Mission - Vision - Values

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 Black farmers and advocates on the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) BIPOC Advisory Committee came together to expand on Roosevelt Tarlesson's vision for equitable 

land access, flexible training for farmworkers, and cooperative housing. Comprising Tarlesson, Dennis Hutson, Temu Asyr Martin Bey, and Nelson Hawkins, this group sought to build upon the groundwork laid by Tarlesson's U-Farm, Home, and NESDAC organizations. 

•  The united mission was to open more pathways for Black and indigenous people of color (BIPOC) into sustainable agriculture while addressing longstanding inequities. By collaborating across our respective groups, we aimed to make land, education, and affordable housing more accessible to BIPOC farmers and workers. 

A couple members from Growing Communities (aka CropSwap LA), Adam X and John Garside, joined forces with the existing group. The Community Alliance with Family Farms, led by Policy Director Jamie Fanous and Executive Director Paul Towers, also partnered on a unified effort. Together, they advocated for a $2.5 million state budget allocation to purchase the Upper Holland Ranch (316+/- acres) in West Sacramento and launch a land access program.

Nelson Hawkins spearheaded outreach to gather support from local leaders and organizations:

• Support letters from elected officials: 
  • Yolo County Supervisor Oscar Villegas
  • West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero
  • West Sacramento Mayor pro-tem Quirina Orozco
  • West Sacramento City Councilmember Dawnté Early-West
  • West Sacramento City Manager Aaron Laurel
• Sign-on support from local farmers and farmer supporting organizations: 
  • Afrikan Black Coalition
  • Brown Sugar Farm
  • Center for Land Based Learning
  • Community Alliance with Family Farmers
  • Cultural Roots Nursery
  • EatGoodful
  • Feed Black Futures
  • Global Food Justice Center for Expertise
  • Grocery Croppers
  • Growing The Table
  • Kiss The Ground
  • Kitchen Table Advisors
  • Hip Hop Congress
  • National Young Farmers Coalition
  • Sacramento Food Policy Council
  • Sankofa Market
  • Table Farm Table Bread
  • We Grow Urban Farm
  • West Sacramento Urban Farm Program
  • Yisrael Family Farm

This diverse coalition unified behind the vision of increasing equitable land access for BIPOC farmers and sustainable agriculture initiatives.

In June, the coalition officially filed their $2.5 million state budget request through Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. The funding aimed to purchase the Upper Holland Ranch in West Sacramento to launch an equitable land access and agriculture training program.

Growing Communities (CropSwap LA) took the organizational lead, hiring Nelson Hawkins as the local project manager. Hawkins was tasked with building support and preparing to acquire the ranch property once funded.

 July - Began land search in Yolo County after Upper Holland Ranch became unfit for project needs. 

• Visited properties in Winters and Woodland
• Pursued interest in an 80+/- acre property on Road 89 in Winters
• Began connecting with CA FarmLink to line up bridge financing for potential acquisition

An announcement was made about a potential $5 million state budget allocation for Yolo County through Senator Bill Dodd and Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. This bundled request would be shared with three other projects in the region, if approved.

In anticipation of receiving funding, the team took the following steps:

• Started developing plans to build the land access program
• Officially started a working relationship with Kendra Johnson (formerly with Agrarian Trust) to assist with: 
  • Collective decision making
  • Structuring a local advisory council
  • Establishing a land-holding entity
• Continued the land search, now pursuing a 63+/- acre property in Clarksburg, CA

• January - Growing Communities/CropSwap LA withdrew their lead role and participation in the project due to internal reasons.
• January - Formation of a local advisory council with scheduled monthly meetings. The original purpose was to advise Agriculture Project Manager Nelson Hawkins on developing and implementing project goals, objectives, and vision. 
  • Council Members: 
    • Sri Sethuratnam (Center for Land-Based Learning)
    • Paul Towers (Community Alliance with Family Farmers)
    • Thomas Nelson (Kitchen Table Advisors)
    • Nate Brown (Brown Sugar Farm)
    • Keith Hudson (Grocery Croppers)
    • Brian Pinkney (We Grow Urban Farm)
• February - Formation of a Leadership team comprised of: 
  • Nelson Hawkins (We Grow Farms)
  • Nate Brown (Brown Sugar Farm)
  • Keith Hudson (Grocery Croppers)
  • Brian Pinkney (We Grow Urban Farm)
• March - Project became fiscally sponsored by Possibility Labs.

The withdrawal of Growing Communities/CropSwap LA prompted a restructuring, with the formation of a local advisory council and leadership team to steer the project's direction. This new organizational structure aimed to collectively guide the development and implementation of the equitable land access and agriculture training initiatives.

With key organizational pieces in place, the team initiated efforts to raise awareness and gather input from local communities. This included:

• Conducting outreach at the Rural Justice Summit in Merced and the Black Farmers Conference in Fresno to introduce the project's mission.
• Engaging Brandi Mack and her organizations People's Land Fund / BHealthy BHolistic to provide technical assistance specifically focused on pre-development activities and community engagement strategies.

 Key milestones this summer included formally registering as the Ujamaa Farmer Collective Association non-profit organization. This official status allowed the group to truly establish itself as a comprehensive entity dedicated to the mission of equitable land access.

To build a strong governance foundation, the association partnered with Mai Nguyen from Minnow to collaboratively develop a collective decision-making model befitting the non-profit's structure.

Simultaneously, the search for a property kicked into higher gear, with the Ujamaa Farmer team touring and expressing interest in a 70-acre farm in Esparto known as the Haag Farm. Acquiring land remained the critical next step.

 After touring potential properties, the pivotal milestone of securing land for the Ujamaa Farmer Collective Association was achieved in fall 2023. Key events included:

• Signing a purchase agreement in September for a property located at 44017 County Road 17 in Woodland.
• Initiating the escrow process the following month for this same County Road 17 parcel.
• Successfully closing escrow in December and officially acquiring the approximately 22-acre property in Woodland for $1 million.

With a significant property asset now under the association's ownership, the groundwork could begin for establishing agriculture training programs, equitable land leasing initiatives, and infrastructure to support BIPOC farmers.

 After touring potential properties, the pivotal milestone of securing land for the Ujamaa Farmer Collective Association was achieved in fall 2023. Key events included:

• Signing a purchase agreement in September for a property located at 44017 County Road 17 in Woodland.
• Initiating the escrow process the following month for this same County Road 17 parcel.
• Successfully closing escrow in December and officially acquiring the approximately 22-acre property in Woodland for $1 million.

With a significant property asset now under the association's ownership, the groundwork could begin for establishing agriculture training programs, equitable land leasing initiatives, and infrastructure to support BIPOC farmers.