We were lucky to catch up with Alexys Romo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alexys, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My purpose is to take whatever knowledge I’ve gained, tools I’ve acquired, and gifts I’ve received and find a way to share these with my community. I learned this about myself at a young age, but it was deeply solidified once I began growing food. When volunteering overseas I lived in a small community with orphans and caregivers, and everyone on the property had to contribute to caring for each other. My first day on the job was harvesting, processing, and cooking the cassava plant to make the staple porridge. I loved being able to work with the land, to do something physically strenuous, and being able to share with people I cared about. It was fulfilling in a way I’d never experienced before, and when I returned home I felt that I needed to share everything I learned with my people, especially young people that are from my community.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the Founder and Executive Director of Black Thumb Farm. At Black Thumb Farm, we provide BIPOC youth with leadership skills, mentorship, and healthy, quality produce through hands-on programming at our urban farm. We have programming at the farm on Saturdays for kids 14-18 years old, and we have 2 school garden programs as well. We host community events seasonally to celebrate connecting with our earth, our cultures, and each other. It brings me joy to work in our gardens growing food and flowers, but nothing compares to getting to do this with the youth of our community. They are all incredible kids with so much brilliance and magic in them, and the brightest of futures ahead of them.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think having wonderful mentors is key to succeeding in the most holistic way. I am very determined, a huge dreamer, and I love working with young people. I think having great teachers and mentors help guide me has been key, as well as being open to new things and adventures that aren’t always what I have in mind. I never considered urban ag or growing foods to be of value until I tried it. Be open and be sure to listen to our elders and ancestors!
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmemer is a book I have read cover to cover several times, and love to refer to for guidance and inspiration. The way she speaks of the Indigenous people’s connection to land and earth, and the ways they commune with nature and each other is so beautiful and important for us to learn. I have learned so much about spiritually, emotionally, and mentally connecting to earth from Indigenous communities and my own ancestors, and this book really inspired me to do so.
Contact Info:
- Website: blackthumbfarm.org
- Instagram: black.thumb.farm
- Twitter: @black.thumb.farm
Image Credits
photos by Alberto Alcazar(BTF)
