Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm, reflects on the plight of Black farmers in the United States. From the height of Black-owned farms at 14% in 1910 to less than 2% today. Leah and her Soul Fire Farm cohorts help propel a rising generation finding strength in the deep historical knowledge of African agrarianism - and its potential to save the planet.
On May 15th, we will be screening "Farming While Black," a feature-length documentary film that examines the historical plight of Black farmers in the U.S. and the rising generation reclaiming their rightful ownership to land and reconnecting with their ancestral roots. The film chronicles farmers' efforts to reclaim their agricultural heritage and their impact on sustainable agriculture and food justice movements.
Producer: Lynn Waymer Co-Producer / Impact Producer of the film, directs development and execution of communications, community engagement and social impact strategies. Formerly Director of Distribution for HBO, she’s worked on creating
localized and national partnerships, community screening events and digital social impact and outreach campaigns for KPJR Films including: The Big Picture: Re-thinking Dyslexia; Paper Tigers, Resilience: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope and Playing for Keeps and independent films including Black Women In Medicine, HAPPENING: A Clean Energy Revolution and Broken Places. Lynn has worked with award-winning documentary film directors including: Krystal Emery; James Redford; Roger Weisberg and Roger Ross Williams. In addition, she consulted with The Yale School of Medicine’s Center for Dyslexia & Creativity and Culture Shift Labs on national initiatives impacting underserved communities.
Lynn graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Radio, TV & Film and obtained a certificate in Strategic Marketing from Emory
University. In addition, she completed Leadership development programs at the Center for
Creative Leadership and UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. She was a Walter Kaitz Fellow through which she obtained Certification in Cable System Marketing and Management from The University Of Denver.
Living in metro-Atlanta with her husband as empty nesters, Lynn has devoted this chapter in her life to making a difference in the lives of others through the medium that she loves-TV and film.
Film Subject: Blain Snipstal is a Timberframer, father, partner and worker-owner of Earth Bound Building. Earth bound building specializes in timber framing, natural building and custom carpentry. Blain has over 12 years of lived experience in farming and land-based organizing both domestically and internationally. He has come to find that timber framing, natural building and sustainable agriculture are from the same seed. He was an organic farmer for over 10 years and draws on this experience to help build agricultural buildings that are environmentally friendly, beautiful and sustainable. He has a love for wood and all things nature. Wood is the medium by which he can explore his connection with nature and with people.
Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm, reflects on the plight of Black farmers in the United States. From the height of Black-owned farms at 14% in 1910 to less than 2% today. Leah and her Soul Fire Farm cohorts help propel a rising generation finding strength in the deep historical knowledge of African agrarianism - and its potential to save the planet.
On May 15th, we will be screening "Farming While Black," a feature-length documentary film that examines the historical plight of Black farmers in the U.S. and the rising generation reclaiming their rightful ownership to land and reconnecting with their ancestral roots. The film chronicles farmers' efforts to reclaim their agricultural heritage and their impact on sustainable agriculture and food justice movements.
Producer: Lynn Waymer Co-Producer / Impact Producer of the film, directs development and execution of communications, community engagement and social impact strategies. Formerly Director of Distribution for HBO, she’s worked on creating
localized and national partnerships, community screening events and digital social impact and outreach campaigns for KPJR Films including: The Big Picture: Re-thinking Dyslexia; Paper Tigers, Resilience: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope and Playing for Keeps and independent films including Black Women In Medicine, HAPPENING: A Clean Energy Revolution and Broken Places. Lynn has worked with award-winning documentary film directors including: Krystal Emery; James Redford; Roger Weisberg and Roger Ross Williams. In addition, she consulted with The Yale School of Medicine’s Center for Dyslexia & Creativity and Culture Shift Labs on national initiatives impacting underserved communities.
Lynn graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Radio, TV & Film and obtained a certificate in Strategic Marketing from Emory
University. In addition, she completed Leadership development programs at the Center for
Creative Leadership and UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. She was a Walter Kaitz Fellow through which she obtained Certification in Cable System Marketing and Management from The University Of Denver.
Living in metro-Atlanta with her husband as empty nesters, Lynn has devoted this chapter in her life to making a difference in the lives of others through the medium that she loves-TV and film.
Film Subject: Blain Snipstal is a Timberframer, father, partner and worker-owner of Earth Bound Building. Earth bound building specializes in timber framing, natural building and custom carpentry. Blain has over 12 years of lived experience in farming and land-based organizing both domestically and internationally. He has come to find that timber framing, natural building and sustainable agriculture are from the same seed. He was an organic farmer for over 10 years and draws on this experience to help build agricultural buildings that are environmentally friendly, beautiful and sustainable. He has a love for wood and all things nature. Wood is the medium by which he can explore his connection with nature and with people.