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Building on the Past: Resilience & Agritourism
November 4, 2024 @ 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
On-Farm Intensives are part of the 39th Sustainable Agriculture Conference but may be purchased separately from conference admission.
On-Farm Intensives are part of the 39th Sustainable Agriculture Conference but may be purchased separately from conference admission.
Location: Catawba Trail Farm, Durham, NC
Presenters: Delphine Sellars, Lucille Patterson, Justin Wooley & Alyssa Florwick, Urban Community AgriNomics
The Urban Community AgriNomics (UCAN) team shares how their small minority-founded nonprofit recast a dilapidated farmstead and former plantation into Catawba Trail Farm, an agricultural education center, community garden, and agritourism destination. They discuss the successes and pitfalls of UCAN’s process of going from land access to land ownership, how they brought the vision to life, and future plans for the land. During an engaging farm tour, witness the ongoing transformation of Catawba Trail Farm, a historic property with two restored buildings, a walking trail, a working garden, a demonstration kitchen, and a farmers market. Learn what it takes to take on such a project, including partnering with land trusts, writing grants, and managing staff, and leave with the understanding of a replicable model that promotes economic development, youth engagement, land conservation, community building, and resilience.
Registration: $55 | $40 for CFSA Members | $35 for Students & Veterans
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 448
Pittsboro,
NC, 27312
Physical Address
21 Hillsboro Street, Suite 4
Pittsboro, NC, 27312
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
EIN 24-004-0340.
Copyright © Carolina Farm Stewardship Association 2026
Membership Coordinator | Durham, NC
Thea is originally from southern California but has lived in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and now calls North Carolina home. She has always been passionate about the environment, but during her undergraduate years became particularly passionate about local food systems, nutrition education, and health equity.
Thea has spent time as an outdoor educator for Olympic National Park, then transitioned to farm to school education in the mountains of Colorado. Here, she worked as an Americorp member, grew food for the school garden, and provided nutritional and environmental science lessons.
Recently, she graduated from her Master’s program from UNC – Chapel Hill with a degree in Public Health and a focus in Health Equity.
Thea brings her background in education and local foods systems to CFSA and is excited to connect with members to provide the best support she can.
Email Thea: [email protected].
Special Directions: Our address cannot be found on Apple Maps. People must use Google Maps or some other service to find 5797 Daisy Evans Gunn Trail.
Special Directions: Little Pond Gardens is located at the back of The Plant’s parking lot. Find the check-in table set up at the large gate outside the farm’s main field!
Special Directions: Be sure to turn down the driveway with the sign with the Spring Forest Celtic Tree of Life, and the number 1907 on the mailbox post. (Google maps sometimes sends people to the neighbor’s driveway.)
Special Directions: PLEASE follow signs for parking.
Special Directions: Park ONLY at the Kraken Bar on the corner of Hwy 54 & Dodson’s Crossroads, FOLLOW SIGNS TO THE FOOTPATH that leads to the farm.
South Carolina Small Business Development Centers | Orangeburg, SC
Jim Johnson is the Director of Rural Development and Agribusiness and a Senior Business Consultant with the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC) at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. He resides in Orangeburg, SC with his spouse and three children. Johnson brings extensive experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur, having owned and operated a healthcare business for 16 years, a restaurant business for seven years, and a property management company for more than 25 years.
Johnson earned a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and a Master of Business Administration from Claflin University. He is a graduate of the Clemson Palmetto LEAF Leadership Program and the South Carolina Economic Development Institute. He holds professional credentials as a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) and a Certified Rural Grocery Transition Specialist. His consulting specialties center on food systems development, including agribusiness, hospitality, tourism, and rural grocery stores. Additional areas of expertise include international trade, environmental sustainability and energy, property management, and business acquisitions. In his role with the SC SBDC, Johnson works closely with entrepreneurs, farmers, and community partners to strengthen rural economies and expand opportunities for small business growth.
Johnson has served in numerous leadership roles, including Chairman of the Midlands Local Food Collaborative, Chairman of the Tri-County Health Network, Vice-Chair of the South Carolina Food Systems Network, Co-Chair of the ASBDC Rural Agriculture Special Interest Group, and board member of the Catawba Certified Regional Development Corporation. He previously served as Chairman of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Orangeburg County Elections Commission.
