Cynthia Hayes, the founder of the Southeastern Green Network [www.sogreennetwork.org] and the Project Coordinator of the Southeastern African-American Farmers Organic Network [www.saafon.org], runs both SoGreen and SAAFON from the second floor office of her Savannah home, and her team [Terry Hayes, Ariana Marshall, Kiah Graham, David Tu and Kwasi Densu] are working with administrators and staff at Florida A&M University [FAMU] to host the "Embracing Our Traditions of Partnership: 189O Land Grant Institutions and HBCUs Reconnecting with Local Communities to Develop a Green Agenda" Summit on February 18-19, 2O11 at Florida A&M University.
As the Summit's theme suggests, the purpose of this gathering is to bring key partners and stakeholders together in an effort to collectively frame an agenda that addresses sustainable agriculture for 1890 Land Grant institutions (Aggies) and HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) while connecting the resources of these universities to limited resource farmers - a majority of which are African-American. Major stakeholders expected to attend include black organic farmers, green activists, ag-related businesses, green student groups, governmental agencies, agricultural scholars, grass-roots community groups and decision-makers at both HBCUs and Aggies.
The "Embracing Our Traditions of Partnership" Summit is a continuation of a very important dialogue that began at SoGreen Network's "Greening the Southeast" Summit held last April in Savannah. From the pre-Summit, city-wide film festivals to the hip-hop rally and the meeting of future green leaders, this year's Summit promises to be a synergy of youth energy. Several student green activist groups from FAMU including the FAMU Green Coalition, ESSO (Environmental Sciences Student Organization), the Environment and Sustainability Council, FAMU’s Student Government Association and the student-run, campus-based PRodigy Public Relations Firm, have all signed on to provide in-kind volunteer support and input for this important event. Additionally, agriculturally inspired artwork by local elementary students will be on display throughout the course of the Summit.
“It’s time to move beyond claiming our established HBCU legacy by not only embracing our traditions of partnership but maximizing the benefits of collaboration. Only when this is done can we ensure the sustainability of our HBCUs, 1890 Land Grant Institutions and their local communities,” said Ariana Marshall, a graduate student at FAMU who is a member of FAMU’s Environment and Sustainability Council and a Program Assistant with the SoGreen Network.
The two-day Summit also includes certification opportunities for farmers and college students in organic farming and environmental officer/professional sustainability. A short list of confirmed guest speakers include Shirley Sherrod, formerly of the United States Department of Agriculture [USDA]; Rev. Lennox Yearwood, of the Hip Hop Caucus; Akacia McBride, of the Delta Sigma Theta Gems; Dr. Owusu Bandele, formerly of Southern University; Irsula Ible, a Green for All Fellow; and Curt Ellis, of Slow Foods USA. A formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] and Florida A&M University [FAMU] that builds upon the important legacy of 1890 Land Grant Institutions will also take place during this historic Summit.
“I can’t think of a more appropriate and logical time or place for this Summit to happen,” says Cynthia Hayes, the Executive Director of the SoGreen Network and the Project Coordinator of SAAFON, “The green movement evolved out of a need to return to the ways of America’s first farmers and Black farmers are second only to Native Americans in their historical dedication to this land.”
There is a $99 registration fee to attend the “Embracing Our Traditions of Partnership” Summit. The Summit is free for FAMU students and $10 for non-FAMU students. However, students who plan to attend the Summit luncheon on February 19th must pay an additional $32. Register online at www.sogreennetwork.org/guyc.
- For more details regarding the SoGreen Network, visit www.sogreennetwork.org.
- For more details regarding the Southeastern African-American Farmer's Organic Network, visit www.saafon.org.
CLICK HERE to read more about the SoGreen Network!
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