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Allow us to introduce our 2026 Just Leader Fellow, Alexis (she/her)!

Alexis is part of our 2026 Just Leader Fellowship, which supports young cooperators of color working to close the racial wealth gap through community ownership of land and food systems.

She’s the founder of @kongo.cafe, which offers herbal medicine and cultural work rooted in African indigenous wisdom and solidarity. As part of her fellowship project, Alexis is creating a BIPOC, locally sourced herbal medicine box centered on hibiscus, an ancestral plant central to her practice, along with a zine exploring hibiscus’ significance across Africa.

We’re in awe of the legacy work our fellows are carrying forward and creating for the future.

Want to learn more about the Just Leader Fellowship? Visit the link in our bio.

#CoFED #JustLeaderFellowship #foodjustice
#solidarityeconomy #cooperatives

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Went straight from the lowcountry to the mountains last weekend where I joined @ncbloc action camp for Black organizers in North Carolina.

I gave my training, Collaborating with the Land towards Liberation & Healing, which is a culmination of the stories and strategies around land & liberation that I’ve been studying and experimenting with for the past few years. I got to talk about the historical context as well as current examples of the serious work that’s being done in places like Durham & DC. It was a powerful discussion with a powerful group of folks.

On the second day of the convening I got to join a work day @southsidecommunityfarm where there was of course indigo & hibiscus growing happily that we got to harvest. Lydia, one of the farm's stewards, attended my session the day before and it was a beautiful exchange of reciprocity to receive seeds and cuttings to bring back home to the piedmont region. I also got to share the hibiscus processing technique I learned from @faithfullfarms a few years back.

So grateful for @ncbloc holding space for praxis and beloved community within NC. For the first time in a long while I truly felt the legacy of NC ancestor, Ella Baker, in what took place last weekend from the mountains of NC in the wake of that powerful eclipse.

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TODAY! Soil Sanctuary’s fist event as a collective is starting in a few hours. We will have great food from the garden, herbal tea from the land, garden tours, gentle movement, great vibes, an so much more.

Soil sanctuary is a community garden stewarded by Black women and nonbinary folks in North Durham at @soulsanctuarync in collab with @blackwomenshealthcollective

We are so excited to share the magic of this space with you and hope to see you soon!

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Tuesday, September 15th

Special edition of Open Office Hours next Tuesday, September 15th. It will be co-hosted by Kongo Cafe!

This is an Open Office Hours dedicated to connecting radical-minded creatives through coffee, ceremony, & conversation. Creatives of all mediums are invited to attend a special edition of Open Office Hour for ceremony, co-working, connection, and collaboration.

You will be welcomed and hosted by members of Kongo Cafe and People’s Solidarity Hub.

Feel free to drop in during the open co-working and mingle time from 11 am to 2 pm. You must RSVP at the link in the QR code or in the “Upcoming” Highlight to attend the tea/coffee ceremony from 10 am to 11 am.

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Soil Sanctuary, a garden stewarded by a community of Black women and non-binary folks, lovingly invites you to our first event as a collective. Come celebrate, break bread, drop your shoulders, touch soil, and build with us. Register in the bio of @ibelieveinsoil

🫶🏾This event centers African, Black, Caribbean and Diasporic folks, but welcomes allies of color.🫶🏾

Event Highlights:
🌿 Garden Tour & Plant Walk w/ Raquel @ibelieveinsoil
🍛 Gullah Geechee Garden Meal + Potluck w/ Sawdayah @africanherbsmaam Bring snacks and goodies to share
🎨 Natural Art Projects w/ Dawn and Adenike
🌼 Herbal Workshop w/ Alexis @kongo.cafe
🧘🏾 Kid Friendly Yoga w/ Nia @healingusevergreen
✨The best of vibes
👀 And more!

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Much MUCH love and respect family 🎉🙌🏿

We want to thank everyone who showed up and showed out for The @shrineoftheblackstar ‘s Grand Opening last Sunday! We are immensely grateful to and for you. The love and revolutionary spirit in the atmosphere was like nothing we’ve ever experienced.

Special thanks to @blumofo94 , @theedjdamu , @kongo.cafe, and @studiophill_ , and @blackmenbuildnc ✊🏿

BIG love and congratulations to @fruitoflaborraleigh for receiving our first community award. You’ve set the standard for culture bearers in our community 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

We’ve got SO MANY wonderful events on the way family! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have an idea for a community event.

