Award-winning poets and activists Alixa Garcia and Naima Penniman of Climbing PoeTree explore the mutuality binding our existence through oppression and liberation. Their art, presented at the

Award-winning poets and activists Alixa Garcia and Naima Penniman of Climbing PoeTree explore the mutuality binding our existence through oppression and liberation. Their art, presented at the 2016 National Bioneers Conference, catalyzes action and offers solutions for pressing social and ecological issues, emphasizing our shared belonging. Watch their full talk here: http://bit.ly/2lTHbh5

Since 1990, Bioneers has served as a vital hub for innovators addressing global environmental and social challenges. Support Bioneers today: www.bioneers.org/donate. Subscribe to their Radio Series, join their mailing list: http://www.bioneers.org/subscribe, and connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bioneers.org and Twitter: https://twitter.com/bioneers.

Our most cherished sustainable farming practices, from organic agriculture to the farm cooperative, have roots in African wisdom, but discrimination and violence against African-American farmers

Our most cherished sustainable farming practices, from organic agriculture to the farm cooperative, have roots in African wisdom, but discrimination and violence against African-American farmers have led to their decline from 14% of all growers in 1920 to less than 2% today. Furthermore, Black communities suffer disproportionately from food apartheid. Renowned longtime farmer, educator, author, and food sovereignty activist, Leah Penniman, explains the deep roots of this land loss and food injustice and shares the work she at Soul Fire Farm and others around the country in Black and Brown farming communities are doing to reclaim ancestral rights, renew ties to the land, achieve genuine agency in the food system, and advance food sovereignty. (Leah is also the sister of frequent Bioneers presenter Naima Penniman, half of the brilliant musical/spoken-word duo, Climbing PoeTree.)

Leah Penniman delivered this talk at the Bioneers 2020 Conference, introduced by Nina Simons. Watch more keynote videos at https://bioneers.org/2020talks/

Leah Penniman is a Black Kreyol farmer, mother, Vodun Manye (Queen Mother), and award-winning food justice activist who has been tending the soil and organizing for an anti-racist food system for over 20 years. She currently serves as founding Co-Executive Director of Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, New York, a people-of-color led project that works toward food and land justice, which she co-founded in 2010. She is the author of: "Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land."

To learn more about Leah's work, visit Soul Fire Farm at https://www.soulfirefarm.org/

Multimedia artists Alixa Garcia and Naima Penniman, known as Climbing PoeTree, present their original spoken word poetry.

This performance was delivered at the 2013 Bioneers Annual

Multimedia artists Alixa Garcia and Naima Penniman, known as Climbing PoeTree, present their original spoken word poetry.

This performance was delivered at the 2013 Bioneers Annual Conference and published on December 9, 2013.