The HIVE!

Pollinate Alumni Program

The HIVE is our POLLINATE! Alumni Program. We believe it’s important to continue to provide a space for Pollinators to come back, share their stories and support each other. We are building this program to include exclusive workshops, mentorship opportunities, land access support, financial support, and reunion retreats to rest and build community.

To learn more about our alumni members, please visit rocksteadyfarm.com/pollinate under the “Meet Our Cohorts” tab!

See below for a reflection about the program from a HIVE member:

“I am reflecting on the general experience of POLLINATE and the growing necessity of this program alumni network called the HIVE.

In 2022, I was invited to participate in the POLLINATE immersion program at Rock Steady Farm. While the work was grueling amidst that summer's heatwave, that two week immersion allowed me to see the harsh reality and the communal beauty of working in QTBIPOC agriculture. As a matuing, queer, black femme operating across multiple sectors and marginalized identies - this experience had a huge impact on shaping what I wanted my QTBIPOC land experience to be and furthermore allowed my performance art practice as Shola Cole aka Pirate Jenny to thrive, naturally incorporating QTBIPOC land justice.

As a POLLINATE Alum, I was not prepared for the shared connection, joy and care across cohorts that was so palpable over our initial reunion. The talent, artistry and passion for the land in the collective HIVE makes us unstoppable in the face of oppression, notedly in land justice.

The HIVE is crucial as it provides a resourceful network that I didn't know I needed and a space to be vulnerable in asking for personal, financial, administrative and technical needs. These are specific to our  various demands of QTBIPOC  land stewards. An example was during the HIVE reunion, we had a offers and needs market and resources sharing session. As someone familiar with CPTSD and its ability to create hyper-individualism around resourcing needs, the HIVE allows myself and the POLLINATE Alum to share, discuss and request needs/resources for so many categories. This session allowed me to see that there are people, orgs and resources that can assist me and my fellow Pollinators with so many unconditional offerings.

If the endless and tiring work in QTBIPOC land justice is to continue, then the HIVE network is a crucial container for us to continue thriving and replenishing ourselves via the community care and the resourceful networks it is showing itself to offer.”

-Cole, POLLINATE! alum cohort 2021

*****More to come ~ stay tuned as our nascent alumni program takes shape!*****

Recognition to our current members:

Alex Santana (she/her)

Alexx Caceres (they/them)

Amanda Everich (she/they)

Ash Chan (they/them/siya)

Brittany Levers (all pronouns)

Carena Miles (she/he/they)

Chase Louden (he/him)

Cielo Flores (they/them, he/him)

Cole (themme/she/hers)

Dre Estrada (all pronouns)

Fallon Davis (they/them)

jai (she/they)

KD Randle (they/them)

Marlow White (he/him)

Monie Seto (they/them)

Monti Lawson (he/him)

Nailah Garard (she/they)

Paola Diaz (she/they)

Sara Mae Williams (all pronouns)

Shyanne Rayne (she/they)

Tamarya Sims (they/them)

Tray Brown (they/them)

Tolu Igun (she/they)