BRAIDEd

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
 

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.

BRAIDEd Teaser #1

BRAIDEd explores the intersections of Black women's agricultural history, food sovereignty, and environmental justice. Each episode weaves together the voices of Black women farmers, historians, and food justice advocates to illuminate pathways toward collective land stewardship and climate resilience. From historical exploration of Black land ownership to innovative farming practices, BRAIDEd nurtures critical conversations that seed transformation in our relationship with land, food systems, and community economics. Join us as we unearth stories of resistance, restoration, and reimagining a future where Black women's agricultural wisdom leads the way toward healing our communities and our planet. This podcast is a production of the EcoWomanist Institute Southeast.