BRAIDEd

Sustaining the Steward

In this episode of BRAIDEd, host Keionna Thomas sits down with Dr. Connie Baptiste, a fifth generation farmer and military veteran who identifies mental wellness as the essential foundation of land stewardship. Dr. Baptiste reflects on the emotional weight of becoming the first person in her lineage to own her farm after generations of ancestors worked as sharecroppers. The discussion addresses the invisible mental health crisis in the agricultural industry and the importance of using language that fosters safety and wellness for farmers. Dr. Baptiste also examines the connection between military discipline and farming while calling for collective efforts to preserve family land. The episode concludes with a reflection from Ms. Valerie of the EcoWomanist Institute Southeast, who utilizes the teachings of bell hooks to describe self recovery as a vital strategy for liberation and communal healing. Together, these voices argue that true agricultural sustainability starts with the wellbeing of the people on the land.

Sowing Justice

In this fourth and final episode of BRAIDEd Season 1, host Keionna Thomas sits down with Cicely Garrett, co-executive director of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance, to examine the intersection of policy, racial justice, and economic opportunity in agriculture. They discuss the shortcomings of the Inflation Reduction Act, the historical parallels between current farm bill debates and 1968 civil rights legislation, and the critical shift from "coming to get our check" to building sovereign food systems rooted in black self-determination. Garrett emphasizes the importance of coupling policy demands with institution building co-ops, land trusts, and legal defense infrastructure, while highlighting that 70% of the world's land stewards are women, making black women central to any vision of agricultural liberation and climate resilience.

Inheriting the Harvest

In this summer episode of BRAIDEd, host Keionna Thomas speaks with Nia Kiara Cole, a fifth-generation farmer who transitioned from film to rebuilding her family farm in North Carolina. Nia's journey from Howard University graduate to land steward demonstrates how young Black farmers are weaving together creative skills with agricultural restoration on land with 200 years of family history. EcoWomanist Institute Southeast co-founder Valerie Hill Rawls addresses the narrative erasure that overlooks Southern Black families who held onto their land, emphasizing why the organization champions "restorative" rather than "regenerative" agriculture. Through Nia's story of navigating family expectations, building intergenerational partnerships, and managing the Southern Black Farmers Community-Led Fund, this episode shows how modern farming is an interdisciplinary field where art, storytelling, and land stewardship flourish together. The episode also announces that BRAID program applications have officially closed and the review process has begun. #BlackFarmers #LandJustice #RestorativeAgriculture #IntergenerationalWealth #EcoWomanism

Seeds of Resilience

In this Memorial Day episode of BRAIDEd, host Keionna Thomas welcomes Dr. Catherine Meeks for a powerful conversation about generational wisdom and healing historical wounds in Black agricultural heritage. As we honor Memorial Day, this episode connects themes of remembrance with the resilience and knowledge passed down from sharecropper generations. Dr. Meeks and Keionna explore how ancestral agricultural wisdom can inform new models of land stewardship, moving from the weight of historical trauma toward hope and collective action. The episode also provides updates on The EcoWomanist Institute Southeasts BRAID cohort program, with applications now officially open for Black women seeking to reclaim their place in agriculture. Through stories of perseverance and practical pathways forward, this episode demonstrates how honoring the past can build the foundation for sustainable agricultural futures. Applications are open now! Apply to BRAID at the link below. https://www.ewise.org/braid/applyforbraid [https://www.ewise.org/braid/applyforbraid]

Reclaiming Our Roots

In this Earth Day premiere of the BRAIDEd podcast, host Keionna Thomas, Program Coordinator for BRAID with The EcoWomanist Institute Southeast, explores the rich yet challenging history of Black land ownership in America and pathways toward agricultural restoration. She examines how 98% of Black-owned farmland was lost through discriminatory policies and introduces listeners to The EcoWomanist Institute's groundbreaking BRAID (Black Restorative Agriculture Incubation & Development) cohort program. This episode connects historical context with Valerie Hill Rawls' vision for collective land stewardship and practical solutions for moving beyond systemic inequities in agriculture.