His recognitions include Orangeburg Businessperson of the Year, the Community of Character Award for the character trait of collaboration, multiple SC SBDC awards for Team Spirit, Outstanding Supporter, and Leadership, and the 2024 SC SBDC State Star award. Johnson also served as a Boy Scoutmaster for more than 10 years and has contributed to numerous nonprofit boards throughout his career. He remains committed to advancing entrepreneurship, food systems, and sustainable economic development in rural communities across South Carolina.
TrueField Systems | Durham, NC
Alex Borst is Director of Supply Chain at Grainwave, a project of TrueField Systems, where he focuses on the operational realities of strengthening regional grain supply chains and the relationships that make them work across producers and the middle layer, including mills, feed operators, malt houses, and specialty processors. Alex brings operator experience from the food hub and organic produce distribution world, including seven years at Happy Dirt, where he helped scale the business from roughly $2.7M to $30M in revenue and led procurement work spanning vendor relationships, supply planning, and logistics execution. Earlier in his career, Alex worked with Working Landscapes on local farm-to-school value chain development in Eastern North Carolina.
Firsthand Foods | Durham, NC
Jennifer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Firsthand Foods, a women-owned, B-Corp certified meat business specializing in local, pasture-raised meats sourced from a network of North Carolina farmers. Firsthand Foods buys whole animals and partners with small scale slaughter facilities to have them processed into marketable meat products. At Firsthand Foods, Jennifer is responsible for sales, marketing, producer network development and team engagement. Along with her Co-Founder, Tina Levy, Jennifer has grown Firsthand Foods into a robust wholesale business that supplies restaurants, retailers, and institutions throughout North Carolina and beyond, directing millions each year to the livestock producers and meat processors in their supply chain. Prior to Firsthand Foods, Jennifer worked as a consultant on sustainable agriculture and food systems projects, including with clients such as NC State University, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Gerber Foods, and the World Wildlife Fund. Jennifer serves on the Advisory Boards of NC Choices and Partner Community Capital and holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Management and Policy from the School of Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill. In her spare time, Jennifer loves to cook, read, hike, and garden. She lives in Carrboro with her husband Rich.
Brooks, Pierce, McClendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP | Greensboro, NC
Jamey Lowdermilk provides dynamic and passionate counsel on complex business and family litigation, including heirs’ property, insolvency challenges and bankruptcy strategies, and nonprofit matters. As a partner of Brooks, Pierce, McClendon, Humphrey & Leonard, L.L.P., she represents businesses and individuals in complicated commercial matters in state and federal courts, and has tried multiple state court bench trials. She also advises clients establishing new entities and reorganizing existing endeavors. Lowdermilk is a former law clerk for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Before her legal career, she served as a Presidential Management Fellow with the U.S. Forest Service, where she facilitated internal land management projects and achieved certification in incident qualifications for wildland fire. She earned her J.D. from the UNC School of Law, graduating with honors, and her M.S. in applied economics and statistics from Clemson University, including a certificate in public administration. She lives with her family in Greensboro, NC, where she commutes (mostly) by bike.
Jen & Flo Garden | Faison, NC
Shameeka McKoy is the founder of Jen & Flo Garden in Detroit, Michigan, and former co-owner of 12:03AM Farm in Faison, North Carolina, both Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Women-Owned farms dedicated to community resilience, sustainability, and food equity. A U.S. Air Force veteran and former mental health technician, Shameeka uses agriculture as a form of healing and empowerment and education, combining her passion for service with her commitment to sustainable food systems and environmental restoration. In addition to her farming work, Shameeka serves as President of the Strategic Planning Council for North Carolina A&T State University, where she helps lead initiatives that strengthen agricultural research, community engagement, and strategic growth. She also partnered with NC A&T to conduct research on specialty produce and organic practices, advancing innovation and inclusion in local agriculture. As a consulate for MCL JASCO, Shameeka briefs local municipalities across North Carolina and South Carolina on the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, a service offered through USDA NRCS, helping communities recover from natural disasters and build long-term environmental resilience. Shameeka is deeply committed to building sustainable food networks, empowering underrepresented farmers, and promoting agriculture as a pathway for wellness and opportunity. Her leadership blends service, strategy, and compassion…values she hopes to bring to the CFSA Board of Directors to advance sustainable agriculture and equitable food access across the Carolinas and beyond.
