On June 18, 2026 new staff members of The Black Church Food Security Network gathered over a hearty meal to celebrate the beginning of our work and journey together. BCFSN has recently welcomed three new full time staff members, two farmers, one intern and soon two youth workers! We are growing!
These new members of our team help to grow our organizational capacity and lean even more into the work of our mission which is to co-create Black food ecosystems anchored by Black churches in partnership with Black farmers and other food justice stakeholders.
As part of this “first day of school” experience, each team member was given the book, Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement by longtime friend of our organization, Dr. Monica White. (Thank you to the National Black Food & Justice Alliance for sponsoring the purchase of these and other books to support our political education work!).
Everyone heard the message of the importance of our work being grounded not in a food charity framework, but rather in one that helps to organize the power of Black communities to feed and nourish ourselves.
Please help us to welcome new members of the BCFSN team and community:
Deputy Director: Yekatit Bezooayehu (yekatit[at]blackchurchfsn.net)
Executive Assistant to the Executive Director: Kashay Hawkins (kashay[at]blackchurchfsn.net)
Program and Network Manager: Kwame Phillips (kwame[at]blackchurchfsn.net)
Garden Coordinator: Marie Tattiana Aqeel
Garden Coordinator: Sheldon Mason
College Intern: Kekoa Quisano
Youth Interns: TBA
