Interested in joining an organization dedicated to supporting food sovereignty in Black Columbus communities using funds from the sale of begonias?
Or Read More about BLMbegonias here!
Meetings: Alternating Mondays at 2 PM Office Location: 1739 N. High St, Columbus, OH 43210
| Primary Leader: | JL Hartman |
|---|---|
| Secondary Leader: | Hannah Scheppler |
| Treasurer Leader: | Jack McCoy |
| Advisor: | Tiffany Halsell |
More Info:
During the summer of 2020, protests erupted across the United States in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. As people took to the streets to raise their voices about racial injustices and police brutality, JL Hartman, a Ph.D. student in the Horticulture and Crop Sciences Department at The Ohio State University and the founder of BLMBegonias, had the idea to sell house plants to support protestors. Initially, JL propagated his beloved begonia, Belinda (cultivar ‘Midnight Twist’), and sold these propagules with the intention of supporting the immediate needs of his community. The initial revenue JL received went towards triage in the form of sunscreen, eye rinse, water, snacks, and face masks for protestors. Then, as the protests began to die down, the remaining proceeds went to’ The District’, a black-and-queer-owned business in Raleigh, North Carolina that closed in solidarity with protestors. Given the overwhelming support received, JL decided to found the student-led organization, BLMbegonias, for the purpose of offering continued support to Black Columbus communities.