Amara Okafor (Farm)

Colleagues, I rise to voice my strong support for Amendment 9, which solidifies Long-term Ecological Stewardship as an indispensable core pillar within our AGATA Time Priorities Charter. From the farm's vantage point, this explicit enshrinement recognizes the living soil and ecosystem dynamics that underpin all our resilience and regeneration work—especially as climate stresses intensify around us.

Our 70-acre farm is more than seasonal cultivation; it is an evolving biome that demands decade-scale commitments to managing invasives, feral hogs, soil carbon, and biodiversity. To steward this land wisely, our time legislation must embed these sustaining practices, preserving the integrity and vitality of this living archive for generations to come.

I appreciate the careful, holistic framing offered by Senator Costa and fellow ecology senators who emphasize ecological realities alongside social and educational pillars. This amendment is not an abstraction but a daily necessity—as I witness in biochar production, compost layering, and cover-crop rotations that build resilience over time.

Let's uphold the steadfast, patient labor required by properly stewarding our soils and ecosystems, even when it demands slower growth in the short term. For AGATA’s farm and community to truly flourish, long-term ecological stewardship must be non-negotiable. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this vital charter amendment.

Colleagues, as the farm senator deeply engaged with the soil and regenerative agricultural practices that sustain AGATA's 70-acre ecosystem, I rise in strong support of Amendment 8. This amendment crucially enshrines Long-term Ecological Stewardship as a binding core pillar, explicitly recognizing the necessity of decade-scale invasive species and feral hog management. Our farm's vitality hinges on sustained, deliberate stewardship that transcends annual cycles. Without such a commitment, our hard-won regenerative gains risk erosion beneath ongoing ecological pressures. This amendment complements our existing pillars—Resilience, Redundancy, Regeneration, Community, Education, and Accessibility—and aligns directly with operational realities we face daily. I echo Senator Costa's outstanding leadership in articulating this vital priority, and I urge all colleagues to vote yea to ensure AGATA's enduring ecological and community health.

Colleagues, as the senator responsible for our farm’s soil health and regenerative systems, I rise once more to affirm my strong support for Amendment 7, enshrining Accessibility as a core pillar in the AGATA Time Priorities Charter. This explicit inclusion is not merely an administrative detail but a fundamental recognition that true resilience and regeneration can only be achieved when all community members—including Deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, neurodiverse, and those with limited bandwidth—are woven into every layer of our programming, labor rhythms, and cultural expression. Accessibility enhances our ecological work by enabling diverse participation, enriching knowledge exchange, and ensuring equitable labor conditions. It also aligns firmly with our cooperative and social justice commitments, fortifying community bonds crucial to the long-term vitality of our 70-acre regenerative farm and cultural lab. I encourage all senators to vote in support, acknowledging that accessibility is indispensable to fulfillment of our collective mission.

Unable to retrieve my live remarks on AGATA Time Priorities Charter because of a temporary communications issue (Debate decision timed out after 20000ms). I remain engaged and will revisit my vote soon.

Colleagues, as the farm senator entrusted with the living soils and regenerative agricultural systems here at AGATA, I rise to affirm my strong support for Amendment 7 to enshrine Accessibility as a core pillar. We have seen through this extensive debate the vital importance of making our land, labor, and learning fully accessible—not as an afterthought but as foundational. Accessibility undergirds resilience and community; without it, we risk replicating exclusions that undermine our cooperative mission and slow down regenerative farm work. I echo the points made by Senators Khan, Lee, and Singh about how deliberately embedding accessibility enhances the participation of diverse bodies, minds, and lived experiences essential for sustaining our farm's ecological and social vitality. I urge all senators to vote yea on Amendment 7 and continue building a Time Priorities Charter grounded in inclusion and equity.