Did you know that African American farmers represent just 2% of our nations farmers? This stark statistic is a result of a multitude of systemic issues related to land inequity including vast health disparities, food insecurity, housing discrimination, voter suppression, and mass incarceration.

Meet June and Angie Provost, fourth-generation sugarcane farmers from Southern Lousiana who — after losing their farm to discriminatory loan practices — are fighting to rebuild their ancestral home and empower Black farmers and farm workers in order to rebuild community wealth, food sovereignty, and an engaged constituency.

Join The Provosts in a conversation led by Adrian Lipscombe, chef and owner of Uptowne Cafe & Bakery and founder of the 40 Acres and a Mule Project along with K. Rashid Nuri, author of Growing Out Loud: Journey of a Food Revolutionary and founder of the Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture in Atlanta.

They’ll be discussing land ownership, land access, power, and what it means to be a Black farmer in America.

*Please note this event will be held on zoom from 8-9:30 PM EST and registration is required in order to receive the link.

ADRIAN LIPSCOMBE

Adrian Lipscombe, a native Texan, is the owner of Uptowne Café.  She opened Uptowne Café restaurant on the Northside of La Crosse, WI to create a catalyst for change and to help revitalize the area.  Adrian’s food focuses on Southern cuisines by using local ingredients and working with farmers in the Coulee Regional and Organic Valley area.  Adrian draws her inspiration and storytelling through experiences from life and African American culinary history to tell the story of African American influence in our food culture today. 

Currently, Adrian is working on the 40 Acres Project. The mission of the 40 Acres Project is to preserve the legacy of Black agriculture and Black foodways through the purchase of Black-owned land. The intention is to practice traditional Black agricultural methods and provide resources for the food industry, create educational opportunities, a safe haven for historical archived information on traditional Black agriculture and foodways, and provide partnerships with organizations, Black farmers, and the hospitality industry. 

Adrian holds a Masters in Architecture and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Texas at Austin concentrating on the behavior of minorities to land use and transportation. 

K. RASHID NURI

K. Rashid Nuri had a powerful “burning bush” revelation while a student at Harvard. The experience set him on a global food odyssey, managing agricultural operations throughout the U.S., 35 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. He also served as Deputy Administrator for USDA during the Clinton Administration. Rashid saw, up close, the abuses and inefficiencies of Big Ag. His vision of community food sovereignty and food equity emerged with full clarity. He brought that vision to Atlanta in 2006, founding Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture (TLW). TLW became Atlanta’s premier urban agricultural organization, growing tons of chemical-free, nutritious food, providing jobs, and educating communities about food, nutrition, and self-sufficiency. Now, as the CEO of The Nuri Group, Rashid is working to expand equitable access to the tools for success in urban centers through education, funding, partnerships, and appropriate regulations for urban agriculture. Rashid is the author of Growing Out Loud: Journey of a Food Revolutionary, which chronicles his journeys, the failing state of the food supply, and offers guidance for the new food movement.

ANGELA PROVOST

Angela Provost, a farmer and activist, understands the important role agriculture plays in community development. While consulting with other organizations for the purposes of achieving progressive business models or increasing crop production, she’s also had real-time experience of operating her own farm. That knowledge drives her mission for equity within the global food system.

WENCELAUS “JUNE” PROVOST

Wenceslaus Provost Jr., aka June, is a fourth-generation farm owner. His extensive background of over 25 years in agriculture includes an award-winning portfolio. Due to his professional and personal experience, June has a passion for increasing public awareness of the importance of food and land security to black and brown communities.