Room for Everyone: My Day With MANRRS

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This past Friday was one of those serendipitous days that reminded me why I became a student journalist and photographer for the Honors College. It started with an unexpected invitation from Mateo Rull Garza, the  president of the UMass Amherst chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS). He asked if I wanted to tag along with him and his E-board to a symposium at UMass Lowell on urban farming and food justice.

I had met Mateo just a couple weeks prior at an environmental lecture on campus. After an inspiring talk by activist Catherine Coleman Flowers, I was roaming the lobby interviewing students about actions in environmental justice they might take after the talk. Mateo eagerly flagged me down to tell me about the amazing work MANRRS is doing. Before I knew it, he had secured me a spot and extended me a scholarship from the Urban Farming Institute that enabled our attendance.

Having no real background in agriculture myself, I'll admit I was a bit hesitant at first. But Mateo's contagious energy, and the group's warm welcome made me excited to dive into their world. And what an eye-opening world it was.

Sharing An Inspiring Vision and Movement

The symposium, titled "Cultivating a Resilient Future: Innovation, Collaboration, and Community," drew an incredibly diverse crowd united by a powerful vision — harnessing urban agriculture to promote food justice, equity, and resilient communities. Farmers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, chefs, activists, and educators exchanged ideas with a collective determination to reshape our food systems.

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As I journeyed to Lowell with the MANRRS crew that early morning, I got a crash course in their movement from the students themselves. These were students who saw agriculture as far more than just cows and plows. They spoke with passion about using sustainable practices to uplift underserved communities, increase food access, empower youth, and create a more just society.

How MANRRS Came to UMass

Through these interactions, I discovered that there's a compelling story behind the heart of MANRRS. It is not merely a club; it's a movement towards inclusivity, sustainability, and empowering minorities in the fields of agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. Jody Jellison, Emeritus Professor who held various leadership roles, including Director of the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Agricultural Research and Engagement, had a mission to bring the national organization to Amherst before her retirement.

Jellison wanted UMass Amherst students to have the support of a welcoming community to maximize their future career success. So, just before her retirement, graduate student Mateo Rull Garza and UMass Stockbridge Extension Professor Jaime Piñero established the first MANRRS chapter in New England and the first at UMass Amherst. Both Piñero and Rull Garza emphasized the importance of being a student-focused group, providing direct mentorship and collaborative workshops.

At the collegiate level, MANRRS provides undergraduate and graduate students with access to valuable industry connections, internships, conferences, and opportunities for students who want to get involved in promoting food justice, health equity, and sustainability in agriculture. 

Being a national organization, students who join MANRRS receive a myriad of benefits, including: 

• Access to a diverse professional network locally and nationally
• Opportunities for internships and employment in the government and private industry sectors
• Professional development at all college levels
• Participation in science meetings and symposia

Throughout the Symposium, from the enlightening conversations and shared meals to the insightful workshops and exhibits, a singular, powerful message stood out: there’s space for everyone here. This space extends professionally across various fields—data, policy, urban planning, business, public health, social justice, management, and the sciences. Each domain is vital, underscoring the collective effort to forge sustainable, equitable food systems. My engagement in public health, for instance, found its relevance seamlessly interwoven with the overarching goals of the symposium

The diversity in studies among MANRRS members, with their studies spanning from soil and environmental sciences to economic analyses, illustrated the broad academic canvas that enriches this field. It emphasized how every discipline, every study, plays a crucial role in shaping the future of agriculture and sustainability.

But it’s not just about professional and academic involvement; there’s a personal dimension too. My exploration into gardening, tending greenhouses, and engaging in farmers markets has opened up a realm of joy and passion on a personal level, showcasing that our individual hobbies and interests have a place here as well. This aspect was highlighted during a car ride to the Symposium, where my chat with Marissa Hanley on sustainable fashion through crocheting and thrifting underscored the value of integrating personal interests with our professional and academic paths. 

In the end, the symposium left me with profound optimism about the future of agriculture and food systems. What I experienced was a window into a passionate movement striving to create more sustainable, equitable communities for all.

Members of the UMass chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS)

As I said my goodbyes, I felt reinvigorated by MANRRS' spirit of inclusivity and belief that transformative change starts at the grassroots level. This went beyond just farming practices, but nurturing a more just and resilient society from the ground up - empowering youth, integrating marginalized voices, and promoting equitable access.

My day with this group reminded me that we all have a stake and role in the future of food. More powerfully, it crystalized how our unique talents and backgrounds are points of unity, not division, when directed towards a common purpose. There is space for everyone's contribution in this vital work.