ABOUT US
Locally led. Regionally coordinated. Cooperatively owned.
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund is a 56-year-old regional cooperative and rural economic development organization serving a membership of Black farmers, landowners, cooperatives, and other low-income rural people in the South with coop development, land retention, and advocacy.
The Federation was born out of the Civil Rights movement and exists to save Black-owned farms and land.
We strive toward the development of self-supporting communities with programs that increase income and enhance other opportunities; and we strive to assist in land retention and development, especially for African Americans, but essentially for all family farmers.
Our charter is held in Washington, DC, and we assist members in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Meet Our Team
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF• ATLANTA, GA
Cornelius Blanding Executive Director
Chawnn Redden Regional Marketing Coordinator
Eboni Thomas Executive Assistant
Erika Shealey Administrative Assistant
Floran Syler-Woods Director of Finance
Gordon Drennan Senior Accountant
Kevin Wyche Finance Department
Lauri Blackmon Accounts Payables Specialist
Marc Michael Financial Literacy Training Coordinator
Shaday Towns Membership Outreach Specialist
Tandelyn Daniel Director of Communications & Member Relations
Terence Courtney Director of Cooperative Development & Strategic Partnerships
GEORGIA STATE OFFICE • ALBANY, GA
Cornelius Key State Coordinator
Britannica Peterson Outreach Specialist
Brittany Meyers Administrative Assistant
James Jackson Forestry Outreach Specialist
Karen Timmons Field Accountant
Lisa Broadway Outreach Specialist
Marquis Harris Outreach Specialist
Precious Lunsford Land Tenure Outreach Specialist
Roderick Collins Co-op Specialist
RURAL TRAINING & RESEARCH CENTER • EPES, AL
Freddie Davis III Director- RTRC
Audrey Haskins Senior Outreach Specialist
Cassandra Hawkins Field Accountant
Darren Beachem Alabama State Coordinator
Ethel Giles Outreach Specialist
Fredricka Mitchell Outreach Specialist
Jock Webb Demonstration Farm Manager
Tia Parker Administrative Assistant
Will Muhammad Building & Grounds Manager
Shelia Daniels - Outreach Specialist
FLORIDA FIELD OFFICE
Celcia Hall Outreach Specialist
LOUISIANA FIELD OFFICE
Bruce Harrell State Coordinator
Akila Fontenot Outreach Specialist
Erica Smith Co-op Specialist
Andrew Fuller Field Accountant
MISSISSIPPI STATE OFFICE • JACKSON, MS
Ben Burkett State Coordinator
Ashton Norwood Agribusiness Management Specialist
Corey Bacon Forestry Specialist
Darnella Winston Project Director
Emary Smith Co-op Development Specialist
Joe Barnes Co-op Development Specialist
Lytanya Brown MS Mediation Director
Maya Crooks Agribusiness Management Specialist
Ray Magee Loan Specialist
Brittany Oatis Interim Bookkeeper
Dylan Davis Outreach Specialist
KeAria Frelix Admin/Communications/Outreach Specialist
Tremell Sherman Cooperative Development Specialist
SOUTH CAROLINA
Julius Fernandez Outreach Specialist
Lisa Thomas Outreach Specialist
TEXAS
Tanya James Texas Interim State Coordinator
Brandon Smith Senior Outreach Specialist
Camryn Edwards Outreach Specialist
Mario Rodriguez Outreach Specialist
Tamara Veal Legal Fellow
Veronica Briceno Outreach Specialist
Jose Herrera Outreach Coordinator
Nia Howze Outreach Specialist
SHIRLEY BLAKELY
Board President MISSISSIPPI
Board of Directors
President
Board of Directors
Shirley Blakely
MISSISSIPPI
Vice-President
Board of Directors
Daniel Bustamante
TEXAS
Treasurer
Board of Directors
Carrie Fulghum
ALABAMA
Secretary
Board of Directors
Satina James
GEORGIA
Board of Directors
Helen Fields
SOUTH CAROLINA
Raymond Olds
Board of Directors
FLORIDA
CORNELIUS BLANDING
Executive Director
TERENCE COURTNEY
Director of Cooperative Development & Strategic Initiatives
TANDELYN DANIEL
Director of Communications & Member Relations
FLORAN SYLER-WOODS
Directr of Finance
FREDDIE DAVIS
Director - Rural Training &
Research Center
Leadership Team
DARREN BEACHEM
State Coordinator ALABAMA
CORNELIUS KEY
State Coordinator GEORGIA
BRUCE HARRELL
State Coordinator LOUISIANA
BEN BURKETT
State Coordinator
MISSISSISSIPPI
