Growing Liberation Podcast

About Growing Liberation Podcast

Midwest Farmers of Color Collective is a collective of Black, Indigenous, Farmers of Color, centered on racial justice and the development of food and farming systems that honor our communities past, present, and future. The Growing Liberation Podcast aims to reclaim our narratives and reveal our crucial connection to the land, to our food, our culture, our political power, and our economic autonomy. Growing Liberation guests come from farming backgrounds and share our untold stories to foster a community of farmers of color by sharing stories left out of the mainstream conversation about the food system and land equity.

Publisher

Midwest Farmers of Color Collective

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Sept 2023

Latest episode

3 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

4 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Mar 2026

   Growing Liberation Ep. 4: Our communities have been doing this forever (feat. Erika Allen)

   In this episode, Zoe Hollomon speaks with Erika Allen, founder of Urban Growers Collective, which now operates 7 farms over 11 acres on Chicago’s South and West Side. Her newest venture, Z Farm, will operate on 42-acres in south suburban Chicago Heights. Beyond that, Erika wears so many hats, mentoring young people, spreading climate innovations, and influencing philanthropy to fund deep and lasting change in the food system. ERIKA ALLEN is the founder and CEO for Urban Growers Collective; president of Green ERA Educational NFP; and co-owner of Green Era Sustainability Partners. Allen founded and served as the director of Growing Power – Chicago from 2002 to 2017. She co-founded the Chicago Food Policy Action Council and has served in numerous leadership roles in food justice spaces at the local, state, and national levels over the years. Allen received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her MA in Art Psychotherapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She uses her experience as a visual artist to support individuals and organizations in realizing their vision of social and economic changes. She is passionate about social justice and working with multicultural groups in the elimination of racism, related oppressions, and the root causes of poverty by integrating creative and therapeutic techniques alongside food security and community development. ZOE HOLLOMON is a multi-racial black, queer, activist and abolitionist with over 20 years' experience organizing with grassroots organizations on the East Coast and Midwest, building organizations to influence decision-making in food, farming and environmental related policy. Born in Duluth, MN, from a long line of freedom fighters, she grew up mainly in NY (Buffalo and NYC). Since moving back to Minnesota in 2012, she’s done advocacy and organizing for multiple organizations and campaigns. She is a founding member of Rootsprings Farm & Retreat Cooperative, a farm and healing retreat space for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ people, and a proud co-founder and Executive Director of the Midwest Farmers of Color Collective. Growing Liberation is a podcast from the Midwest Farmers of Color Collective, a collective of Black Indigenous farmers of color centered on racial justice and the development of food and farming systems that honor our communities past, present, and future. Learn more at: https://midwestfarmersofcolor.org/. Follow MFCC on Instagram: @midwestfarmersofcolor CREDITS Creator: Midwest Farmers of Color Collective with Real Food Media Host: Zoe Hollomon, MFCC Guest: Erika Allen, Urban Growers Collective Audio editor: Jaime Roque Executive producer: Tanya Kerssen, Real Food Media Theme music: “Our Past Lives” by Moonfly Podcast artwork by: @Emitxin SHOW NOTES Midwest Farmers of Color Collective, https://midwestfarmersofcolor.org/ Urban Growers Collective, https://www.urbangrowerscollective.org/

2. 

   14 Dec 2024

   Growing Liberation Ep. 3: "Rooted" with Brea Baker

   Host Sammie Ardito Rivera interviews Brea Baker, author of *Rooted*, exploring Black-Indigenous solidarity and invites listeners to consider their relationship with land, food, and community.

3. 

   11 Sept 2023

   Growing Liberation Ep. 2: Farmers of Color go to Washington

   Midwest Farmers of Color Collective host Sammie Ardito Rivera interviews Duane "Chili" Yazzie, Zoe Hollomon, Angela Dawson, Moses Momanyi, Lily Mboss, Yanely Martínez, and Susuyu Lassa about farmers of color advocating for policy changes and climate resilience during the Rally for Resilience in Washington D.C.

4. 

   11 Sept 2023

   Growing Liberation Ep. 1: Surviving the Apocalypse

   Host SAMMIE ARDITO RIVERA interviews MICHAEL CHANEY, co-founder of Midwest Farmers of Color Collective, about his community organizing experience and insights on surviving societal challenges through food and farming.

Who has been a guest on Growing Liberation Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Brea Baker
• Duane "Chili" Yazzie
• Zoe Hollomon
• Angela Dawson
• Moses Momanyi

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Contact Growing Liberation Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Growing Liberation Podcast