As the immense stress of a global pandemic lays bare the vulnerabilities and racial inequities in our country, we have become undeniably aware of the repeated traumatization of entire communities due to injustice, racism and police brutality.
We link ourselves in solidarity with black and brown families and the Black Lives Matter movement, and stand in support of all who have endured for too long within the confines of systemic racism.
We recognize that food equity will never be achieved locally or globally without the eradication of racism and injustice in the food system. As we continue our mission to support equitable food systems, universal access to local agriculture, and the food born from our farm, we will view that mission with a renewed focus on diversity within our organization and strive to reflect the diversity of the families we serve and work to break down barriers to equity.
We acknowledge that there is a process of reflection and learning before us in order for our organization and its policies and practices to better represent and reflect our community. We are committed to engage in that process. We will listen. We will educate ourselves. We will learn the ways we can act, speak out and engage alongside those voices which have been oppressed so that we better understand the daily struggle of many and can participate in social justice.
Waltham Fields Community Farm has long been a place of solace, community, grounding and inspiration and we remain committed to fostering a peaceful, nourishing and inclusive space for everyone as well as looking at how we may strengthen our mission of local food for everyone.
On December 9, 2020, our entire year-round staff joined with workshop facilitators from Soul Fire Farm for their Uprooting Racism in the Food System virtual workshop. Soul Fire Farm is an Afro-Indigenous centered community farm committed to uprooting racism and seeding sovereignty in the food system. Our session hosted over 100 participants from across the country and we engaged with other agricultural organizations as well as individuals in intimate break-out groups and delved into the history and realities of racial injustice and food sovereignty with our guides from Soul Fire Farm. This workshop and our newly expanded community will challenge and support us through our action planning.
Participants were given permission to share a video of Naima Penniman reciting her poem “Black Gold”, written for Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on Land by Leah Penniman (both SFF workshop facilitators). “The poem tells some of the U.S. history of food system and land justice through the voice of the SOIL." We hope you may take a few moments to listen and learn more about Soul Fire Farm.
In addition, members of WFCF’s Board of Directors participated in a workshop offered by the Cambridge Volunteer Clearinghouse and the Cambridge Nonprofit Coalition aimed at building an inclusive and diverse board of directors.
Part of the work in these coming months will be utilizing our trainings and engaging with more people to identifying our best path forward, where we have fallen short, and where our short-term and long-term goals land regarding our role in creating a more equitable food and agricultural landscape.
Together, we can help WFCF evolve into a stronger organization, better equipped to participate meaningfully in efforts to upend systemic racism in our food system. We invite you to share your thoughts with us as we continue this process.
These resources may support greater awareness and action. This list will build and we would like to hear from you if you have a resource to share with our community.
Uncomfortable Conversation with a Black Man
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