"What stands in the way? We're at the zoning part, you know, where, we have to go before the planning commission and, make the case for them changing the zoning on this parcel property from residential to mixed use, to allow for both the housing and the farm, development." - Duron Chavis

[Why This Is Important] - The main message behind Duron Chavis' story is the determination to overcome challenges and create transformational initiatives in urban agriculture and affordable housing. Becoming a person worth listening to allows you to be part of the change and uplift communities. This episode's message is to highlight the significance of building neighborhood farms as community assets in addressing historical inequities.

[What you need to know.] - Duron Chavis is working on a land use project, the Bensley Agrisure, in North Chesterfield, developing it into an aggregate—a neighborhood with a farm as a community asset. This development will feature affordable homes, tiny homes, a wellness center, and a 1.5-acre incubator farm to train urban farmers and increase access to healthy local food.

[What you need to do.] - Take action by recognizing the importance of community-based farming projects that facilitate access to healthy food, address historical inequities, and provide affordable housing solutions. Support and engage in initiatives that focus on building community assets and promoting urban agriculture as a means of positive transformation.

[TAKE ACTION] Do this now - Get involved in community initiatives that focus on urban agriculture, affordable housing, and sustainable development. Support projects that seek to create neighborhood farms and promote access to healthy, local food for all community members.

Gayle Turner is President of The Storytellers Channel, Inc. https://storytellerschannel.com/ For close to five decades he has used the power of story to initiate and sustain change while growing leaders and building productive corporate and community cultures.

Check out his LinkedIn profile to learn the rest of the story. https://www.linkedin.com/in/wgayleturner/ 

Shelli Jost Brady is Founder & Catalyst at Alchemy Consulting and Chief Operating Officer at The Storytellers Channel, Inc.

Check out her LinkedIn profile to learn the rest of the story. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelli-jost-brady-94b44835/

Duron Chavis started his career in community advocacy as first a volunteer then an employee of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of VA. He worked as a museum coordinator developing programs and conducting guided tours for groups of all ages and backgrounds.

In 2003 he founded the highly acclaimed Happily Natural Day festival as a grassroots effort to supplement the summer jazz concert that was held annually at the institution. The festival is a weekend long experience held annually in both Richmond VA and Atlanta GA that focuses on cultural awareness, health, wellness and social change.

Check out Duron’s profile on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duronchavis/

Download a FREE checklist of how to craft intentional stories to inspire results. https://storytellerschannel.com/inspire

Keywords

Duron Chavis, Gayle Turner, Shelli Jost Brady, past, Amelia, land use project, Bensley Agrisure, Maggie Walker Community Land Trust, affordable housing, Girls For A Change, Sundance, documentary, zoning, residential, mixed use, discrimination, community, Virginia State University, Virginia Tech, dialogue, opportunities for growth, impasses, urban farming, wellness center, value added products, acreage, 80 acres in Amelia, bed and breakfast, retreat center, conservation easements, black and brown communities, historical inequities, finite and infinite games, USDA, FSA offices, regenerative farming