In partnership with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), SAAFON awarded three scholarships to two undergraduates and one graduate student for their continued work in agriculture that promotes racial equity in food systems. The recipients of the annual Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship are Vicki Mines, Alaina Parr, and Mikelanj Ajinaku.
Vicki Mines is a community nutrition education and attends La Salle University and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Health. Alaina Parr, who is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is currently attending Northwestern University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Policy with a second major in History and a minor in Environmental Policy. Mikelanj Ajinaku is a rising senior at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness. These students were chosen because of their demonstrated level of interest, commitment, and understanding of the importance of transforming our food system, from food accessibility to justice for farm workers.
Now in our seventh year of co-stewardship of this award, SAAFON honors the organizing legacy of the late Cynthia Hayes, who co-founded SAAFON in 2006. Her life and work were rooted in relationships and amplifying Black farmer voices as essential aspects of building an alternative to the food system, the continuity of Black agrarian culture, and the movement towards Black liberation.
SAAFON sees scholarship support as an essential part of intergenerational organizing, and this year’s award builds on our continued investment in young scholars. Supporting students, their leadership, and their community service through the Hayes Memorial Scholarship commemorates our co-founder’s vision for ecosystems change. Last fall we hosted 14 Hayes Memorial scholars at the Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners (BUGS) Conference in Houston, Texas. In addition to participating in a vast BUGS itinerary of educational workshops and field trips in Houston, students got to connect during a special scholars reunion dinner hosted by NSAC and SAAFON to foster relationships, gather insights into the trajectory of our awardees, and understand the ways that the recipients want to deepen their involvement in movement-building. SAAFON learned about each scholar’s pathway, including furthering their education, becoming more rooted in community work, and desiring a place to connect with fellow students.
Since then, SAAFON has continued to weave past scholars our Southern Agrarian Youth Network (SAYN), which connects young agrarians across the Southeastern U.S. and Caribbean. We are excited to continue offering the Hayes Memorial Scholarship and enhance connection opportunities for all scholars.
