ABOUT US
Locally led. Regionally coordinated. Cooperatively owned.
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund is a 57-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 Housing & Regional Marketing Coordinator
Eboni Thomas Executive Assistant
Kimberly Gaston Administrative Assistant
Floran Syler-Woods Director of Finance
Marc Michael Financial Literacy Training Coordinator
Tandelyn Daniel Director of Communications & Member Relations
Terence Courtney Director of Cooperative Development & Strategic Partnerships
Cecily Gist Revolving Loan Fund Manager
Naomi Thompkins Cooperative Fellow
GEORGIA STATE OFFICE • ALBANY, GA
Cornelius Key State Coordinator
Karen Timmons Field Accountant
Lisa Broadway Outreach Specialist
Marquis Harris Outreach Specialist
Roderick Collins Co-op Specialist
RURAL TRAINING & RESEARCH CENTER • EPES, AL
Freddie Davis III Director- RTRC
Audrey Haskins Senior Outreach Specialist
Darren Beachem Alabama State Coordinator
Ethel Giles Outreach Specialist
Tia Parker Outreach Specialist
Will Muhammad Building & Grounds Manager
Shelia Daniels - Administrative Assistant
FLORIDA FIELD OFFICE
LyTanya Brown, MS Mediation Attorney
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
Joe Barnes Co-op Development Specialist
Maya Crooks Agribusiness Management Specialist
Ray Magee Loan Specialist
Brittany Oatis Field Accountant
Ariel Galloway Admin/Communications/Outreach Specialist
Tremell Sherman Cooperative Development Specialist
SOUTH CAROLINA
Julius Fernandez Outreach Specialist
TEXAS
Jocelyn Bennett Land Retention Specialist
Chaynce Figg Field Accountant
Jacqueline Figg Outreach Specialist
Dianne Brown Outreach Specialist
Camryn Edwards Outreach Specialist
Mario Rodriguez Outreach Specialist
Veronica Briceno Outreach Specialist
Jose Herrera Outreach Coordinator
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
Leadership Team
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
DARREN BEACHEM
State Coordinator ALABAMA
CORNELIUS KEY
State Coordinator GEORGIA
BRUCE HARRELL
State Coordinator LOUISIANA
