ECC Celebrates Black History Month
Kendrick Ransome (holding microphone) gave the keynote address at the Black History Month celebration held February 19 at Edgecombe Community College. Local leaders participated in a panel discussion on healthy eating and access to healthy foods. From left, panelists are the Rev. Richard Joyner, Yvonne Murphy, Shoneca Kent, and Mary Jane Lyonnais. Shown bottom left is ECC student Lexus Regan.
Edgecombe Community College students and employees, local officials, and area residents learned about black farming and the role of farming in health and wellness during the College’s annual Black History Month celebration held February 19.
The event focused on “Black Farming: Its History and Relevance to Sustainability in Our Community.”
Keynote speaker Kendrick Ransome, CEO of Golden Organic Farms, motivational speaker, and former ECC student, has been farming in Edgecombe County for four years. He cited the lack of black farmers, noting that less than two percent of the nation’s farmers are black, and encouraged young people in the audience to consider farming as a career.
Ransome also encouraged the audience to look to the land for wellness. “There are so many different ways we can tie good health back into agriculture,” he said. “Just having your hands in the soil has been proven to reduce depression.”
A practitioner of organic farming, he said reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides will ultimately improve overall well-being. “We’re paying (corporate farmers) to poison us, then we’re paying them to heal us. It doesn’t make sense.”
A panel of local leaders offered perspectives on healthy eating and access to healthy foods. Panelists were:
- Rev. Richard Joyner, Director, Conetoe Family Life Center
- Shoneca Kent, Extension Agent, Community and Rural Development, Edgecombe County Center
- Mary Jane Lyonnais, Community Health Advocate, Albemarle Regional Health Services
- Yvonne Murphy, Health Matters Associate, Edgecombe County Center
Minister Willie Moore of Word Tabernacle Church performed several musical selections during the event. ECC students Lexus Regan, Ja’Nausja Sanders, Bobbie Johnson, and Dwayne Alexander also participated by introducing the speakers and reading special selections.
The Black History Month celebration was sponsored by the Division of College and Career Readiness, the Student Government Association, and the Student Success Center at ECC.