Hope you’re doing well. There is a lot happening and we want to keep you in the loop.
We’re currently getting ready for the closing of the CA Farmer Political Leadership Fellowship 2021 in person! In the meantime, here are some upcoming events by Young Farmers and partner organizations, as well as timely funding opportunities.
Upcoming events
Liberatory Lineages: Unpacking and Resisting Anti-Blackness 4-Part Workshop Series | starts October 20th
Vigilant Love and Young Farmers are calling on our communities to join us for “Liberatory Lineages: Unpacking and Resisting Anti-Blackness,” an online, four-part workshop series that deepens our individual capacity and collective joint struggle and solidarity to unpack, resist, and intervene in anti-Blackness. This workshop series is created and led by a group of intergenerational Black, Arab, Asian, Latinx, and Muslim community leaders, scholars, artists, and land workers who are rooted in a commitment to Black liberation. We believe that Black liberation is integral and deeply interconnected to all our relationships, movements, healing, and eco-systems. Check out the event details and register here! Please contact us if you have any questions.
Young Farmers 2021 Convergence | November 8-11th
It’s not too late to register for Convergence 2021! Convergence is a week-long, majority BIPOC space open to all farmers in our network and beyond who are working on projects to advance racial equity in their communities. Through farmer-to-farmer learning and peer support, attendees will gather to dream up the farming futures they want to see and learn how to distill those visions into actionable campaigns for change, troubleshoot their own challenges, and gain organizing skills for building strong support for equitable change.
Registration is open until September 30th! Please contact organizing@youngfarmers.org if you have any questions.
LA Urban Farming In-Person Gathering! | October 9th, 12-4pm PT
Learn more about this event organized by partner organizations.
Funding Opportunities
First Nations’ Scholarship | Due September 30th
“The Native Agriculture and Food Systems Scholarship program encourages more Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian college students to enter agriculture and food systems fields so that they can better assist their communities with their food systems efforts.” Learn more here.
Mental Health Funding | Due September 30th
“WRASAP is offering a distribution of funds to partners, collaborators and stakeholders. Requested funds should address causes of and solutions for agricultural stress in the Western region. Apply for up to $10,000 (without special approval) to educate yourself/your organization or reduce agriculture-related stress and/or prevent agricultural suicides in your state/territory. Funding opportunities are available in three categories: Translation, Outreach, and Professional Development).” Learn more here.
California Department of Agriculture’s (CDFA) 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) | Due October 8th 5:00pm PT
“This year, the CDFA will once again be providing its Additional Assistance Program for Historically Underrepresented Organizations (non-profit and tribal governments) that have not previously been awarded funding through the SCBGP, do not have the technical expertise in grant writing, and who work directly in supporting socially disadvantaged, beginning farmers and underserved communities.” If you are interested in receiving additional assistance in developing a concept proposal please email Thea Rittenhouse, CDFA Farmer Equity Advisor: thea.rittenhouse@cdfa.ca.gov. More information here.
USDA Racial Justice and Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreements | Due October 28th
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing up to $50 million in cooperative agreements to support historically underserved farmers and ranchers with climate-smart agriculture and forestry. The Racial Justice and Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreements are available to entities and individuals for two year projects that expand the delivery of conservation assistance to farmers who are beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers.” More information here and here.