Date:
January 25, 2025, 2:30 – 8:00pm
Two black urban farmers, Chantel Kemp and DK Kinard will address the link between Black Mental Health and Environmentalism. Acknowledging the societal pressures that impact mental health and breaking toxic cycles that keep communities from being well. Deep diving into the impact that culture, spirituality and media has on holistic wellness.
DK Kinard is a multifaceted Urban Agriculture and Culinary professional focused on Food and Social Justice Advocacy for underserved communities. A lifelong Washington Heights resident, DK is a program creator, farm educator, and classically trained pastry chef committed to advancing food security, environmentalism, and community gardening across NYC. She serves as Chair of the USDA Farm Service Agency NYC Urban County Committee and collaborates with organizations like GrowNYC, NY Botanical Garden, and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Known for her cross-sector expertise and passion for inclusive representation, DK co-created a renowned green skills training program and remains a leader in urban agriculture education and advocacy.
Chantel Kemp is an artist, environmental justice activist, food justice advocate, and farmer with nine years of experience in urban agriculture and community health. She began her career as an AmeriCorps member with Green City Force, building and maintaining NYCHA farms in NYC, and later worked as an Education Assistant and Community Chef at Red Hook Farms. A graduate of Farm School NYC, Chantel currently manages at GrowNYC and has received multiple awards, including Hunter College's "40 Under 40" and a City Council Citation for her environmental programming in the South Bronx.
PTP (Protect The Peace, formerly Purple Tape Pedigree) is a NYC-based artist collective founded in 2009 by GENG PTP, dedicated to disrupting binary conventions and subverting the status quo. Known for its experimental sound and performance, PTP releases work blending hip-hop, electronic music, poetry, and noise by artists like Dis Fig, Dreamcrusher, and KING VISION ULTRA. PTP’s output includes cassettes, vinyl, artist books, and garments, intertwining design with performance, research, and political dialogue. Through PTP Archival, the collective also focuses on conscientious cultural preservation.