WASHINGTON — “My vision for the future of agriculture is one that pairs our deep need for climate justice with our complementary need for racial justice,” says Aaryn Wilson, recent Plant Science undergrad from the University of Minnesota.
Aaryn is part of the inaugural cohort of the Equipping Next Gen Ag and Conservation Professionals Mentorship Program. The cohort consists of twelve recent graduates, current students, and early career young professionals of color interested in careers in agricultural conservation and committed to reaching underserved farmers.
“I want to pave the way for the BIPOC population to further equip, educate, empower, and encourage more diversity in crop profiles on a farm,” says Heather Rose small business owner of Forever Healing Us, “as well as the leaders to further expand the narrative of becoming a black farmer in the Midwest, which is almost nonexistent.”
Over the next ten months, this mentee cohort will connect with mentors, farmers, and trainers who represent diverse ag communities across the Upper Midwest.
“As a mentor I hope to provide a space for a mentee to openly seek [and ask] anything when trying to navigate the world of agriculture, conservation and food systems,” says Celize Cristy Organizer for HEAL Food Alliance.
The Mentorship Program is hosted by Green Lands Blue Waters and the Mississippi River Network and is funded by a 2022 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Equity Conservation Agreement.
Read full biographies for all twelve mentees and eight mentors at https://greenlandsbluewaters.org/next-gen-ag-leaders/
For more information about the program or to coordinate interviews with interested mentees, please reach out to Maisah at mkhan@1mississippi.org
About the Mississippi River Network (MRN) and its 1 Mississippi Program
MRN is a coalition of over 60 organizations dedicated to creating a healthier Mississippi River by working for the well-being of the people, land, water, and wildlife of America’s largest watershed. One of the ways the Network advances its goal of a healthier Mississippi River is through its 1 Mississippi program – the only public outreach program of its kind for the Mississippi River. Learn more about MRN at https://mississippiriver.org/
About Green Lands Blue Waters (GLBW)
Green Lands Blue Waters (GLBW) is a vision for profitable agriculture based on keeping the soil covered productively year-round: farming with Continuous Living Cover. GLBW is primarily a networking organization with a broad range of partners – universities, researchers, educators, producer associations, environmental groups, businesses, nonprofits, governmental agencies, and practitioners. GLBW acts as a connector, collaborator, convener, and communicator serving multiple partners and focusing on opportunities and challenges that our partners identify but cannot tackle alone. GLBW is a member organization of MRN. Learn more about GLBW at https://greenlandsbluewaters.org/
–Mississippi River Network
Green Lands Blue Waters