Email Shy: [email protected]
She lives in Hickory, North Carolina, and enjoys traveling, interior decorating, and spending time with friends and family.
Email Wanda: [email protected]
Email Mary Beth: [email protected]
Roland lives in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
Email Roland: [email protected]
Emily Ling is a native Texan whose path has been influenced by time living in New Orleans, Georgia, Boston, and now North Carolina. With roots in the Christian tradition, her interdisciplinary work encompasses advocating for economic & social justice and actively creating the Beloved Community she longs to see. Prior to her current work in organic agriculture, Emily spent years advancing criminal justice reform and advocating on behalf of those who experience incarceration. Her interests in social transformation and ethical leadership led her into theological studies, and later into roles as the Social Justice editor of the EcoTheo Review and teaching workshops for faith leaders at educational institutions including Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Boston University. Most recently she has enjoyed blending her passions for social and environmental justice through regenerative farming, and she is delighted to assist congregations in growing their food ministries by serving as CFSA’s Farm and Faith Community Organizer.
Emily holds a Master of Divinity and a Certificate in Religion and Conflict Transformation from Boston University and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas. She lives with her partner in Winston-Salem, where they enjoy hosting storytelling salons and being dog parents.
Email Emily: [email protected]
Email Jacob: [email protected]
Email Angie: [email protected]
Prior to joining CFSA, Matt worked in marketing and communications at the South Carolina Department of Commerce, and studied political science and geography at the University of South Carolina, with a focus on the relationship between conservation and rural development.
Email Matt: [email protected]
Email Sonia: [email protected]
Jay brings that passion and interest to CFSA, where he serves as a local produce safety coordinator, assisting growers with GAP certification and conducting workshops and webinars on farm food safety throughout the Carolinas.
Email Jay: [email protected]
Email Mark: [email protected]
Outside of managing CFSA’s database, Lynn enjoys walks at dawn among North Carolina’s songbirds, growing tomatoes and potatoes for her family, and tending to pet goats who are retired breeding stock.
Email Lynn: [email protected]
Alesia enjoys the Triangle area of North Carolina for its outdoor recreational opportunities. When she’s not advocating for farmers at the General Assembly in Raleigh, you can often find her training for her next ultramarathon on the many forested trails this area has to offer.
Email Alesia: [email protected]
Communications Coordinator | Triangle Area, NC
Grace is a communications professional passionate about amplifying causes including equitable food systems, regenerative ag, sustainable community development, and nonformal education through creative, data-driven campaigns and storytelling.
She and her family caught the farming bug during a farm stay vacation when she was a teen, and what started as a backyard garden quickly sprouted into a flock of chickens, hives of bees, four very spoiled goats, and Grace’s enduring interest in small-scale farming and sustainable food systems. She holds bachelor’s degrees from NC State in Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems and in Extension Education, and a master’s degree from Duke in Graduate Liberal Studies.
Grace brings to CFSA her experience working at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability, and communications for organizations including NC State Extension, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, and the Environmental Educators of North Carolina. Grace is an almost-native of the NC Triangle, where she lives with her family on their small hobby farm.
Email Grace: [email protected]
Dylan and his wife live outside of Charlotte on their 14-acre homestead and focus on mushroom cultivation, high tunnel production, and raising small livestock.
Email Dylan: [email protected]
Blue Cross NC | Morrisville, NC
Tiki’s grandmother instilled a passion and commitment to help those in need in her at a young age. “To whom much is given, much is required” is an ideology Tiki tries to put into practice in both her personal and professional lives. Seeing the ever-widening gap between those who have access to resources needed to create a better quality of life and those who do not, reminds Tiki of her own humble beginnings and inspires her to pay her blessings forward.
