BCFSN THROUGH THE YEARS

 

2024  / Faith, Food, and Freedom

BCFSN introduced the Faith, Food, and Freedom Fellow program, established a C.S.A. (Community Supported Agriculture) program with Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, and continued amplifying our mission of food sovereignty.

2023  / Established Partnerships

BCFSN  expanded its impact by collaborating and partnering with like-minded organizations. These collaborations helped to strengthen our community presence and advance our mission towards building food sovereignty and community power.

2022  /  Launched 2 New Programs

BCFSN launched two new programs: The A.R.C. to better support the Black Farmers in our network and The Black Farm Tour, which offers immersive visits to Black-owned farms, fostering community ties and appreciation for Black agricultural heritage.

2021  / Partners with AMEC

BCFSN partnered With the International Health Commission of the African Methodist Episcopal Denomination.

2020  /  BCSA Program Starts

BCFSN launched the Black Church Supported Agriculture program, organized a food supply chain with Black Churches in the DMV, and Black farmers in North Carolina and Virginia.

2019  /  Membership Grows

The work of the BCFSN grew far beyond Maryland with partnering congregations, farmers and seminaries sprouting up in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Ohio.

2018  /  Monthly Market Starts

BCFSN launched a monthly market at Pleasant Hope Baptist Church Featuring Black farmers from North Caroline, Virginia, and Maryland.

2016  /  Members Join

10 Black congregations in Baltimore, MD joined the BCFSN and established gardens/expanding agricultural projects on their land.

2015  /  BCFSN Founded

The Black Church Food Security Network (BCFSN) was born at Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD, driven by Rev. Heber Brown, III’s vision for Black churches to grow their own food and collaborate with farmers to create local, Black-owned food systems. It was launched during the 2015 Baltimore Uprising.

FAQ’S

Membership

How does my church join the Black Church Food Security Network?

Fill out the membership form then sign up to attend one of our monthly Membership Information & Orientation Sessions. You will be advised of next steps during the virtual session.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY

No. You pick the program that’s best suited to what your congregation is most interested in today and what you have the capacity to sustain.

View our programs

Yes! Our member churches are primarily majority African American in their racial makeup, however, we have racially mixed and white congregations that are either official members or support our mission in other ways as well. Our financial resources are reserved for majority Black congregations, however we are open to partnership with everyone that feels alignment with our values.

About BCFSN

No! We are not a direct service or food charity organization. We are committed to the principles of asset-based community development, communal self-determination and community organizing. Food is the medium that we utilize to help build power in the Black community believing that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution.

No! People of all faiths and those that do not identify with any religious practice support our organization in a variety of ways.

We center our work in the bosom of the Black Church because it is the oldest and most sustainable institution created by Black people. Since the late 1700’s with the establishment of the first Black churches and denominations, African American churches have provided spiritual, mental, physical, economic, and political support to the freedom dreams of the Black community. While not perfect, these institutions have “staying power” and have proven its ability to sustain itself over time while facing direct attacks. (arson, lynchings, assassination of its members, etc.).

We are inspired by the work, legacy, and witness of numerous people and organizations including (but not limited to): Ella Baker, Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer and the Freedom Farm Cooperative, The Universal Negro Improvement Association, The Black Panther Party, The Southern Tenant Farmers Union and countless others.

Our work is supported by the generous donations of hundreds of individuals from across the United States and the financial contributions of churches, denominations and grants from a small number of committed philanthropic partners including The Claneil Foundation, Meyer Foundation, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Kataly Foundation, Why Hunger, Thrivent Charitable and Schwab Charitable.

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OUR TEAM

Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, III
Founder / Executive Director

Delshan Baker
Chief Operating Officer

Linneal Smith
Director of Events

To Be Announced
Market Manager

Ruth Tyson
Garden Manager

To be announced
Baltimore Organizer

Jitasa Group
Accounting & Bookkeeping

To Be Announced
Human Resources

Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, III

Reverend Dr. Heber M. Brown, III has been a catalyst for personal transformation and social change for more than twenty years. For nearly fourteen years, he served as pastor of a baptist church in Baltimore where he saw and personally experienced the impacts of food apartheid. This helped to inspire him to launch the Black Church Food Security Network which advances food security and food sovereignty by co-creating Black food ecosystems anchored by nearly 250 Black congregations in partnership with Black farmers and other food justice stakeholders.

He serves on the board of Bread For The World and Senior Church Advisor to Justis Connection; the premiere Black attorney referral network in the country and has garnered numerous awards including an Ashoka Fellowship. He is the author of the forthcoming book, Nothing More Sacred: Radical Stories Of Black Church Faith, Food and Freedom.

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OUR PARTNERS

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