Shy Palmer is a proud Raleigh native, deeply rooted in the vibrant tapestry of her community. With an unwavering commitment to fostering unity and empowerment among people of color, she has dedicated her life to uplifting those around her.

A Passion for Teaching and Agricultural Training: Shy's journey is marked by her fervent passion for teaching and agricultural training. Over the past five years, she has blossomed into a formidable urban farmer, sharing her knowledge and skills with others to cultivate self-sufficiency and resilience.

A Champion of Community Organizing: Shy's impact extends far beyond the garden. Her extensive experience in community organizing has empowered marginalized communities to raise their voices and advocate for positive change. She understands that true transformation starts with a unified community.

Expertise in Community Garden Management: With a strong focus on community garden management, Shy has been instrumental in creating thriving green spaces that bring people together, nourish bodies and souls, and promote sustainable living.

A Heart for Nonprofit Work: Shy Palmer has also dedicated herself to nonprofit work, leveraging her talents to address pressing issues within her community. Her tireless efforts have helped raise awareness, mobilize resources, and drive meaningful change where it matters most.

In Shy Palmer, we find a tireless advocate, a dedicated educator, and a passionate urban farmer, all committed to making the world a better place. Her journey exemplifies the power of community and the enduring impact of individuals who champion the causes they hold dear.

Kaylee Jacobs is a a second-year student at NC State University. She is pursuing a degree in Fashion and Textile Management with a concentration in Brand Management and Marketing and a minor in Horticulture Science. Kaylee is super excited to be helping with social media for the Reclamation Farmacy, because it allows her to combine multiple of her interests and apply her education in a hands-on, impactful way!

LaTonya Andrews-Hunter is the owner of Soul City Farm and Peanut & Zelb’s Produce Market, Norlina, North Carolina, and she is the co-owner of Black Farmers Hub, Raleigh, NC. As a fourth-generation agrarian farmer, Mrs. Andrews-Hunter knows the importance of land ownership and giving back to the land. In 2017, LaTonya purchased her family’s 60-acre tract of farmland in Warren County. Joining her father in the quest to keep the farm in the family, LaTonya spearheads cultivation plans, provides space for agritourism, and leasing the land for recreation. She is the first woman of color to produce for the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI-USA), farm to church initiative, connecting black farmers with faith-based organizations in an effort to fight food insecurity and support equity in Food systems. A veteran of the United States Air Force, LaTonya served as a medic throughout the globe. She gained the knowledge of serving her community and assisting those who were most ill due to comorbidities and other ailments of the environment. She now works as a Global Health Research Specialist within the North Carolina university system. LaTonya combines her methodical approach from her research position to her regenerative farming practices. She consults continuously with other farmers, leveraging relationships with environmental professionals and universities to provide the most sustainable practices to the legacy farmland in Warren County.

In 2017, after realizing they wanted out of the rat race, the Cottens took on a Craigslist Ad to work in a Flower shop. After spending a week with flowers they knew they wanted to farm flowers and grow flowers. They then set out on a 6 year journey that led them to sustainable agriculture school and jobs on multiple farms, a feature in Black Flora, a book dedicated to BIPOC flower growers and floral enthusiasts, and at the beginning of 2023 starting their own farm business: CottenPicked LLC. Also in that time they were introduced to the world of food insecurity and land inequality that plagues and abundance of our black community. With that newfound knowledge, they knew with the position they had built in the agricultural space, they needed to do more to advocate for black farmers. Serving on multiple boards and committees such as Triangle Land Conservancy/Good Grounds Committee, which helps BIPOC farmers acquire affordable farm land, and Chatham County Fairgrounds Association, the oldest black organized agricultural and industrial fair in the state of NC. That all leads to why they are passionate about serving with Reclamation FARMacy and look forward to building our communities one seed at a time.

Randolph Keaton is from Bladen county, with a BA from A&T and a Master's from Webster University. He has over 30 years of experience in the Human Services field, having worked for organizations such as the New Hanover County Department of Social Services, Columbus County Mental Health and the Wilmington Housing Authority. His love of rural communities drives his passion of service. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Men and Women United for Youth and Families, CDC, a non-profit organization located in Delco, North Carolina as well as Councilman for the Town Of Sandyfield, NC.

Mr. Keaton is a graduate of the Rural Economic Development Institute class 24 as well as Leadership North Carolina Class 28. In 2018, he was honored by the North Carolina Rural Center as NC Rural Leader of the Year. Mr. Keaton serves on numerous boards to include Reclamation FARMacy, the North Carolina Rural Center, Columbus County Community Foundation, The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and The North Carolina Community Garden Partners Advisory Board.

His passion for farming was instilled in him by his parents. He is from a family of 12 children who learned to work hard in the tobacco fields in Columbus County. He is proud of the legacy that his ancestors have forged for him. Having a century farm calls him to work with other likeminded people who understand the importance of preserving Black family land, hence his commitment to Reclamation FARMacy.

Chris, a Fayetteville, North Carolina native and graduate of one of the nation's finest Historical Black Colleges and Universities, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, is a four time award-winning and 16-time award nominated youth program director, a strong advocate for youth and a lifelong public servant, by way of his extensive work in the community and continued work with youth and young adults. Chris has served in roles as Youth Development Directors, has worked in Communications with the National Football League's Carolina Panthers and has served with a myriad of youth leadership and service organizations such as Upward Bound, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the YMCA, National Youth Sports Program and others. Chris currently serves as the Associate Executive Director at the YMCA.

