought of my community as being poor because the people in my area were so rich in history, with many teachers, lawyers, engineers, and others working high level jobs in companies or factories. Witnessing the challenges and disparities within my community, I decided to start my career in food systems work. I continued to go to more city and county meetings, becoming the designated representative for my community.

What would you describe as an essential element for an equitable and just food future? 

An equitable food future hinges on community awareness and empowerment to ignite change. The core of the community is the people that live there. Some members can give time, others can give money – when we combine our resources together – change is always possible. 

I have personally witnessed the transformative power of community collaboration, as I attended Mount Moriah Church & Outreach Center. With only about 75 members at the time, they started a food bank. Members pooled money toward the food bank every month and it grew bigger and bigger; eventually they received grant funding and additional donations.

Overall, a shared understanding of collective agency is essential for cultivating sustainable and equitable food systems.

What questions does your work and research respond to? 

My research responds to questions around: “How can we create an environment where people have access?” Whether it’s access to food, daycare, or social services; how can we create a system where the path to access is easier? How can we help this community thrive? What are some necessary steps we need to take to help build this community and who do we need to talk to?” I look at the entire system because it’s more than just helping with food security.  

It’s so essential to understand why communities or specific demographic groups are experiencing food insecurity. Food insecurity is a symptom, whereas poverty is the problem. I look at how the whole system is operating to find ways for access to better conditions. I do my best to help in ways where my expertise or my influence can help people from my community find livable wage jobs or try to mitigate other hardships, using food as a catalyst for change.

Why do you think initiatives like the Committee on Racial Equity in the Food System (CORE) are important?

As an initiative centered within addressing equity, CORE is essential and needed. When people feel seen or appreciated within their work, regardless of their race, class, or gender and are treated in an equitable manner – you get the best out of them and that’s what CORE does. CORE reminds us that everybody comes from different walks of life/cultures and understanding more about each other can help us all grow and develop. CORE is also a reminder that I’m a person just like you; that we need to consider our actions and how they affect each other, or our bodies. Thanks to the work we do at CORE our responses are more informed and less reactive, and we are encouraged to take responsibility for our reactions based on knowledge.

Dr. Niesha Douglas is currently working on Community-Based Research projects that include: Visioning our Food Future in which they are completing a food assessment plan for Bladen, Columbus, and Robeson counties in Southeastern NC and CORE Art as Method Research Project.

The theme for Black History Month 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts”. The Center for Environmental Farming System (CEFS) Committee on Racial Equity in the Food System (CORE) is excited to announce a new, yet grounded-in-history community research project focused on food systems and the arts.   

In a groundbreaking initiative to bridge racial equity and institutional change related to food systems, a group of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BlPOC) food systems researchers, artists, and visionary leaders are facilitating a transformative community research journey known as “Art as Method.”

Assembled in early 2023 by Bevelyn Ukah, Director of CEFS CORE and artist, this team is tasked with responding to Outcome 4, one of five planned outcomes of the project grant. Outcome 4 focuses on creating clear pathways for racial equity and policy transformation within large institutions as well as fostering personal and professional development among BIPOC food systems practitioners. In juxtaposition to and in an effort to heal from the historical extraction of data from communities in research, “Art as Method” is modeling and studying how art can provide limitless possibilities for people to share their stories, transcend language differences, and ultimately shift culture and institutions towards racial equity and justice. 

While bolstered by generous private donor support, the project methodology and team member collaborations have been years in the making. In fact, Ukah credits several of the project team members with inspiring her own journey into food systems and youth leadership work many years ago, including through the Food Youth Initiative.  

Left to Right: Isabel Lu, Dr. Niesha Douglas, Chris Gillespie, Bevelyn Ukah, Dr. Santos Flores, Daphne Hines

In addition to Ukah, the Outcomes 4 team includes: Dr. Niesha Douglas, Community-Based Food System Research Scholar for the Visioning our Food Future Project in Southeastern NC and author of Everybody Eats: Communication and the Paths to Food Justice; Dr. Santos Flores, member of the Earthseed Collective; CORE Fellows Chris Gillespie and Isabel Lu; and CORE Creative Communications Consultant Daphne Hines. This team brings a unique combination of knowledge and experience in policy, institutional change, leadership development, and the arts. The project also includes community partners working in the areas of climate justice, mutual aid, youth development, land sovereignty, and the arts across North Carolina, including DurmPAC (learn more in Hines’ Black History Month interview in with Nori McDuffie – English or Spanish), Greensboro Mutual Aid, the NC Climate Justice Collective, and WNC Earthmates.

As a central part of their community of practice, Art as Method holds monthly retreats during which they refine the project methodology and practice racial equity principles. Project activities have included a September 2023 BIPOC food systems leadership retreat that included a land and public art tour, a series of story gathering sessions using art as the research methodology, meals sourced locally from a BIPOC catering company, and an ancestral story circle led by Cleaster Cotton, artist and co-founder of WNC Earthmates. In addition to the BIPOC food systems leadership retreat, Art as Method also facilitated a story gathering session with food and climate justice activists during the 2023 NC Climate Justice Summit.

