Co-Founders of Black Farmer Fund, Karen Washington and Olivia Watkins, named Humanitarians of the Year!
“I am extremely humbled and grateful for this award…It means that Black Farmer Fund is being recognized for its work in building wealth by placing power and decision-making back into the hands of the community. We call it social capital producing communal wealth.”
- Karen Washington
We proudly announce that Black Farmer Fund’s Co-Founders, Olivia Watkins, and Karen Washington, have been honored with this year’s James Beard Foundation Humanitarians of the Year Award.
The James Beard Foundation Awards are considered among the nation’s most prestigious honors in the culinary and food media industries. The awards celebrate outstanding achievement and exceptional culinary talent, as well as all those doing incredible work on behalf of our communities and the wider food system.
The Humanitarian of the Year Award specifically recognizes individuals or organizations working in the food realm who have given selflessly of themselves and worked tirelessly to better the lives of others and society at large. The James Beard foundation's celebration of exceptional culinary talent and community work is a true inspiration, and we are grateful for the recognition.
Together, Olivia Watkins, a social entrepreneur and impact investor, and Karen Washington, a farmer and activist, aka Mama K, created Black Farmer Fund in 2017 with the mission of nurturing Black community wealth and health by investing in Black agricultural systems in the Northeast.
“I AM thankful to receive this award in recognition of the work our entire team has accomplished at Black Farmer Fund to close the racial wealth gap amongst black agricultural businesses, and I am honored to have our contributions to the broader food justice movement being recognized in this way.”
- OLIVIA WATKINS
Black Farmer Fund is bringing capital, business support, and community connections to Black agricultural and food business owners, using a "for-us-by-us" approach that puts the decision-making power in the hands of experienced Black farmers and food systems entrepreneurs themselves.
Mama K, who is also co-owner of Rise & Root Farm and co-founder of Black Urban Growers (BUGs) is also a 2014 James Beard Leadership Award winner. Mama K expressed gratitude for the recognition by sharing, “I am extremely humbled and grateful for this award…It means that Black Farmer Fund is being recognized for its work in building wealth by placing power and decision-making back into the hands of the community. We call it social capital producing communal wealth.”
Olivia, who is also Black Farmer Fund’s President, shared that she is "thankful to receive this award in recognition of the work our entire team has accomplished at Black Farmer Fund to close the racial wealth gap amongst black agricultural businesses," and she is honored to have" our contributions to the broader food justice movement being recognized in this way."
Congratulations to the nominees, winners, and honorees! Thank you again to the James Beard Foundation for this award, which motivates us to continue our important work. We look forward to the ceremony which will take place from June 3 to June 5, 2023 in Chicago.
To learn more about the nominees, winners, and honorees, click here to read the full press release and to read James Beard Foundation’s blog post, click here.
Black Farmer Fund also recently launched a $20 million community-led investment fund, “BFF Fund 2.0,” which is supporting Black agricultural and food businesses in the Northeast with capital through a combination of patient low-interest loans and gifts.
If you are interested in supporting or investing in BFF Fund 2.0 to expand our work and support us in building a just food system, check out our Invest page to read our offering memorandum and learn more information.