Roots of the Community Land Trust

A presentation and film on “The Roots of the Community Land Trust” will take place at Franklin Community Coop’s Green Fields Market, 144 Main Street in Greenfield, in the upstairs meeting room. The speaker will be John Davis, a nationally-respected expert on the origins and functioning of “community land trusts (CLTs)” with 30 years experience providing technical assistance to CLTs and other non-profit community development organizations. Read more about John Davis and CLTs here. 

As part of his presentation, Davis will show a remarkable 22-minute documentary film, “Arc of Justice,” about an early CLT, “New Communities, Inc.,” founded in 1969 in southwest Georgia by leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including Charles and Shirley Sherrod and Congressman John Lewis. It’s a moving story of racial justice, community organizing, and perserverence in the face of enormous obstacles. It’s a moving story of racial justice, community organizing, and perserverence in the face of enormous obstacles. Read more about the film and watch the trailer here.

 A unique model of land tenure, more than 200 community land trusts currently exist throughout the U.S., including New England. The Valley Community Land Trust is based in Franklin County and includes trust land leased long-term to families and individuals in Colrain, Ashfield, Greenfield, and Wendell.  

This event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Valley Community Land Trust together with the Franklin Community Coop.  Contributions to help defray costs will be gratefully accepted. For further information, please call Randy Kehler: 413-624-8858 or Nikki Lively: 413-522-0186.