The Northeast Farmers of Color Network

Who and What is the “Network”?

The Northeast Farmers of Color network (NEFOC Network) is an informal alliance of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian farmers making our lives on land in the Northeast region (New England, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Middle Atlantic, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania.) There are 21 founding member-farms of NEFOC and a total of over 600 farmers, land stewards, and earth workers in our network.

Currently, the NEFOC Network exists as a members-only listserv* and we also gather regionally and annually for skillshares and knowledge exchanges.

We have the following purposes:

1. To break the isolation of being farmers of color in the Northeast by building relationships of mutual respect and joy, the foundation of all other movement work.

2. To share skills, resources, and time with one other through mutual aid. To build collaborative projects and initiatives.

3. To coordinate our policy demands and catalyze reparations for Black-Indigenous-POC farmers and land stewards.

Eligibility:

• Location: Must live (or be in the process of moving to) in the Northeast Region (New England, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Middle Atlantic, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania)

• Identity: Identify as Black, Indigenous*, Latinx, Asian, or another ethnicity of color.

• Land-connected: Be a farmer, earth-worker, land steward, herbalist, medicine person, food justice activist, food systems workers, or have other connections to the land.

• Respect: Agree to abide by the NEFOC Network Community Guidelines.

*we use the term “Indigenous” as adapted from the NDN Collective: “peoples as ethnic communities whose direct ancestral lineage descends from the earliest, original inhabitants of a given region, in contrast to groups that have settled, occupied, and/or colonized the region more recently. The land on which we live and the natural resources on which we depend are inextricably linked to our identities, cultures, livelihoods, as well as our physical and spiritual well-being. The total estimated population of Indigenous peoples is approximately 370 million people worldwide (5% of the global population). We use Indigenous peoples with an “s” to recognize the diversity of individuals and groups that identify with the term, which has been distilled to a singular noun throughout history in an attempt to group our people together rather than recognize our differences and diversity. This is consistent with the UN Declaration on The Rights of Indigenous peoples. Based on this definition, do you identify as an Indigenous person to the Turtle Island/theU.S. (including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico), Mexico, or Canada?

*WHY is the NEFOC Network members-only?

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color's voices have historically been marginalized, experiencing micro and macroaggressions, stereotyping, and other forms of racialized violence in "mainstream" spaces that leave them depleted, erased, and silenced. BIPOC Safe(r) spaces offer a crucial, joyful, and healing respite from these challenges. For those seeking to understand the importance of BIPOC-only spaces, here are updated and expanded resources:

1. "Creating Safe Spaces for BIPOC and LGBTQ+: Fostering Inclusivity and Empowering Marginalized Communities" (2023) - This article emphasizes the necessity of safe spaces for promoting inclusivity, mental well-being, and community building.

2. "In Pursuit of Racial Equality in American Psychoanalysis" (2023) - Examines systemic racism in psychoanalytic training and education, emphasizing the need for equitable spaces.

3. "Microaggressions and the 'Lived Experience' of Marginality" (2021) - Explores how microaggressions shape the daily experiences of people of color.

4. "BIPOC Need Space in the Workplace: 5 Ways to Help Create It" (2024) - Offers practical advice for fostering safe spaces in professional settings, including creating affinity groups and safe dialogue spaces.

5. "Me and White Supremacy" (book) by Layla F. Saad - A seminal work on understanding and combating white supremacy.

6. "Why People of Color Need Spaces Without White People" by Kelsey Blackwell - Provides insights into the necessity of BIPOC-only spaces.

7. "Dismantling Racism: A Resource Book for Social Change Groups" by Western States Center - Offers tools for addressing systemic racism.

8. "No, Black-only Safe Spaces Are Not Racist" by Cameron Glover - Addresses misconceptions about BIPOC-only spaces.

9. "Why Environmentalists Must Make More Space for BIPOC, and How We Should Do It" by Leesa Ko - Discusses the importance of inclusivity in environmental movements.

10. “How to Show Up in BIPOC-Only Spaces Without White Centering” (paid course) by Layla F. Saad

11. “Why there’s nothing racist about black-only spaces” by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff

12. “5 Reasons We Need Black-Only Spaces (And No, Reverse Racism Isn’t One of Them)” by Michal 'MJ' Jones

13. Racial Equity Tools: Caucuses and Affinity Groups (aggregated list)

What Is the Difference Between the NEFOC Network & the NEFOC Land Trust?

About the NEFOC Network & Land Trust

In 2018, the NEFOC Network identified access to land as the greatest barrier to providing fresh, healthy food to our communities.

To address this challenge, Network members envisioned the NEFOC Land Trust as a separate entity committed to securing land and fostering equitable land relationships for BIPOC farmers, land stewards, and earth workers in the Northeast.

The NEFOC Land Trust administers the NEFOC Network listserv and occasionally offers workshops, grants, and other programming. The Network remains an informal alliance where members connect virtually and in person, using a closed, application-only listserv to ensure privacy and security.

Current Member Benefits

• Access to a secure, members-only listserv for networking and resource-sharing

• Partnership opportunities with aligned organizations

• Exclusive grants for regional NEFOC Network gatherings, trainings, and skillshares

• Early or priority registration for NEFOC-related events, trainings, and fellowships

To protect the safety and privacy of our members, we maintain strict confidentiality regarding Network activities and participation.