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Dear OurSpace Family,


OurSpace World has been working tirelessly to empower communities, support Black and Brown farmers, and build sustainable futures.

​This work is not just a goal.

It’s a commitment to our collective future — a future that we all have the power to shape.



OUR WORK IS AT RISK.
OSW has faced unexpected challenges as the federal government has withheld crucial grant funding, directly impacting our ability to provide our programs at the scale we planned. We are urgently raising funds to overcome this financial uncertainty in our resources and continue serving and leveling-up our communities. Your donation can help bridge this gap and ensure that our mission remains on track.

WHAT'S ON THE LINE?

The Calabash Academy


​Our Pilot Technical Assistance Academy was launched in Fall of 2024 with great success. Our first cohort learned critical skills needed to navigate barriers of institutional racism, direct funding towards Black and Brown growers, and plan businesses. Without federal funding, we will be unable to offer the academy again in the future, or enable farmer-to-farmer learning through conferences like Black Urban Growers (BUGS).

Sustaining Our Local Food Systems and Food Security

For the last two seasons, we’ve provided Maryland farmers with unprecedented access to a food bank market for their produce, partnering with The Capital Area Food Bank through the Local Food Purchasing Assistance program. This market has allowed small-scale farmers to sell $70K-$80K worth of produce annually, ensuring they had a reliable sales outlet and a sustainable income. Without continued federal funding, this market will disappear after this season, leaving farmers without a critical resource for selling their produce. If LFPA is not restored or codified into the farm bill, we risk losing this vital platform for farmers to access institutional buyers.

Building Capacity for Black & Brown Farms and Cooperatives

Federal funding cuts are affecting our ability to support farmers through ARPTAI and NCBA—two essential programs that provide technical assistance to farmers and cooperatives. Our ability to continue and expand our Sowing Success program — which includes business planning, grant scanning, proposal development, and fiscal sponsorship services for Black and Brown farmers — is at risk of losing these vital supports. 

OUR VISION FOR OUR FUTURE

Seeding Black Food Sovereignty


Our Land Access to Market (LAMP) program, which was greenlit in December 2024, was set to be a game-changer for small-scale farmers in the DMV. With this funding, we planned to purchase land for an incubator farm that would have been home to workforce development programs, youth-facing educational initiatives, a shared produce processing facility with a commercial kitchen to help small farmers process value-added products and sell directly to schools and other large institutions, and funding for start-up grants to support 65 Black and Brown farm businesses​. Despite securing this contract, pauses in federal reimbursements will effectively pause our plans indefinitely.

CONTINUING THE WORK — BUILDING BLACK FOOD SYSTEMS

We are aiming to raise $100,000 to expand our programs and reach even more people who are working hard to make a difference in their communities. Whether it’s $50, $100, or more, every  contribution brings us closer to reaching our goal and making a lasting impact.

Thanks to a generous donor, all funds will be matched from now until Juneteenth!
Please also spread the word to those who would be interested in supporting our cause.

We need your help to ensure that we can restart this vital work. Please consider donating to help us continue empowering small-scale farmers and building sustainable food systems. Your support is crucial in this challenging time.
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WHERE ELSE DO THE FUNDS GO?

Training the Next Generation of Land Stewards and Earth Healers

One of our keystone programs, the Farm-to-Food Sovereignty Academy, has already helped dozens of Black farmers in the DMV region. Farmers like Michele, who runs A Heart 4 People Farm.  Michele, a long-time advocate for food sovereignty, has transformed her family farm into a thriving hub that provides fresh produce to local families in need. 
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When Michele first came to us, she needed help with funding and community connections. Today, thanks to the resources and training she’s received through our programs, Michele is providing food, jobs, and educational opportunities to those in her community. But there are many more like her, farmers, builders, healers, and educators, who are still waiting for the support they need to thrive.

The Black Food Truck

The Black Food Truck (BFT) is a farmers market on wheels committed to food justice, supporting local agriculture, and growing connections throughout Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV). Driven by principles like Ujima, (collective work and responsibility) and ubuntu (a recognition that everyone is interconnected), the BFT collaborates with local Black and Brown farmers to provide the region with nutritious and organically-grown produce. By promoting access to fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, we’re not only nourishing our health but also empowering our community and supporting sustainable agriculture. Picked up from your farm and accessible to the community!

Thank you for standing with us
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Peace,
The OSW Squad — Kwabena, Aita, Eshe, Imani, Lotus, Sessina, Endora, Justin, Enid, Jade Flower, Jimi, Becca, Tiffany, MJ, George, Julian, Jeffrey, Julius, Emmani, and Marcus