“I learned that this country does not value Black farmers, especially those in the South, and associated a struggle with anything connected to farming. … becoming a farmer was the farthest thing from my mind.” — Clarenda “Farmer Cee” Stanley

Sometimes progress comes easy, but more often it requires a greater effort — the struggle that Clarenda Stanley mentions in her childhood memory and now realizes as the Founder of Green Heffa Farms in Liberty, North Carolina. While her journey back to the farm was unplanned, she says it was done with a greater purpose: “creating consciously grown value-add products and establishing our brand and values in the marketplace while staying true to our Black and green roots.”

Her work to acknowledge the past and move forward with resilience is relevant as U.S. leaders establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday and officially recognize the celebration of emancipation — honoring the culture, solidarity, and achievements of the Black community. B The Change Weekly shares how companies like Green Heffa Farms and the Certified B Corporations community can advance progress on inclusion and equity and create an economy that values the contributions of all people.

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At Green Heffa Farms, Founder Clarenda Stanley is returning to her agrarian roots — planted in childhood as she watched her grandparents demonstrate that “true wealth is found in the land, not in the banks.” Green Heffa Farms is part of LEVEL, a B Lab U.S. & Canada program that aims to build additional models of engagement and support for businesses led by Black and Indigenous people who also identify as womxn. On B The Change, she shares the reasons behind her unexpected journey back to agriculture as a Black woman farmer, and the meaning that Juneteenth holds for her.
 

As Tiffany Jana of B Corp TMI Consulting says in this still-relevant article from last year, “Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the mandated freedom of all Americans. But it is also a time to reflect on the inequalities still sweeping our nation and the disgusting effects it has had for entire populations.” The B Corp community and other social justice-minded organizations can do their part by celebrating Juneteenth and acknowledging the importance of Black people in our nation and our workforce.
 

The community of Certified B Corporations knows that profits don’t have to come at the expense of other stakeholders. Learn more in this downloadable report, “The Future of Work Is Now: How to Prioritize and Support Workers Through Impactful Policies and Practices.”
 

Hiding your true self at work comes with negative consequences, Marisa G. Franco writes on B The Change, making the work that B Corps are doing to create more inclusive workplaces even more vital. She suggests five ways that employers can cultivate a culture where all workers are heard and feel valued.
 

Here’s your chance to catch up on recent articles:

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• How This Business Supports the LGBTQ+ Community During Pride Month and Throughout the Year: Through In-Store and Online Programming, B Corp The Body Shop Advocates for Inclusion and Equity