Sabbatical Announcement from the Board
Black Farmer Fund Board of Directors
Dear Black Farmer Fund community,
In times when the weight of the world feels especially heavy, we want to pause and remind you: you are not alone. The challenges we face—both within and beyond our work—are profound, but so is our collective resolve. At Black Farmer Fund, our foundation has always been rooted in the unshakable belief that Black farmers and communities deserve not only access to capital but also the space to thrive, heal, and reclaim their power.
Today, we write to share important updates that reflect this commitment to care, sustainability, and leadership. Our Co-Founder and President, Olivia Watkins, will begin a three-month sabbatical in May and conclude it in August. Olivia’s visionary leadership has been the heartbeat of Black Farmer Fund since 2020, guiding us through transformative milestones. We are excited to welcome an interim President to continue our transformative and collaborative work.
In Olivia’s own words: “I am looking forward to this opportunity to restore my energy and take time with what grounds me in my life. I will be listening to nature, getting my hands in the soil, and connecting with community in ways that feel nourishing. I am grateful to the team, the board, and to Connie for holding it down while I get a chance to fill up my cup.”
Under her leadership, we have accomplished so much:
$14.6M Raised across the BFF Pilot Fund and BFF Fund 2.0
$6.3M deployed to Black farmers and food businesses across the Northeast
Distributed $233K in emergency relief to sustain farmers through crises
Provided 630+ hours of technical assistance to Black food and farming businesses
Mobilized 160 community members through hands-on workdays, fostering collective resilience
These accomplishments stand as a testament to Olivia’s unwavering dedication. This sabbatical is a celebration of her labor and a commitment to ensuring she—and all who pour into this movement—return to the work renewed.
“Rest pushes back and disrupts a system that views human bodies as a tool for production and labor. It is a counter-narrative. We know that we are not machines. We are divine.” – Tricia Hersey, author of Rest is Resistance.
These words from author and rest activist Tricia Hersey reflect our values and decentralize the urgency and profit as power that is essential to white supremacy. For too long, oppressive systems have demanded relentless labor from Black bodies, particularly Black women’s bodies, while denying them the right to rest. We reject this practice. As an organization steeped in Black ancestral traditions, we are committed to creating environments where our team can recover from the exhausting work of dismantling inequity. Rest is not a luxury—it is a radical act of preservation and resistance.
This sabbatical also reflects our broader commitment to wellness. Black Farmer Fund’s inaugural sabbatical policy, which is available to full-time staff after five years of service. In a world that equates speed with value, we choose to honor the rhythm of humanity—prioritizing rest, reflection, and renewal.
During Olivia's sabbatical, we are honored to welcome Connie Evans as Interim President. Connie brings more than three decades of experience in advancing economic justice, including 15 years as President & CEO of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity. She is also a trailblazer in trust-based, community-centered capital strategies. Her leadership is grounded in a lifelong commitment to equity and systems change, values that align deeply with BFF's mission and our vision for sustainable, liberated Black futures.
Connie shares, "I'm honored to step into this role at such an important moment for BFF. I see my role as holding steady the foundation Olivia has built, while ensuring the team and community continue to feel connected and supported. Rest is not only possible--it's powerful. I'm proud to be part of an organization that puts those values into practice."
As we move forward, we hold close the wisdom of our ancestors and the promise of collective care. This is a season of restoration—for Olivia, for our team, and for our community. Let us continue to build a future where rest is sacred, leadership is sustainable, and Black communities flourish.
In unity,
Black Farmer Fund
Board of Directors