Our North Star

Fannie Lou Hamer was born on October 6, 1917 in Montgomery County, Mississippi, the 20th and last child of sharecroppers Lou Ella and James Townsend. She grew up in poverty, but rose from humble beginnings in the Mississippi Delta to become one of the most important, passionate, and powerful voices in the fight for human rights.

Mrs. Hamer succumbed to breast cancer in 1977, but not before leaving behind a legacy of activism that continues to resonate today. It is her legacy that has inspired and informed Project New Village’s current efforts to create an Equitable Food-Oriented Development project in Southeastern San Diego. Modeled after Mrs. Hamer’s Freedom Farm project, The Good Food District is a place-making effort centered on urban agriculture and creating access to healthy locally-sourced good food throughout our neighborhoods.

The following videos give great insight into how significant her contributions were to the civil rights movement, and her continued inspiration and presence in the work we do today.