As the project progresses, the team plans to share more about their findings and methodology through a series of events showcasing the transformative power of art in research. Stay tuned for updates and insights from the Outcomes 4 team and follow the CORE events calendar to find opportunities to engage with the “Art as Method” project. 

The Committee on Racial Equity in the Food System (CORE) developed this leadership series thanks to generous private donors.

To read this article in Spanish, click here.

Written and transcribed by Daphne Hines in collaboration with Nori McDuffie in celebration of Black History Month (February 2024).

Celebrations of historic innovation and the achievements of Black people began early in the 1900s, gaining momentum thanks to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Once a week-long celebration, Black History Week was extended to Black History Month and became federally recognized in 1976, and enshrined into public law in 1986. In addition to celebrating vital and often under-recognized historical figures, we’re excited to highlight community leaders whose influence is inspiring our communities and future generations to take action NOW. Join the Committee on Racial Equity in the Food System (CORE) as we explore how art catalyzes  radical shifts in healing, accessibility, and equity with Nori McDuffie of DurmPAC (Durham, NC).

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Nori McDuffie’s work around community and youth engagement as a Project Facilitator at DurmPAC centers accessibility as an integral part of community building. Durham Powerful Arts Collective, or DurmPAC, is reshaping attitudes towards how we can evolve as a society with sufficient access, acknowledgement, and support. Nori, an artist himself, explores the essence of “Black Performance” – seamlessly weaving between instances of the mundane and extraordinary. Renowned in the Durham community for innovative zines, exciting exhibits, and transformative workshops, Nori fosters communal development and healing through art, envisioning a world grounded in love for a just and equitable future.

As a Youth Project Assistant for the City of Durham in 2020, Nori led the publication of a youth-centered zine project in collaboration with 7 young people (Jett Pavlica – web developer & designer, Celia Donnelly – illustrator, Aminah Jenkins – assistant project facilitator, Atom Edwards – planning strategist, Alexis King – social media/facilitator, Jesse Steele – assistant project facilitator, and Delaysia Myers – social media) to create DurmPAC, a shared space to imagine change in the community. “In creating DurmPAC, we initially came together wanting to create a space for young people to exist in; submit their art; and for them to be honored, seen, and valued. Creating a “hub” where their art is represented in a way that feels respected is essential; when many art spaces are primarily curated with adults in mind.” 

From Nori’s perspective, these spaces need to be available so that young people can collaborate together in community, in a way that honors their efforts, without policing their creativity. His philosophy is “letting young people create the things that they want to see. We can guide them, help them when they need help, and support them –  but we must trust and allow them to be the leaders of their own work and vision.”

The launch of Sawubona (2020), a beautifully designed and youth-centered digital zine, is a prime example, as Nori puts it, “of [creatively] not getting stuck in ideas we know.” Nori’s leadership in reimagining the role of zines as a communal voice has led to DurmPAC’s partnership with Pop Box Gallery, shining a light through the imaginative lens of young artists and community expression in works such as: Prototype (zine), We Don’t Care: Reclaiming Our Environment (exhibit), and UpstART Gallery: A Jim Lee Project (exhibit) – to name a few.

“Supply Drop” is another way DurmPAC demonstrates their commitment to redefining accessibility and cultivating community. As Nori explains, “with Supply Drop, DurmPAC aimed to illuminate peoples’ daily opportunities to create art and supply them with tools for artistic engagement.” There are times when people may want to apply to an art show with brilliant ideas, but do not have the materials to do so. Supply Drop allowed more people to be able to create and submit their work, opening up the possibility of being selected for an exhibition. Even if their art isn’t selected, they now have their work and materials needed to create freely. DurmPAC coupled Supply Drop with youth-led workshops about different artistic forms, such as Cyanotyping, to explore art in a way that may be new to many.

While accessibility is crucial for success, DurmPAC recognizes the importance of equitable experiences throughout the art process to provide a sturdy foundation that participants can build upon. As Nori states, “Youth need exposure to the process of submitting their art to an exhibition or gallery; and also, having their work shown publicly and with the potential to be sold. It’s also fundamental to pay youth for their time; in the economy we live in – youth need to be monetarily compensated. We do our best to value and respect the young people we work with and connect them to the same type of opportunities that adults benefit from.”

As an artist himself, Nori is passionate about creating dialog and dynamic, healing conversations through art. “Very simply, I want people talking to each other. I want people to interrogate themselves and I want people to interrogate the world that they live in. I want people to start to recognize in what ways they may be oppressed,the ways they may be oppressing others, and the ways in which they can find freedom within themselves and capture their experiences. I think art is meant to move people and highlight when there’s something going on. Art brings about conversation that can change the dynamic at any point.”

Nori and DurmPAC remain committed to uplifting community, youth, and BIPOC voices, creating more opportunities for community expression and innovation in 2024. Exciting upcoming exhibits include Intersection, Haptic Happening, and a collaborative exhibit with the CEFS CORE Outcome 4 Research Team focused on how the intersection of art, food, history, and community can propel our farming systems and its participants into a more just and equitable future. 

Nori and DurmPAC will also be leading a series of art and food workshops in collaboration with CEFS CORE later this year. Please stay tuned to our events page for more information on how to participate.

For more information about the projects, programs, future exhibits, or ways you can support DurmPAC and its mission, please visit their interactive website here.