In 2020, Chris and his family cleared a quarter acre of land at his home to farm on and teach others how to grow their own food, with a focus on food security and sustainability, after helping to lead a highly successful culinary arts partnership for youth. His passion for community building and farming aligns with the values of reclamation farmacy.

Dr. Shelton is a Black feminist writer, teacher, and thinker who works as an Assistant Professor of Language, Writing, and Rhetoric in the Department of English at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her research centers the expertise and agency of Black people, who use Black cultural and rhetorical practices to communicate their technical skills and professionalism. Professionally, Cecilia comes to food justice work in response to her intellectual and political commitments to justice; she is also personally inspired to contribute to food justice work out of deep reverence for her own ancestral ties to Black farming in Eastern North Carolina.

Jennifer earned a BA in Public Policy Analysis with a Minor in Spanish for the Professions (Business Concentration) from UNC Chapel Hill, and obtained a Master of Public Administration (Organizational Leadership Concentration) from North Carolina State University. A public servant dedicated to connecting with others for good, Jennifer served as an alumni relations professional for 10 years prior to joining the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina where she serves as a Major Gifts Officer. An avid home gardener and Chatham County native, she is committed to ensuring no one goes hungry and firmly believes that the key to ending food insecurity is not only sharing your financial treasures with others, but also raising up a generation of children with the necessary skills for self sufficiency. In her spare time, you can find her spending time with her husband, chasing their five kids, reading, playing the piano, or somewhere in the backyard planting seeds.

Quintin Byrd is a Greensboro native that serves as the founding and managing member of Q Byrd Law, located in Raleigh. His firm focuses on appellate litigation, employment law, and administrative law. Attorney Byrd completed his undergraduate program at UNC Chapel Hill and received his J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law. He is a passionate musician and more passionate about serving people. Attorney Byrd formed a neighborhood tutoring program while still in law school and, whether at church or in his local community, loves to find ways to make positive change.

Attorney Byrd’s interest in the organization stems from his work with youth and his practice. In creating neighborhood tutoring programs and volunteering in schools, he has seen the impact of food access on youth, particularly in low-income neighborhoods. As a substantial portion of his law practice involves advising small and minority-owned businesses, is well-positioned to serve on the Board of Reclamation FARMacy.

Luvenia Williams is a North Carolina native, wife, mother, and life-long learner. She is a graduate of Fayetteville State University and North Carolina Central University School of Law. Currently, Luvenia is a lead attorney for Epiq Global, where she works on the Complex Claims team managing class action settlement administration and serves as the Events Officer for Epiq Women, an internal employee resource group. Attorney Williams is also the owner and lead designer at Elements of Ivy Events & Décor, an event planning and interior design company based in the triangle area. Although Luvenia commits a significant amount of time and dedication to the work that she performs as an attorney and entrepreneur, she appreciates volunteering and devoting time to at-risk, vulnerable, and underserved populations. Since 2017, Luvenia has been a Wake County Guardian ad Litem volunteer advocate where she advocates for and represents youth and adolescents who are victims and survivors of abuse, neglect, and dependency. She is also a member of the Legal Advisory Council for Triage Cancer, a national, nonprofit organization that provides free education on the legal and practical issues that may impact individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers. Finally, Luvenia is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and is a self-proclaimed foodie who enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, shopping, music, and art.

Why Reclamation FARMacy? Luvenia is passionate about serving within her community, particularly as it relates to the youth. She desires to see “food justice” in action and is excited to be contributing to and upholding the mission, vision, and values of Reclamation FARMacy!

Diamond was born in raised in rural southeastern North Carolina. It was in her rural community that Diamond's passion for sustainability and communities of color bloomed into a goal of bridging the gap of sustainability in communities of color. In 2020, she obtained her Bachelor's from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she double majored in Business Administration and African American Studies with a Minor in Sustainability Studies. Diamond continued her education at Wake Forest University where she obtained her Master of Accountancy in 2021 and became a licensed CPA in 2022. Diamond is now a Senior Audit Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within their Trust Solutions Private group in Charlotte, NC. In addition to her audit work, Diamond is active in her church's Kids ministry, Heart Math Tutoring, First Tee of Greater Charlotte, NABA, and an active CMS volunteer.

Kena Spencer is a Native North Carolinian born and raised in the eastern part of the state. She is exceptionally passionate about being a good steward of our ancestral ways and rich cultural heritage. It is her core belief that we can pull strength and wisdom from those who walked before us.

Connectivity with the earth and food has always played an integral part in our culture and thus can act as a synergist today to promote healing, community, and self-reliance. She has found the blueprint for health and joy tends to point to simple things like pot liquor, herbal remedies, and simply enjoying a fresh home-cooked meal with family and friends.

Kena is excited about applying her gifts at Reclamation Farmacy to pay homage to her bloodline and to help individuals develop life-changing skills that they can pass on to future generations.

The Akan Sankofa proverb states: "so wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki". Meaning: "it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot"

Reclamation time is now...