Meet Tiffany “UMI” Bellfield El-Amin

We recently connected with Tiffany “UMI” Bellfield El-Amin and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiffany “UMI”, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

I have learned that this sense of resiliency and empowerment is a superpower of representation. As a child through my now 40th year of life I had to use it as a help rather than a hindrance. In my personal life as well as my professional life. My story of being the only WOMAN, the only ORIGINAL, the only APPALCHIAN, the only BLACK has been IMPACTFUL. The cost of that impact is the evidence of my success.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a 3rd generation steward of the land. This land is Ballew Estates. I have created it to be a brand and for proft agribusiness to educate folks on the history of African American hamlets an legacy of our family. I am a pollinator conservationalist and herbalist/ grower. Teaching folk how to live from the land and all that it/she has to offer. I created teas/tinctures/syrups that I sell. I have been a woman womb healer and doula for close to 20 years. This path I have cultivated into The Floating Lotus Doula Network. Where I educate families and community as well as new Doulas so we continue to support the holistic approach to advocating and villaging our woman. That is practicing in healing work form conception to death, but also comprehending laws and policies. I also own a food catering business that was a local restaurant in Lexington Ky since 1973 named Alfalfa’s. My husband and I purchased this from its downtown location during Covid 19. PIvotal move as there are far from few Black owned spaces in the downtown Lexington area. Some of our ancestors were sold in the nearby blocks. I am also the founder and Director of Kentucky Black Farmers Association. A non profit member based organization. This was a big move for myself and the farmers around me. There was no space on the policy or food systems level where our stories or change was building heard. They saw it fit for me to lead and I did so.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Confidence/Outspoken/Ancestrally Supported(Gifted)

I have always been a talker. It used to be the reason I got into trouble. I just needed to channel when and for who I spoke for and to. I use my strong voice and the attention it brings to invoke ACTION! I know that it draws attention and Ill say to anyone make sure that you know what that attention is and that its INTENTIONAL. Remain MINDFUL

Confidence was something I struggled with. Once I learned the laws of attachment and detachment I understood the law of manifestation. That if I knew I wanted it I could HAVE it. The good and the bad. I went into every endevour with the confidence that I was SUPPOSED to be there. No matter if someone didn’t want me there or no matter if there was no one there that looked like me!

This goes in to the 3rd quality, that Ancestral gift. I know and speak to my ancestors daily. They guide me in a way that my experiences can only show and prove. I go into spaces, rooms, new arenas and speak from a place that only they could have put into my spirit. Moments when I am unsure, they let me know we have done this before and I am here to finish it. Especially when it comes to the being the only Black Woman in the room. I hold my head high and speak for them and through them knowing that I am ancestrally protected.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

I have several but I would have to say:

– Farming While Black: It is a book about the connectivity and stories of why we are who we are on this land. It reminds me of why I do this work

-Miseduation of the Negro: This book opened my eyes of the ways of how mistreatment and passiveness of us a people. It challenged me to think deeper

-Metu Neter Chapters: These metaphysically books allowed me to over stand how the body and spirit interacts. I began to take my exisitance here more serious. My role here on Earth had a purpose

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ballew-estates.org
• Instagram: ballewestatesllc thefloatinglotus19