Announcing the Southern Forest Community Champion Awardees

The Conservation Fund is proud to announce the winners of the Southern Forest Community Champion Award, recognizing six outstanding leaders who are making a real difference in advancing forestland ownership and sustainability in underserved communities across the Southeast. These champions are dedicated to connecting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) landowners with the resources they’ve long been excluded from, while also raising awareness of the critical role forestlands play in ecosystem health.  

This award and its $50,000 prize honor grassroots leaders who are empowering communities to manage their land, promote sustainable practices, and fight for land justice. Their tireless work is transforming the future of forestland ownership for generations to come.  

Let’s meet the winners!  

Chief Keith F. Anderson

Nansemond Indian Nation and Red Crook-ed Sky 
Portsmouth, Virginia  

Keith is a citizen of the Nansemond Indian Nation and serves as tribal chief. A lifelong advocate for environmental justice, he has worked extensively with local, state and federal officials to promote Indigenous rights and conservation efforts since he was a teen. He is also the executive director of the Red Crook-ed Sky, a cultural performance organization that celebrates Native traditions through dance and creative interpretation. Chief Anderson previously served as co-chair for the Virginia Tribal Education Consortium, working to ensure that Indigenous history is accurately taught across the state’s schools.  

Jerry Lacey

Limited Resource Landowner Education Assistance Network (LRLEAN) 
Fayette, Alabama  

Jerry founded LRLEAN in the mid-2000s to support small acreage landowners in Alabama, particularly those from underserved communities. His nonprofit provides education, technical assistance, and advocacy to promote sustainable forestry practices and land retention. Jerry’s work helps empower landowners to maximize the potential of their land while preserving natural resources and enhancing local economies.  

John K. Littles and Cheryl B. Peterson

McIntosh Sustainable Environment & Economic Development (S.E.E.D.) 
Darien, Georgia

McIntosh S.E.E.D. works in the coastal region of Georgia and the Deep South (Alabama, Florida and Mississippi) to strengthen low-wealth families and improve neglected and low-wealth rural communities through asset-based economic development, education reform, empowerment, and environmental preservation. 

Executive Director John Littles manages the organization’s 1,100-acre Community Forest and advocates for African American landowners. He has dedicated more than 25 years to supporting grassroots organizations focused on sustainable development and land preservation and plays a key role in the Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention Network, a collaborative effort to help landowners implement conservation practices.  

Senior Managing Director Cheryl Peterson leads youth leadership programs, community outreach and farmer support initiatives. Cheryl also created the “Teas and Trees” program to provide female landowners with education and resources to implement sustainable forestry practices. Inspired by her grandfather’s community-driven stewardship, Cheryl is passionate about empowering rural families to protect their land and heritage.  

Dr. H. Nolo Martínez

mgeano-Y-ola and Latino Farmers Outreach Program
New Orleans, Louisiana  

Nolo is co-president of mano-Y-ola, a consulting firm focused on sustainable agriculture and forestry, and executive director of a Asekia, Inc., a recently created nonprofit organization dedicated to outreach and support for underserved Hispanic forest landowners. His work spans 30 years of building connections between immigrant communities and existing organizations. Nolo has led various outreach and advocacy programs, including efforts to support Latino farmers and forest landowners in the Southeast. He also played a significant role in North Carolina’s AgrAbility Project, assisting farmers affected by disabilities.  

Alton Perry

Roanoke Cooperative’s Sustainable Forestry & Land Retention Project 
Wendell, North Carolina  

Alton directs the Sustainable Forestry & Land Retention Project at Roanoke Cooperative, which helps African American landowners manage their woodlands to build family wealth. Alton’s work ensures that landowners can use their properties for economic empowerment while also preserving their environmental legacy. He serves on multiple forestry-related boards and is a longtime advocate for land retention and sustainable land practices.   

A Heartfelt Congratulations  

We are incredibly proud to recognize these six outstanding leaders for their tireless work in advancing land justice and sustainability in their communities. The Conservation Fund extends our deepest gratitude to the Independent Review Panel for selecting these recipients, and to Alan McGregor, retired Program Officer for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, and Amadou Diop, Outreach Liaison with the U.S. Forest Service, for their groundbreaking work supporting the BIPOC forestry community.  

We look forward to seeing the continued impact of their efforts across the Southeast.