Tiki joined Blue Cross NC in 2025 as a Senior Program Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility. In this role, Tiki joins a team whose focus is on community engagement, investing in local initiatives, and improving equitable health access. This focus includes but is not limited to supporting community-led initiatives, employee volunteering, play spaces, capacity building, and partnerships.
Prior to her current position, Tiki was the Program Officer for the Community-Based Strategy portfolio at Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. In this role, she helped guide investments that demonstrated community-led and community-centric efforts to create change in a local-level ecosystem.
Tiki holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Elizabeth City State University and a master’s in public administration from NC Central University. She has a daughter, Dorean; a son, David; absolutely perfect granddaughter, Arielle; and an adorable grand-doggy, Mikey.
Food Bank of Greenwood County | Greenwood, SC
Andrea oversees the Lakelands area’s largest hunger-relief organization as Chief Executive Officer of the Food Bank of Greenwood County since 2021. Through a network of more than 25 food resource banks and satellite pantries, 100 community partners, agencies, schools, colleges, and universities, the Food Bank of Greenwood County provides nearly 60,000 pounds of food to thousands of people in need on an annual basis. Andrea oversees programs that support children, families, veterans, and senior citizens. She has created a holistic approach to food insecurity, food equity and access, and food ecosystems that include producers (both large scale and small), retailers, processors, restaurants, community gardeners, and organizations that distribute food to impoverished households in the Lakelands community. She directs all aspects of the organization’s efforts of fundraising, communications, advocacy, outreach, and volunteer services.
Prior to her role at Food Bank of Greenwood County, Andrea spent 18 years in educational leadership, serving as a special programs administrator, responsible for family & community resources, student performance outcomes, gifted and talented data analysis, and state regulations and policy research. With a deep personal commitment to strengthening communities, Andrea has been an avid volunteer and board member throughout her career, including service with: the Leadership Greenwood Board of Regents for the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, Keep Greenwood County Beautiful; Greenwood Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit Council, Rotary Club of Greenwood, Greenwood Lions Club, Greenwood Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, Greenwood Promise Engagement Committee, and Lakelands Food and Hunger Alliance.
Andrea holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Limestone University, a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University; certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from the University of South Florida, and Nonprofit Management from Winthrop University; graduate of the Leadership Greenwood Class of 2021, a 2022 Riley Fellow at Furman University and a Women’s Leadership Institute graduate also at Furman University. Andrea was recognized as an Under 45 Star in 2021 from the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and inducted into the Marquis Who’s Who biographical registry for her standard of excellence in leadership, education, and community advocacy.
Andrea’s philosophy is summed up in a quote by Shirley Chisholm: “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.”
GrowFood Carolina | North Charleston, SC
Becca is a South Carolina native who grew up “on the ridge,” known for its rich agricultural history, in the small town of Monetta. Her passion for sustainable food systems, promoting local farms, and preserving agricultural landscapes has deep roots. Growing up on a fourth-generation organic fruit and vegetable farm, she has felt a connection to agriculture and the land all her life and has witnessed firsthand the innumerable challenges that farmers face. She has devoted her energy and industry expertise to serving farmers throughout South Carolina.
A Clemson University graduate, Becca returned to Monetta after her studies to support her family’s farm for two years. She implemented and managed the farm’s food safety program, assisted with housing compliance for seasonal workers, and managed various farmers markets throughout the Midlands. Becca then accepted a position at GrowFood Carolina, a food hub and program of the Coastal Conservation League, where she began as a Quality Assurance Specialist in 2017. She was promoted to Farm Coordinator in 2018 and now holds the role of Farm Outreach Manager. Her current focus includes grower outreach, market access, wholesale development, and production planning.
Throughout her career, Becca has prioritized farmers as the cornerstone of regional food systems that are essential for the security of our nation’s food chain, community nourishment, and land preservation. Her dedication and agricultural roots fuel her enthusiasm for supporting local growers and building resilient food systems.
