Legacy Taste of the Garden and their partners are hosting the second annual Black Loam Conference May 19 and 20 at the Madam Walker Legacy Center in downtown Indianapolis.
Legacy Taste of the Garden and their partners are hosting the second annual Black Loam Conference May 19 and 20 at the Madam Walker Legacy Center in downtown Indianapolis. This is the capstone event to the four regional Black Loam Conferences held around the state this year. The event will kick off with an evening networking reception on May 19 from 6-9 p.m. and finish with an all-day event on May 20, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m.
Led by the Jamerson family, this conference came together through the dedicated work of a dynamic team to identify the Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) farming communities’ needs throughout the state. The Black Loam conferences are committed to building agricultural relationships and providing support to gain access to conservation information. This conference connects with underserved regional communities to provide introductions to USDA programs and resources available to BIPOC and socially disadvantaged rural, urban and community producers. The goal is to assist them in accessing and increasing participation in USDA programs, loans, grants and scholarships, sustainable agriculture practices, business planning and community development.
Legacy’s Jamerson’s say they “are excited to offer this grand finale of conferences to bring information and opportunities to BIPOC farmers, producers and communities to strengthen relationships, and to build legacies and wealth in the best, richest foundations of black loam soil available.”
This year’s lunch keynote speaker will be Malik Kenyatta Yakini. Yakini is co-founder and executive director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. He operates a seven-acre farm and is spearheading the opening of the Detroit Food commons. Yakini views this work as part of the larger movement for building power, self-determination and justice for African People. He is passionate in contributing to the development of an international black food sovereignty movement that embraces black communities In the Americas, the Caribbean and Africa.
Other notable speakers at this year’s conference include Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D. and Professor of Community Justice and Social Economic Development at John Jay College, City University of New York and Jerry Raynor, Director of the Financial Assistant Program Division for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Registration for the Black Loam Conference is open and free, but seats are limited. Register today by visiting https://www.legacytasteofthegarden.com/events.