About Us
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (the Federation) is a 58-year-old, non-profit cooperative association of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives.
Locally led. Regionally coordinated. Cooperatively owned.
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.
We have staff working on the ground in 7 core states:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Louisiana
Mississippi
South Carolina
Texas
We also assist Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives in:
Arkansas
District of Columbia
Kentucky
Maryland
Missouri
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia.
Our Team
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF EAST POINT, GEORGIA
Cornelius Blanding Executive Director
Cecily Gist Revolving Loan Fund Manager
Chawnn Redden Housing & Regional Marketing Coordinator
Cherriene Huntley Senior Accountant
Eboni Thomas Executive Assistant
Frederick Carter Director of Finance
Kimberly Gaston Administrative Assistant
Kimothy Venable Accounts Payables
Marc Michael Financial Literacy Training Coordinator
Naomi Thompkins Cooperative Fellow
Briar Blakley Director of Communications & Member Relations
Stephanie Banks Director of Land Retention & Advocacy
Terence Courtney Director of Cooperative Development & Strategic Partnerships
GEORGIA STATE OFFICE • ALBANY, GA
Cornelius Key State Coordinator
Lori White Administrative Assistant
Lisa Broadway Outreach Specialist
Marquis Harris Outreach Specialist
Marva Coe Outreach Specialist
Roderick Collins Co-op Development Specialist
RURAL TRAINING & RESEARCH CENTER • EPES, AL
Freddie Davis III Director- RTRC
Ken Harris Farm Demonstration Manager
Christopher Delaine Regional Training & Multimedia Content Specialist
Shelia Daniels Administrative Assistant
Will Muhammad Building & Grounds Manager
Terence Bell Regional outreach specialist
JB Pegues
ALABAMA • EPES, AL
Darren Beachem Alabama State Coordinator
Amir Muhammad Outreach Specialist/ Communications
Audrey Haskins Outreach Specialist
Ethel Giles Outreach Specialist
Tia Parker Outreach Specialist
Alicia Jordan Outreach Specialist
LOUISIANA FIELD OFFICE
Bruce Harrell State Coordinator
Aaron Obey Administrative Assistant
Andrew Fuller Field Accountant
Akila Fontenot Outreach Specialist
Alfonso Norwood Outreach Specialist
Burnell Muse Outreach Specialist
Erica Smith Co-op Development Specialist
Sarah Neal Forester
MISSISSIPPI STATE OFFICE • JACKSON, MS
Ben F. Burkett State Coordinator
Darnella Winston Project Director
Ariel Galloway Admin/Communications/Outreach Specialist
Brittany Oatis Field Accountant
Joe Barnes Co-op Development Specialist
Maya Crooks Agribusiness Outreach Specialist
Jermey Dixion Agribusiness Outreach Specialist
Corey Bacon Forestry Specialist
FLORIDA FIELD OFFICE
LyTanya Brown Mediation Attorney
Geraldine Ellison Administrative Assistant
SOUTH CAROLINA
Victoria Smalls Interim State Coordinator
TEXAS
Jocelyn Bennett Land Retention Specialist
Chaynce Figg Field Accountant
Dianne Brown Outreach Specialist
Jacqueline Figg Co-op Development Specialist
Veronica Briceno Co-op Development Specialist
Our Leadership
SHIRLEY BLAKLEY
Board President MISSISSIPPI
Board of Directors
President
Board of Directors
Shirley Blakley
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
Stephanie Banks
Director of Land Retention & Advocacy
BRIAR BLAKLEY
Director of Communications & Member Relations
Frederick Carter
Directr of Finance
FREDDIE DAVIS
Director - Rural Training &
Research Center
DARREN BEACHEM
State Coordinator ALABAMA
CORNELIUS KEY
State Coordinator GEORGIA
BRUCE HARRELL
State Coordinator LOUISIANA
