Leigh (she/her) is rooted in over a decade of experience connecting individuals and communities to land and art. After training in agriculture at UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS), she joined the CASFS staff, where she supported the historic Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture. Her grantmaking is deeply guided by years spent in leading and learning alongside teenagers at Urban Roots, managing Alemany Farm, and directing the education department at CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture). Leigh holds a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts from California Institute of Integral Studies., which shapes her approach to social transformation and philanthropy. She has facilitated immersions with the Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute; guest lectured at San Francisco State University, California Institute of Integral Studies and Stanford University; and is a contributing writer in Black Food, Bryant Terry’s forthcoming book. She currently sits on the boards of Center for Whole Communities and Eyes Infinite Foundation. Influenced by Afrofuturism, queer ecology, and emergent strategy, Leigh believes that our capacity for imagination changes the world. She continues to vision and birth projects at the crossroads of land, creativity, and wholeheartedness, and consistently recommits to building a liberated future in which we may all thrive.

What Liberation Means to Leigh

Tell us why you do what you do.

I am invested in this work because I genuinely believe in a future time where all living beings vibrantly thrive with dignity. And I see the work of building movement partnerships and grantmaking as a critical tool to infuse social movements with the resources and collaboration needed to expedite our move from the present moment to that expansive future.

What’s most important to you about being part of Solidaire?

In order to imagine and build liberatory futures, I believe we must be rooted in wholehearted relationships, ecological reverence, integrity and care. I was inspired to join the Solidaire community because I feel those values are centered in Solidaire’s strategic visioning as well as the daily practices of this team.

What does liberation mean to you?

Liberation is a commitment to life; it is a practice of interconnected and embodied living. Liberation is acting on the belief of possibility.