|
Federation of
Southern Cooperatives |
MESSAGE FROM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
 Ralph Paige Executive Director |
Welcome to our web site. We look forward to sharing information with you about our work and to encourage your participation with us as we serve the rural South. Since 1967, we at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (Federation/LAF) have remained true to our founding purposes of helping people to help themselves through cooperatives...we have developed family farmers, especially those of color, remain and develop their landholdings as a key to rural community development...we have accepted the challenge of working with the poorest, most neglected and isolated people in the rural Southeast to help them make a difference in their lives and livelihoods. |
| As you will see from our web site, the Federation/LAF’s development
work throughout the southeast United States is comprehensive. Now in our
40th year, we are involved in cooperative development in agriculture,
housing, marketing, small businesses and credit unions in low income
communities. While the press reports a rising stock market and prosperity
in many parts of our nation, in the poor rural communities of the South,
there are still double digit unemployment rates, unacceptable high school
drop our rates, numerous units of substandard housing, incomes well below
the national average, tragic loss of Black owned land and many other
systemic problems of poverty. Much work needs to be done and the
Federation/LAF will continue to provide options and alternatives to
building and sustaining rural communities.
On our web site we will provide updates of our cooperative
development work and other relevant issues. We hope you will work with us
in our mission to build self-sufficiency in rural communities and save
Black owned land. Join us to faithfully and forthrightly battle for
economic and social justice for all, especially poor, Black family farmers
and our rural constituencies Send us e-mail messages, become a member of the Federation/LAF, learn how to build cooperatives, learn about strategies to save your land, and donate moneys to the Federation/LAF to help us continue to serve our constituents. We look forward to hearing from you now and in the future. Cooperatively yours, Ralph Paige |
| MISSION | OVERVIEW | PROGRAMS | HISTORY | BLACK LAND LOSS |
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