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BFIP Nominees Q & A

Thursday, March 27 · 6:00 – 7:00pm

Time zone: America/Detroit

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/yjj-tqzj-iew

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 201-903-3207‬ PIN: ‪985 851 690‬#

Brightmoor Farmstead Incubator Project

Governance Committee 2025 Elections

Brightmoor residents, cast your votes by March 31st, 2025

Brightmoor Farmstead Incubator Project

The Brightmoor Farmstead Incubator Project is a unique initiative by the Brightmoor Artisans Collective (BAC) designed to support and empower BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) residents in the Brightmoor area. Our goal is to promote food system equity and economic development in our neighborhood by assisting BIPOC residents in establishing an agricultural Community Land Trust and Producers Cooperative comprised of local BIPOC farmers.

Brightmoor is a Food Desert

Did you know that almost half of Brightmoor is home to food desert census tracts? This reality means that many community members face limited access to fresh, affordable and nutritious food.

At BAC, we are determined to change this situation! By transforming vacant city land into urban farmsteads, we can enhance local access to fresh, healthy food, benefiting everyone in the area.

BIPOC Land Access is an Historic Equity Issue

Access to land has been a significant challenge for BIPOC communities, rooted in enduring inequities such as discriminatory land policies, segregation, and systemic racism. Many BIPOC individuals have faced barriers to land ownership and participation in agriculture, which has contributed to ongoing cycles of poverty and food insecurity. The Brightmoor Farmstead Incubator Project aims to rectify these historical injustices by providing equitable access to land for BIPOC farmers, enabling them to grow their own food and build sustainable livelihoods.

Historically, the loss of Black farmland can be traced back to initiatives like "40 acres and a mule," which promised reparations but were largely unfulfilled. This broken promise, along with other instances of land dispossession, has severely impacted BIPOC generational wealth. These historical contexts highlight the need for initiatives that promote BIPOC community land ownership and agricultural equity, fostering economic stability within these communities.

Do you already have plans for a lot in Brightmoor?

We’d love to hear about it!

This project is in the planning stages. Our current project area map features qualifying clusters of city owned lots that could be 1 of 25 potential farmsteads highlighted in GREY. Lots highlighted in PINK have been removed from consideration. Lots colored YELLOW indicate a removal request has been submitted and is under review.

LOT REMOVAL REQUESTS

Lot removal requests are encouraged as part of the community feedback process.

Overall, the project goal is 25 acres of scattered farm sites. Each site on the map is a cluster of city owned vacant lots that are 1/2 an acre to an acre in size. For reference, 1 acre of land is around 9-12 residential lots.

The collection of sites under review on the project map are not all intended to be added to the Community Land Trust; we have currently capped our project at 25 farm sites. The map displayed shows almost 300 potential sites, a maximum of 25 that may be added to the Community Land Trust. Your community input will help us determine the areas of vacant land in Brightmoor that would be best suited to the project.

All lot removal requests are reviewed by the Governance Committee. Pending requests on the map list the parties that submitted the request for community reference and to encourage further transparent conversation around land use in the Brightmoor area. Submission of a request does not automatically ensure that the lots will be removed from consideration.

The purpose of the contact form is to facilitate community feedback on the potential project sites. Removal requests from parties that do not currently reside in the project area will not be considered.

When submitting your request, please let us know the following:

  • Do you reside in the Brightmoor project area (Telegraph to Evergreen, McNichols to Outer Drive)? Please provide your residential address (this information will not be made public and is for verification purposes only).

  • In the case that the lot is adjacent to your property, have you already submitted a request to purchase the lot from the DLBA? If so, what is the status of your request?

  • Do you, your block club or organization have other use already planned for the site? Please note that while general blight clean up is valued, the committee is specifically interested in intended future use of the vacant land and how it will benefit the community. Let us know your vision!

  • Have you been actively caring for the site and for how long?

  • Are there other locations on the project area map that you would prefer the project utilize? Why?

To learn more about the purchasing process for neighborhood lots from the Detroit Land Bank Authority, please visit the related DLBA page:

  • Side Lot Sales — For residents interested in purchasing an adjacent vacant lot. Adjacent residents have first right of purchase for 6 months after the property is offered for sale.

  • DLBA Neighborhood Lot Sales — For residents in a 500 foot radius of desired lot. Local residents have second right of purchase 6 months after the property is offered for sale. This right is in effect for 6 months after you receive the sales preference.

  • DLBA Auction Sales — DLBA policy is to provide adjacent and local residents first right of purchase for the year after a property is offered for sale. If you are not an adjacent neighbor or residing within 500 feet of the lot, you will be last in line for purchasing rights. Currently available lots open for public purchase are on the DLBA auction site.

Project Leadership

The Governance Committee

Our project is driven by a Governance Committee elected by the community. This ensures that the policies and practices we implement genuinely reflect the needs and aspirations of the community. Annual nominations open in November and applications will be accepted through February. Annual elections take place in March; voting begins March 1st and closes March 31st. Nominees must receive an approval vote of 2/3 or more to be elected and will serve a term of 2 years with the option to serve a maximum of 5 terms.

Education and Advocacy Subcommittee

The Governance Committee has established a vital subcommittee to promote the project’s mission and support farmer participants in their endeavors. The Education and Advocacy Subcommittee is responsible for community workshops & educational resources related to the project as well as community outreach efforts.

The Producers Cooperative

A key strategy of the project is to incubate a producers cooperative of BIPOC farmers in the project. This initiative allows local farmers to collaborate, share resources, and advocate for their needs. By uniting, they can access larger markets and amplify their collective voice.

As part of Brightmoor Artisans’s Incubation efforts and under the leadership of the BFIP Governance Committee, The Producers Cooperative Subcommittee is dedicated to developing a business model that is owned and governed by its members. Farmer member-owners will collaboratively manage the land trust and resulting cooperative business, benefiting from shared knowledge and resources.

Meet the

Governance Committee

BFIP Subcommittee Applications

(rolling basis)

Have a question about the Brightmoor Farmstead Incubator Project?

Contact Us at brightmoorartisans@gmail.com