Summers Farm | Browns Summit, NC
Grace Summers has a B.S. in Agronomy from North Carolina State University, a M.S. in Plant Science and Horticulture and a M.S. in Agricultural Education from North Carolina A&T State University. She is currently a part-time Small Farm Outreach State Program Assistant with the Virginia State University Cooperative Extension Program. She coordinates a collaboration with the Small Farm Outreach Program and USDA NRCS to get information to farmers about NRCS Programs. She also provides technical advice on crop production as well as High Tunnel management. Grace recently became the Outreach and Education Specialist for the Southeast Region of American Farmland Trust.
Grace retired from North Carolina A&T State University Cooperative Extension Program in October 2016, where she was an Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Associate/ Applied Research Coordinator. She set up and managed the Horticulture Research Unit as well as coordinated the Plasticulture and Drip Irrigation Program. She helped farmers transition into new enterprises by providing technical production expertise for Horticultural and Agronomic crops. She has 35 years of Greenhouse Management and Production experience and 20 years of High Tunnel building and production experience.
Grace currently owns and manages her family farm which has been in her family since 1878. They raise vegetables, hemp, strawberries and chickens and turkeys for meat and eggs. Grace serves on the Guilford County Farm Bureau Board as well as the NC Farm Bureau Ornamental Horticulture Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Guilford Soil and Water Board of Supervisors, a founding Board member of Green Rural Redevelopment Organization (GRRO), and also a founding Board member of Feast Down East. She currently serves as an Advisory Council member for Southern Risk Management Education Center.
Restoring The ‘Souil’ Farm | Oxford, NC
Keith retired in 2024 having served for 27 years as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. He completed work for a Master of Theology at Duke Divinity School in 2003. Keith was in CFSA’s first Member Advocacy Program and serves as a member of the North Carolina Food System Advocacy Coalition. He is Chair of the Board of Church and Society for the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Keith is the co-creator of The Regenerative Agriculture Toolbox, a resource to aid congregations to support local farmers, as well as employing regenerative practices on church-owned land. In March of 2025 Keith and his wife Tracy purchased nearly 28 acres of land near Oxford, NC to begin their farm. Restoring the Souil Farm will be solar powered, committed to restoring the health of the soil using regenerative practices, and restoring the health of the soul (whole being) sharing in good food while fostering a community of peace builders .
The Sustainable Agriculture program at Central Carolina Community College has prepared Keith for running a small farm. He will complete the Public Theology program at Wesley Seminary, Washington, D.C., in December of 2026. The capstone project connects faith communities, farms, and neighbors to share in local sourced meals and work together to foster thriving communities that build peace.
Naturally Katherine | Columbia, SC
Katherine Lewis has always had a passion for local food and farms, so when a part time opportunity blossomed into a full time position managing a 40 acre blueberry farm, she said yes! As the Director of Operations for 6 years, Katherine created and implemented food safety strategies, maintained good standing with Clemson’s organic program and oversaw the day to day operations. Like other small farms, she wore many different hats from weeder to packer to sales representative and more! After several years being certified organic, she began consulting for several other farms that were interested in becoming an organic operation and helped them receive and maintain their organic certification.
She is passionate about implementing sustainable and organic farming practices that can apply to both large and small farms! In 2021 Katherine decided to focus on being a mom to her 2 young boys and kickstarting her website Naturally Katherine. On this platform, she strives to bridge the gap between consumers and farmers through empowerment and education. She loves highlighting local farms and helping connect consumers with local products that they will love!
TendWell Farm | Old Fort, NC
Danielle Hutchison is a first-generation organic farmer based in Western North Carolina. Graduating from Warren Wilson College in 2007 with a degree in Environmental Education and Agriculture, Danielle has dedicated her career to organic vegetable production.
Since 2008, she has amassed a wealth of experience in various agricultural sectors, including market gardens, CSA farms, and wholesale vegetable production. Danielle’s small farm dream became a reality in 2015 on one small diversified acre and has since flourished into the largest certified organic vegetable farm in WNC.
In 2019, Danielle embarked on a successful joint venture with Steven Beltram, forming TendWell Farm. This collaboration has allowed both farms to thrive as a unified business increasing their local and regional produce distribution. TendWell Farm’s commitment to quality is evident in their specialization in a diverse range of products such as tomatoes, kale, watermelons and lettuce. In 2023, TendWell Farm grew, sold and distributed over 3.5 million pounds of fresh organic produce throughout the Southeast.
