Communities of Practice

Are you passionate about how protecting public lands can address broader goals in Black communities, such as honoring history and culture, seeding community power, and advancing Black self-determination?

The National Black Food & Justice Alliance and Trust for Public Land are partnering to create a Community of Practice, a workshop series to build local strategies for Black self-determination through public lands, legacy, and leadership. Our virtual capacity building sessions will provide best practices, resources, and guidance to support local approaches that center community agency, resilience, and joy.

Program Structure

The Stewards of Sovereignty: Cultivating Communal Lands series is an opportunity to join a tight knit group who are committed to advancing strategies of community self-determination and visioning. These free workshops will provide a curated blend of: 

1. Virtual workshops (90 minutes) to enhance local capacity for impactful practices;  
2. Subject matter experts and case studies to strengthen your local strategies; 
3. Peer support and networking to increase knowledge exchange and deepen collaboration. 

Each 90-minute workshop features panel presentations and small group discussions. You’re welcome to join any session that interests you—attendance for all sessions is not required.

Session Topics:

We will meet on Thursdays between 2:30-4:00 PM ET.

• November 20, 2025 — Collective Stewardship

• January 29, 2026 — Land Management and Defense

• April 30, 2026 — Scaling Community Power

• July 23, 2026 — Case Studies: Building Trust

• November 19, 2026 — Funding Communal Lands

Register now

Please contact us if you’re interested in joining a future cohort or have any questions about this program.