Local Agriculture Community Coordinator, Saleema Robinson

Jessica “Saleema” Robinson is originally from Illinois and has been New Mexico since 2018. Saleema has a MS in Conservation Ecology with a focus on agroecology from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability. She has spent her career and personal life exploring the intersection of agroecological theory and practice. She approaches sustainable and regenerative agriculture through the lens of environmental and social justice and strongly believes in the importance of reconnecting all communities, especially traditionally underserved communities, with their agrarian, land-based roots through growing food. She sees increased food accessibility and food sovereignty as means for greater community health, well-being, and resilience.

In previous years, Saleema has volunteered and apprenticed at variety of urban farms including D-Town Farm in Detroit, Michigan, Growing Hope in Ypsilanti, Michigan and Troy Farms in Madison, Wisconsin. She worked as program manager for the Savanna Institute, an agroforestry research non-profit based in the Midwest, where she supported the adoption of agroforestry practices through the development of the Agroforestry Apprenticeship program.

Since her time in New Mexico, she has worked as an educational assistant and science teacher in Socorro, NM, a state-wide farm and ranch soil health planner for the Quivira Coalition, and most recently a STEM education programs educator, facilitator, and coordinator through the New Mexico Black Leadership Council, ABQ Biopark and Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District. Outside of work, Saleema co-manages a farm located in the South Valley with a collective of diverse farmers and land-stewards. When she’s not working or farming, you can find her traveling, hitting the trails on foot or on a bike, cooking, and eating good food. She loves New Mexico and the Albuquerque food and agriculture community and is incredibly grateful for the way the community has so warmly welcomed her. Saleema is excited to join the City of Albuquerque Open Space and to continue to serve her community in this new position.