The Black Church Food Security Network

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The Black Church Food Security Network

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We're organizing the power of Black Churches to overcome food insecurity and promote food sovereignty in African American communities.

The Black Church Food Security Network is an association of congregations, farmers, food advocates, and community activists working together to create an alternative food system in the Baltimore metropolitan area. We prioritize bringing support to communities struggling with food insecurity and see food justice and sovereignty has indispensable components of the empowerment of Black communities. We establish pipelines for fresh produce between Baltimore area congregations and Black farmers. In addition, we provide technical support, volunteers, expert farmers/urban growers, financial resources, and advocacy assistance to congregations and para-church organizations interested in starting urban farms and gardens in partnership with their local community.

11/02/2026

Food Justice Is On The Ballot! - https://mailchi.mp/blackchurchfoodsecurity/foodaccessbill-6430328

10/30/2026

Every harvest has a Sabbath.

This summer, DeBorah’s Garden at New Creation Christian Center nourished. Now Farmer Marie Aqeel is leading the garden into its rest. We’re gathering the marigolds the garden gave us this year, saving seeds for spring, and putting the beds to bed for winter. It looks quiet out there, but winter is when the soil gets rebuilt. 🍂

Our elders knew this. They turned the ground in fall so spring would answer. Some call it a reset. Scripture calls it rest for the land. At BCFSN, it’s Operation Higher Ground, and we walk with churches through every season, not just the abundant ones.

Come put your hands in it this November:

Sat. Nov. 7 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
Harvesting Marigolds: Making Garlands + Garden Care. A volunteer day with a twist. String marigold garlands with Farmer Marie, start winterizing the beds, and save seeds for spring. 🌼

Sat. Nov. 21 | 9:00 to 11:00 AM
Gardening Support: Winterizing DeBorah’s Garden. Help us close out the season and get the soil ready for what’s next.

Both at New Creation Christian Center, 5401 Frankford Ave. No experience needed. Sign up via link in bio or contact us at [email protected].

🎥: Mike Calloway

10/13/2026

“Federal policies are literally taking food out of the mouths of the poorest and most destitute among us.” – Rev. Heber Brown III

Baltimore City Hall made it official 🖊️ With Mayor Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Councilwoman Councilwoman Phylicia Porter and community partners in the room, the city signed legislation that puts real resources behind fresh food access, food security and food sovereignty.

Championed to the finish line by Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, whose dedication to Baltimore never wavered, this legislation creates the Healthy Food Priority Area Grant Program, putting real dollars behind the neighborhood grocers, co-ops, farmers’ markets and mobile vendors bringing nutrient-rich food to those who need it most.

Black farmers will be centered. Neighborhood stores will have an easier path to fresh, healthy food. And with these resources, we’ll be able to hire staff, train congregations, and connect farmers with churches so nutrient-rich produce can move from the farm to the church and out into communities across the city.

It’s a beginning, not the finish line. Thank you to every farmer, pastor, partner, council member, staffer and neighbor who pushed this forward. 🌱

10/06/2026

Today is the 109th birthday of Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer! She told us that food is used as a political weapon.

However, when we grow for ourselves and organize what we already have in our hands, we can change our material conditions.

We're focusing our power and taking it from the pews to the policy table. You coming?

Stay with us. More on Monday.

09/25/2026

🌱 Over 100 pounds of fresh produce. 80+ meals. All grown on church land.

In the last 30 days, DeBorah’s Garden at New Creation Christian Church harvested collard greens, kale, tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce, and peppers from beds the congregation tends. That harvest became more than 80 meals, shared through the church’s weekly food distribution with members and neighbors. Fresh, local, and grown close to home.

This is the model working the way it was designed. New Creation committed the land under the leadership of Apostle Dr. A. Bryan Claxton. BCFSN brought training, technical assistance, and our own farmer, Marie Aqeel, whose growing expertise kept the beds producing all season. Church and network in the same soil, with a Black farmer leading the growing.

DeBorah’s Garden is one of our Operation Higher Ground demonstration gardens, showing member churches what’s possible when a congregation puts its own land to work.

This is food sovereignty anchored in the Black Church, advancing health, wealth, and power in our communities. 🙏🏾

09/12/2026

And this is serious work. Feeding yourself and feeding your neighbor is power that nobody can vote away or price out. A church that grows food is a church that can answer when the need shows up at the door.

You don’t need acreage to start. One raised bed. A strip along the fence. A few pots by the side door. Get something in the ground this fall and let it grow from there.

Thank you to New Creation Christian Church for the ground, to Farm Alliance of Baltimore for the seedlings, and to everybody who showed up ready to work.

09/11/2026

Food sovereignty doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens like this.

Black Church Food Security Network, UnitedHealthcare, Black Yield Institute, and Canaan Missionary Baptist Church came together to bring fresh, Black-farmer-grown produce, mid-Atlantic watermelon, and wellness resources straight to the community. Canaan pulled together the resources for their own distribution, while BCFSN connected the pieces that made it whole: UnitedHealthcare investing in community health, and Black Yield Institute farmer Eric Jackson growing the produce that anchored the day.

This is what The ARC looks like in motion. A church rooting resources in its own community. BCFSN connecting health, land, and harvest. Another step in the ongoing work of building food sovereignty by and for Black communities.

Address

10 East North Avenue, Suite 5
Lutherville, MD
21202

Telephone

+18559613663

Website

http://www.blackchurchpower.com/

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