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TOWN HALL: Kansas City’s Crisis of Black Food, Land & Survival — And How We Fight Back
KANSAS CITY, MO – Black farmers and urban growers are reclaiming land and feeding our communities despite relentless systemic barriers. Meanwhile, policymakers are slashing vital resources, and the city’s last Black owned grocery stores are on the brink of closure. The Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council—a pillar of Black food sovereignty in Kansas City—recently had its USDA grant revoked overnight, a blatant attack on one of the city’s most essential Black-led farmers’ markets. But the community refuses to back down.
In response, The Defender and The Call are hosting an urgent Town Hall on Black Food, Land & Survival—to make our broader community aware of what’s happening, who’s responsible, and most importantly, how we organize to support each other and build the future we want to see.
Location: 606 Gladstone Ave. Kansas City, MO 64124 (Independence Boulevard Christian Church)
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 25th @ 6pm-8pm
Free & Open to the CommunityThe Crisis at Hand
Under the Trump administration and policies spearheaded by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Black land ownership and food sovereignty are under direct attack (even more so than they were before). Black farmers—who make up less than 0.5% of all U.S. farmers—are losing land at alarming rates, urban growers are being shut out of funding, and corporate-backed grocery chains continue to abandon our neighborhoods.
This town hall will be a space for urgent information, community building, and ways to get involved.
Who’s Speaking?
The event will feature a powerhouse panel of Black farmers, urban growers, and community leaders, including:
- Ivanhoe Neighborhood Association – Leading efforts in community land ownership and local food production.
- Black Urban Growers – Connecting Black farmers, urban gardeners, and food justice organizers to rebuild our agricultural legacy.
- Local Black Farmers & Growers – The frontline workers growing fresh, local food despite systemic barriers.
- Community Advocates & Policy Experts – Breaking down the policies that keep us locked out of food and land access—and how we dismantle them.
What to Expect
Panel Discussion – Hear from Black farmers, organizers, and community leaders who are reclaiming land, building food sovereignty, and creating solutions outside the system.
Community Q&A – Bring your questions, share your experiences, and demand real solutions.
Action Steps & Next Moves – Learn how to support Black growers, secure resources, and build community power.The Broader Context
This is one of many town halls that The KC Defender and The Kansas City Call will host throughout 2025 to expose the systemic attacks on Black Kansas Citians—and to build the community-led solutions that will enable us to fight back.
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