Danielle prioritizes the well-being of her farm crew, ensuring safe and supportive working conditions. Her dedication to creating a sustainable work-life balance for herself, her employees, and her family is a cornerstone of her agricultural philosophy. With a focus on quality, sustainability, and community impact, Danielle’s journey in sustainable agriculture continues to inspire and uplift those around her.
By echoing the sentiment that women like herself are not only growers of food but also drivers of change and progress in the agricultural sector, Danielle exemplifies the invaluable impact that women have in shaping the future of farming. Her dedication to balancing excellence in farming with a profound understanding of the critical role women play underscores her commitment to driving positive change and empowerment within the agriculture community.
SC Association for Community and Economic Development | Summerton, SC
Ken has spent 20 years as a community development practitioner in Communities of Color, addressing the issue of social inequality using community-building and organizing principles. Ken graduated from Scott’s Branch High School in the historic civil rights community of Summerton, SC, and was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps. He holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management specializing in community development finance from the New School for Public Engagement, Milano School of International Affairs, and Management and Urban Policy.
As a practitioner, Ken has consulted with nonprofits, community action agencies, and public charter schools in urban and rural environments to build organizational capacity to effect change at the individual and community levels. In 2017, Ken was awarded a Research Institute for Scholars of Equity (RISE) fellowship at North Carolina Central University in partnership with the University of North Carolina of Wilmington, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences. In June 2017, he was selected to serve in the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) as AmeriCorps VISTA with the Enterprise Community Partners.
Ken was the first African American Student Government Association President of Kennesaw State College. Among his accomplishments is securing more than $2.2 million in federal awards for his community development projects. Ken has successfully managed multiple USDA Rural Development, Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), and other state contracts and local private foundation grants designed to build the capacity of socially disadvantaged farmers and low-wealth rural communities for economic prosperity. Currently, Ken works with socially disadvantaged farmers to access NRCS, EQIP, CSP, FSA, COVID-19, ARPA, and LFAP resources to help sustain their enterprise.
Gaia Herbs | Brevard, NC
Since the moment she decided to study horticulture at the University of Georgia, Abbie has tried to have at least one hand in the soil at all times. She managed a green roof garden while interning at the Office of Sustainability at UGA, where she got to teach others the magic of growing food and native plants organically in an urban setting. She also learned the ins and outs of medicinal herb growing, tea and spice making, and business managing/marketing while working under Noelle Joy at UGArden, and later completed the BotanoLogos Foundation of Herbalism course with Patricia Howell.
She experienced a small stint at an organic veggie farm in Athens, GA after graduating, and then she found her dream job as a farm crew leader at Gaia Herbs. She quickly learned Spanish in order to effectively lead Gaia’s incredible farm crew, and also leads the wellness and safety committees at the company. She has a deep passion for regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems and believes that proper land management is one of the greatest solutions we have to the environmental issues we face. When she’s not working, you can find her hanging out with plants and mushrooms in the forest, making herbal concoctions, mountain biking, and jumping in the river when it’s not too cold.
Stuff
Sustaining Way | Greenville, SC
Michael is the executive director of Sustaining Way and its flagship demonstration site, Annie’s House, located in Greenville, South Carolina’s historic Nicholtown.
A native of Spartanburg, Michael holds a BA in political science from Alabama A&M University, an MPA from The Ohio State University, and a JD from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Michael served 12 years as the District One Representative for Spartanburg County Council, was the first African American vice-chair, and chaired the Public Safety and Judiciary Committee. A long-serving member of the Economic Development Committee, Michael worked to establish 20,000 jobs and deliver more than $8 billion of development to the county. Among many community service roles, he has served on the South Carolina Bar Board of Governors, serves as president of the Spartanburg NAACP, is an alumnus of the Liberty Fellowship, and is an Aspen Global Leadership Fellow.
A trained apiarist certified in Sustainable Agriculture, Michael is a board member of the South Carolina Food Policy Council working to combat the reality of food swamps/food deserts in the communities throughout the state. He is passionate about helping heal the land and started a regenerative urban farm, Roots of Life, in 2019.