From Family Crisis to Community Change: How One Man’s Journey Fueled a Movement
For lawyer turned landowner and founder Jameson, the term “conscious community” is not just a clickbait buzz word but a personal lived experience. When the toxic land his school stood on caused his brother to fall gravely ill, it shook his family to their core. His brother’s debilitating illness wasn’t just a personal wake up call on the real damage that environmental hazards wreak on our bodies — it sounded the alarm to how environmental hazards, and a lack of green infrastructure disproportionately affects African American communities.
Interview Excerpt:
“I learned about coalition building. I learned about community organizing because when we were going to that middle school, that was happening. They were handing out information because there were conversations around [the land] being contaminated. Some of my classmates had rare forms of diseases and hairs falling out and things of that nature. Teachers were also having rare forms of diseases. My brother was on the kidney transplant for twenty years, dialysis for twenty years. Now, I can't pinpoint and say that the middle school is the reason why things have happened. But, you know, you make the correlation yourself, right? I can remember the night it happened. We were sitting in the living room, sitting in the kitchen, actually, just finished dinner. We were going to bed and my brother couldn't walk up the steps because his ankles were so swollen. And so he couldn't put weight on it… my dad had to carry him up the steps. And so, you know, same thing happened the next night. And then that's when my parents started getting nervous like, oh, we gotta go to the hospital…We took him to hospital and they diagnosed him, at that point there wasn't even a name for it. It was just this rare form of kidney kidney disease. That was my first exposure to [environmental harm] and that really has an impact, especially when it happens to your own family absolutely…and there’s so many other families that are going through the same thing don't even realize it. They don't even know.”
These earlier experiences inspired a career in environmental justice and the founding of the African American Society in 2022. On our latest episode of Inspire Synergy podcast with host Steve Cully, we sit down with Jameson to discuss the history of land ownership, environmental regulations and the role agriculture plays in food instability especially among underserved communities. While the Society’s roots date back decades, its modern approach reflects the personal experiences of millions of families across the country — experiences where systemic neglect had devastating, real-world consequences.
The African American Society focuses on three intertwined priorities: cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and resource access. Over the years, it has grown to address systemic inequities, ranging from job readiness and political engagement to health advocacy and youth mentorship.
The Roots of the African American Society’s Mission
The farm isn’t just about producing food, but also about reclaiming a tradition of self-reliance and health that has been stripped away from many black communities in the U.S. Jameson prides his farm’s ability to supply fresh, healthy food in neighborhoods where fast food chains often outnumber grocery stores.
“Resources need to meet communities where they are — hard stop. There needs to be money that goes to the community. There’s got to be opportunities. Right to their doorstep," Jameson emphasized. The echos of the transatlantic slave trade and reconstruction reverberate to the realities of land ownership today, from redlining to communities built on toxic lands amidst food desserts. Redefining the meaning of land ownership, farming and agriculture are critical to the African American Society’s vision of addressing food insecurity in the greater Hamden community.
But farming is just one part of a much bigger vision. This work led Jameson and I to connect our organizations to meet the food and housing needs of our communities. By combining legal advocacy, agriculture, green infrastructure and housing stability, the African American Society and House of Changes are ensuring economic mobility for local families. We’re advocating for both policy change and practical solutions — from advocating for urban farming ordinances to teaching residents how to start their own gardens to offering transitional housing for men in need. I’m excited that our budding partnership addresses immediate needs of our communities (fresh food, clean water, housing stability) while also tackling systemic issues that cause long-term harm.
Bridging the Gap Between Institutions and People
The African American Society plays a unique role as a cultural and logistical bridge between communities and formal institutions like government agencies, nonprofits, and large corporates. Often, funding and programs exist — but they’re buried under layers of bureaucracy or designed without input from the people they’re meant to serve. AAS uses its trusted position and legal knowledge to translate these opportunities into practical, accessible resources as both a strategic partner and fiscal sponsor.
What’s Service Leadership?
I’m excited to partner with like minds and hearts like Cully, Jah and Jameson who understand that leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about accountability. Leaders are expected to be physically present in the communities they serve, listening more than they talk, and building trust over time.
Any non-profit leader understands the challenge of navigating the skepticism of community residents who are weary of any organizational outreach that feels performative. Both the African American Society and House of Changes are proud to have built trust and credibility in the communities we serve through consistent and persistent action. Whether block parties, local schools events, and even street corners where informal gatherings happen, our organizations are committed to joining forces to safeguard food and housing instability that hurts our communities.
Economic Mobility is the New American Dream
Economic empowerment and mobility remain a cornerstone of the AAS’ mission. The non-profit powers financial literacy workshops, entrepreneurship training, and partnerships with financial institutions to offer fair lending products to Black-owned businesses.
Jameson believes that wealth-building strategies must be part of long-term financial planning, wealth creation is not solely created by fair wages. Real wealth is built with assets. That means supporting homeownership, investment education, and long-term financial planning so that families can build generational security.
Emergency Services Breakdown Political Divides
Regardless of your political affiliation, all communities value psychological safety, physical safety, food access and stable housing. AAS maintains trust across political divides by focusing on voter education, local ballot measures, and advocacy for policies that directly impact black neighborhoods in the Greater Hamden area. Cully agrees, “you can’t wait until election day. You have to be part of the conversation every day decisions are being made.”
When crises hit, the African American Society mobilizes quickly and we’re proud to partner as their housing counterpart moving forward. During the COVID-19 pandemic, AAS set up vaccination sites in familiar, trusted locations, eliminating the need for online sign-ups or travel to distant clinics. This rapid, localized response is an example of their “meet communities where they are” philosophy in action.
Looking Ahead
I hold a mix of optimism and urgency. I see opportunities to expand our collective reach through partnerships and new initiatives, but I’m also mindful of how the new landscape impacts our collective ability to deliver critical services our communities need.
Jameson’s personal family journey from a debilitating illness to environmental advocacy and community farming is a reminder of why this work matters. It’s not abstract. It’s about health, opportunity, and dignity — delivered right to the doorstep.
Listen to the full episode here.