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
Kentucky
Maryland
Mississippi
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
Eboni Thomas Executive Assistant
Dr. Floran Syler-Woods Director of Finance
Kimberly Gaston Administrative Assistant
Kimothy Venable Accounts Payables
Khyla Thurston Advocacy & Research Fellow
Marc Michael Financial Literacy Training Coordinator
Naomi Thompkins Cooperative Fellow
Ronnie Cyrus-Jackson Senior Accountant
Tandelyn Daniel Director of Communications & Member Relations
Terence Courtney Director of Cooperative Development & Strategic Partnerships
GEORGIA STATE OFFICE • ALBANY, GA
Cornelius Key State Coordinator
Karen Timmons Field Accountant
Lisa Broadway Outreach Specialist
Marquis Harris Outreach Specialist
Marva Coe
Roderick Collins Co-op Specialist
RURAL TRAINING & RESEARCH CENTER • EPES, AL
Freddie Davis III Director- RTRC
Ken Harris Farm Demonstration Manager
Shelia Daniels - Administrative Assistant
Will Muhammad Building & Grounds Manager
ALABAMA • EPES, AL
Darren Beachem Alabama State Coordinator
Amir Muhammad
Audrey Haskins
Ethel Giles Outreach Specialist
Tia Parker Outreach Specialist
FLORIDA FIELD OFFICE
LyTanya Brown, Mediation Attorney
LOUISIANA FIELD OFFICE
Bruce Harrell State Coordinator
Aaron Obey
Akila Fontenot Outreach Specialist
Alfonso Norwood
Andrew Fuller Field Accountant
Burnell Muse
Erica Smith Co-op Specialist
Sarah Neal
MISSISSIPPI STATE OFFICE • JACKSON, MS
Ben Burkett State Coordinator
Ariel Galloway Admin/Communications/Outreach Specialist
Ashton Norwood Agribusiness Management Specialist
Brittany Oatis Field Accountant
Corey Bacon Forestry Specialist
Darnella Winston Project Director
Joe Barnes Co-op Development Specialist
Maya Crooks Agribusiness Management 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
Veronica Briceno Outreach 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
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
