The Emory MDP Class of 2016 spent the month of August hard at work — in the classroom and in the field. As part of a course on Development and Social Change in the U.S. South, co-taught by Letitia Campbell and Sarah Franzen, students visited with Emory MDP local partner organizations that work on issues of economic and social development and environmental sustainability throughout the Atlanta region.

In connection with readings on agricultural history and development, the class toured the Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture’s Wheat Street Farm. Farmer and CEO Rashid Nuri, a prominent leader on issues of urban agriculture nationally, spoke with the class about food sovereignty, organic farming, the history of African-American farmers in the US South.

The class also met with Justin Aiello, who farms at Skylight Farm on the historic Glover Family Farm in Douglasville. The farm is one of the oldest organic farms in Georgia. Justin met with Emory MDP students to talk about the contributions of organic, small-scale farming to local and regional economic development in Georgia, and about the challenges of small-scale farming.

Students also met with MDP partner organizations: Sagal Radio Services in Clarkston, Project South in South Atlanta and the the Sweet Auburn Curb Market in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood and participated in the 2014 Southern Movement Assembly alongside social movement leaders from across the US South.