Full Name
Maria Dominique Villanueva
Business or Org Name
Fountain Heights Farms
Title
Farmer and Executive of Vision & Strategy
Speaker Bio
M. Dominique Villanueva (she / her) is a dedicated advocate for health and justice in marginalized communities. As the Co-Founder at Fountain Heights Farms, a Black-centered urban farm in Birmingham, Alabama, she has been instrumental in ensuring fresh produce is available to locals through initiatives like the We All Eat CSA, and Free Market Stands and Liberation Libraries. Dominique extends her impact by guiding historically underserved farmers through the intricate NRCS application process, emphasizing a holistic sustainable approach to farm business.
In response to the pandemic, she co-founded the BIPOC-centered #WeAllEat Food Cooperative, connecting Black and Brown farmers to BIPOC consumers through an innovative sliding-scale system. This endeavor served 467 BIPOC members during the height of the pandemic, fortifying community resilience and food security.
As an inaugural fellow of the Braiding Seeds Fellowship sponsored by Soul Fire Farms and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, she champions food and land justice on national platforms. Her roles on the Southern Region SARE Administrative Council, the Rural Advancement Foundation International - USA board, as a Fund Advisor for the Southern Black Farmers Community-Led Fund, and as a cohort member of Southerners on New Ground’s Free From Fear Campaign further amplifies her dedication to food and land justice.
Her understanding of agricultural policy is highlighted in her prior role as a Farm Bill Policy Fellow with the National Young Farmer Coalition, solidifying her commitment to uplifting the next generation of agricultural leaders. Ms. Villanueva is also a proud member of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance, underscoring her allegiance to Black food sovereignty and justice.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dominique is a fervent advocate for language access for limited English speakers and is deeply engaged in reparations-adjacent efforts, seeking to return resources to Black and Indigenous land stewards.
In the heart of her community and home, Dominique is a creative, warrior, a loving wife, and a proud mother of four urban farm-raised children, embodying her beliefs and values in her public and private life.
In response to the pandemic, she co-founded the BIPOC-centered #WeAllEat Food Cooperative, connecting Black and Brown farmers to BIPOC consumers through an innovative sliding-scale system. This endeavor served 467 BIPOC members during the height of the pandemic, fortifying community resilience and food security.
As an inaugural fellow of the Braiding Seeds Fellowship sponsored by Soul Fire Farms and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, she champions food and land justice on national platforms. Her roles on the Southern Region SARE Administrative Council, the Rural Advancement Foundation International - USA board, as a Fund Advisor for the Southern Black Farmers Community-Led Fund, and as a cohort member of Southerners on New Ground’s Free From Fear Campaign further amplifies her dedication to food and land justice.
Her understanding of agricultural policy is highlighted in her prior role as a Farm Bill Policy Fellow with the National Young Farmer Coalition, solidifying her commitment to uplifting the next generation of agricultural leaders. Ms. Villanueva is also a proud member of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance, underscoring her allegiance to Black food sovereignty and justice.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dominique is a fervent advocate for language access for limited English speakers and is deeply engaged in reparations-adjacent efforts, seeking to return resources to Black and Indigenous land stewards.
In the heart of her community and home, Dominique is a creative, warrior, a loving wife, and a proud mother of four urban farm-raised children, embodying her beliefs and values in her public and private life.
Speaking At
