Ameenah Shabazz

Ameenah critics herself as a health advocate for change and helping to lift the voices of the ones that have experienced the impact of silent power. Her experience as an urban farmer to sustainable agriculture has allowed her to use the embodiment of growing foods as a platform to weave together nutrition, health, nature, and community. Over the years she credits the knowledge she has built upon from her grandmothers’ wisdom of planting and growing urban gardens. Throughout her life she reflects on personal experiences and her deep connection with nature which has inspired her to further her academic studies with a bachelor degree in horticulture, landscape architect from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, a masters from New England School of Acupuncture with a masters in Chinese acupuncture studies, and currently pursuing another masters in integrative and functional nutrition. 

While living in NH she has connected with the refugee and immigrant communities coordinating farm and food programs that focuses on landscape designs, sustainable agriculture practices, and a fusion of topics related to health and wellness. Having resided and worked in Boston, Philadelphia, and NYC, comes a myriad of experience. As Ameenah continues to champion the work to help others with understanding food systems through a racial equity lens, the work is hoping to address many systemic problems.  She focuses her research on providing needs-based-assessments to determine best outcomes through expanding the diversity of diaspora foods including learning traditional food systems while balancing environmental changes. 

Creating a more inclusive environment entails the visibility of systemic problems while unveiling ways to identify learning about populations that have ascribed to labels of marginalization. Food policies are at the core of dismantling food injustices and goes beyond state recommendations. She networks with key figures to leverage humanity and necessity. As a passionate grower, food justice alliance leader, community engagement advocate, horticulturist, refugee youth and family specialist, Food Solution New England New Hampshire Ambassador for the University of New Hampshire's Sustainability Institute, and a person with lived experience. Ameenah solely has what it takes to keep the torch burning to make sure that all communities exercise that basic right of having healthy, accessible, and affordable food.