During the winter term, I have been in a local co-op at the BIPOC Food & Farm Network (BFFN), as part of the Miller Fellowship Program. In this role, I have worked closely with Patty Allen, the founder of BFFN, serving as the organization’s first Communication & Events Assistant Intern. BFFN is a statewide alliance that fosters regional partnerships, centering on the leadership and experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color within agricultural food systems. Their mission is to enhance food production and distribution, creating a more equitable system that ensures greater access to locally sourced, affordable, and nutritious food for historically marginalized and under-resourced communities.
This opportunity came by way of Queen Zabriskie, Director of Coretta Scott King Center for Intellectual Freedom and Associate Professor of Sociology & Performance Studies. She included me in an email, alongside three other instant picks of BIPOC students, introducing us to BFFN. The organization was specifically looking for BIPOC students interested in agriculture and food justice to join as Miller Fellows and help establish a new co-op partnership. Through taking Queen’s Dialogue Across Differences course during the fall term, I had previously shared my experience working in the Apothecary Garden, located outside the Pennell House. When I received her email, I didn’t hesitate—I was the first to respond!
Starting the winter term with a co-op felt slightly overwhelming, yet I was eager to immerse myself in this new environment. Although I contracted COVID-19 during my first week, I refused to let that setback hinder my enthusiasm. My responsibilities primarily include office administration and assistant tasks such as managing email correspondence, attending various meetings, enhancing BFFN’s social media presence, publishing the BFFN newsletter, & designing promotional materials for events. Patty has made a concerted effort to keep me informed about upcoming events, ensuring that I am actively involved in planning and participation.
One of the most exciting events I helped with was the Project L.L.A.M.A. (Local Land & Market Access) Kick-Off on January 29, 2025, held at Homefull (Gettysburg Grocery) in Dayton, OH. Additionally, I had the privilege of accompanying Patty to two major conferences: the 3rd Annual Small & Urban Farmers Conference at Central State University (CSU) on January 24-25 & the 46th Annual Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA) Conference in Newark, OH on February 13-15. These experiences allowed me to meet many of the individuals I had previously only interacted with in virtual meetings, strengthening my professional network.
The conferences were incredibly insightful! I took detailed notes and plenty of photos to share with my Environmental Science peers, so they could benefit as well. In addition, I shared key takeaways in the Apothecary group chat with my team—Heron, Rick Kraince, and Natalie Suzelis. In just a month, I’ve gained valuable knowledge and look forward to applying it to our work and my future farm.
