Yonnette Fleming is an influential urban farmer and community earth steward based in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Her dedication to environmentalism centers on promoting urban community gardens and supporting Black farmers. Fleming’s journey began in 2003 when she joined the Hattie Carthan Community Garden while working on Wall Street. In 2008, driven by a passion for community resilience and sustainable food systems, she left her finance career to fully commit to these ideals.
In 2009, after overcoming significant challenges with city regulations, Fleming established the Hattie Carthan Community Farmer’s Market in a reclaimed lot adjacent to the garden. This initiative provided local residents with access to fresh produce while fostering a sense of community. In 2010, she co-founded Farm School NYC with Karen Washington, creating an educational hub aimed at empowering community members to develop their own localized food systems.
As the vice president of the Hattie Carthan Community Garden, Fleming addresses critical issues of food security and food justice. She leads inter-generational workshops on topics such as cooking, urban farming, herbalism, and plant medicine, encouraging participants to reflect on the impact of systemic oppression in their lives and how to confront these challenges.
Beyond her advocacy work, Fleming is an ordained minister, reiki master, and herbalist. She views farm work as a vital component of healing from the trauma of racism and has inspired many students to establish action groups in their schools focused on food sovereignty. Through her multifaceted approach, Fleming is transforming the narrative around food justice in her community.