#shrineoftheblackstar

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Bev swap with @beveragegoblinco at the market on Saturday. Their cucumber dill lemonade was amazing!! 🍋🌺

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Last Sunday was a vibe!! Thank you to all the young people and families who came out for a dose of wellness and joy at Balance N’Bloom!! 🌸🌱💐🌺🌻✨

Much love and gratitude to our partners who helped make this event a HUGE hit: @sarahpdukegardens for the abundant green space and accommodations 🍃, @afioak for teaching watercolor painting and offering creative inspiration and a calming and welcoming space 🎨, @kongo.cafe for sharing their house-made, delicious and healing herbal teas that fortified the soul and mind 🫖, @pillowforttherapy for creating a cozy wonderland and nooks perfect for taking a few to breathe deep ⛺️, and @piedmontwholesaleflowers for the gorgeous collection of flowers that were quickly arranged into many bright, joyful bouquets 💐.

Thanks for a beautiful time, yall!

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¡El domingo pasado fue un ambienté! ¡Gracias a todos lxs jóvenes y familias que salieron para una dosis de bienestar y alegría en Balance N 'Bloom! 🌸🌱💐🌺🌻✨

Mucho cariño y gratitud a nuestros socios que ayudaron a que este evento fuera un GRAN éxito: @sarahpdukegardens por la abundancia de espacios verdes y alojamientos 🍃, @afioak por enseñar pintura en acuarela y ofrecer inspiración creativa y un espacio calmado y acogedor 🎨, @kongo.cafe por compartir sus tés de hierbas caseras, deliciosas y curativas que fortalecían el alma y la mente 🫖, @pillowforttherapy por crear un acogedor país de maravillas y rincones perfectos para que unx pueda respirar profundamente ⛺️, y @piedmontwholesaleflowers por la hermosa colección de flores que se arreglaron rápidamente en muchos ramos brillantes y alegres 💐.

¡Gracias por un tiempo hermoso a todos!

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Mental health matters too 🌿
Today was one of those slow down, breathe, reconnect kind of days. We spent time at the gardens, let the kids enjoy the moment, and I came home to make a fresh herbal tea blend for the soul. Sometimes healing looks like sunlight, quiet walks, laughter, rest, and being intentional with your peace.

🌺 May is Mental Health Awareness Month — check on your people, but also check on yourself. 🤍

#mentalhealthawareness #healingjourney #mentalhealthmatters #herbaltea ☕️

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Президент России Владимир Путин проводит встречу в Кремле с президентом Республики Конго Дени Сассу-Нгессо, прибывшим в Россию с государственным визитом.

Ожидается, что в ходе переговоров стороны обсудят вопросы двустороннего сотрудничества, а также актуальную международную повестку.

Визит проходит на официальном уровне.

#новаямосква #россия #путин #конго #новости

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🙏Wisdom of Water: A closing ceremony in community with the land and ancestors of @soulsanctuarync on 2/22/2026 with an afternoon of art, herbalism, and meditation facilitated by artist Isabel Lu @iisabellu, Afro-Carolina herbalist and cultural worker Alexis McKenney @lex_kenney of @kongo.cafe and Chinese medicine practitioner Li-Lan Hsiang Weiss @earthheavenlunasol

Photos by Danny Peña @pen_yah

1) Winter carries the beauty of seasons past
2) Deep listening within
3) Putting our dreams, aspirations, and prayers into words
4) Holding our intentions with joy and pride
5) Concentrating our intentions
6) Creating space in the Earth for community
7) Enfolded by Earth
8) Water and Seed Bearers
9) Watering community's intentions
10) Planting seeds of gratitude, positivity, peace, right relationship, respect, justice, abundance, wisdom, courage to create other worlds, focus, discipline, transformation, safety through community 🙏

This event is part of a year long zine and workshop series, Told and Retold, supported by VAE Snapdragon fund(@snapdragon_fund), NCAAT ASAP spark (@ncaatogether) and NQAPIA Good Trouble Grant (@nqapia). Zines are available on @iisabellu website.

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Hibiscus Medicine for the Spring Equinox🌺

I’ve been enjoying an overnight infusion of hibiscus, rose, and dandelion root with warming spices to help internally sweeten and cleanse me for spring.

I use my hibiscus, amla, red clover salve to soothe areas of my scalp that are holding on to the dry and brittle energies of winter.

You can learn more about hibiscus medicine and create your own at my first public Hibiscus Medicine Circle on Saturday, March 28.

Registration link in bio. Hope to see you there🌺

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