OurSpace World

What OurSpace World does

OurSpace World is a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2011 and headquartered in Bowie, Maryland, that operates African-centered, farm-based programming for Black, brown, and womxn-led communities in the mid-Atlantic region. Originally launched as OurSpace Acupuncture, a sliding-fee community acupuncture clinic, the organization pivoted in 2017 toward food sovereignty and regenerative agriculture, closing its clinical operations and undertaking a two-year training hiatus before re-emerging as OurSpace World. Its mission centers people of the global majority, with a primary focus on Black and brown womxn with children, delivered through three integrated, intergenerational programs: The Ujima Initiative (community organizing and the Shared Services Cooperative for Black and brown small-scale regenerative farmers in Prince George's County), Project Teach22 (youth and family programming including Camp EarthPact, Earth School, Wild-Child to Wild Womanhood, and the Africultural Connections curriculum), and Calabash (technical assistance, fiscal sponsorship, the Calabash Academy TA-consultant training program, and online courses).

The underlying technology stack is minimal and conventional: a Squarespace-style marketing and content website, an online course delivery portal hosted on Miestro (calabashnetwork.miestro.com), a public multimedia eTeach22 Mirror Resources Library, and standard social channels. There is no proprietary software, mobile app, API, or AI component. The principal intellectual assets are the Africultural Connections curriculum (a 12-lesson, three-module program covering Cash Crops, Land & Soil, and The Water Cycle, developed with Carter Farms and USDA NIFA support), the Camp EarthPact Leadership Lab facilitator-training framework, and accumulated community trust within Black and brown communities in the mid-Atlantic.

The revenue model is a hybrid of small-dollar program fees, grant funding, and pass-through fiscal sponsorship. Disclosed pricing includes Camp EarthPact at $200 per week per camper and Calabash Academy stipends paid at $16/hour over a 16-week period. The organization has secured grants from USDA NIFA, the Network of the National Library of Medicine, The Whitlow Foundation, and a disclosed $35,000 grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation in April 2022. Calabash fiscal sponsorship provides administrative and financial-management services to aligned projects in exchange for fees, and Calabash reports directing over $1.5 million and several thousand hours of on-site support to mission-aligned groups. GTM is community-driven: family field days, faith-based partnerships, community events, and direct field engagement, with no paid marketing infrastructure.

Name

OurSpace World

Legal name

OurSpace World

Website

https://ourspaceworld.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OurSpace World is a Maryland-based, Black-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers African-centered farm-based enrichment, food sovereignty, and regenerative agriculture programming to Black, brown, and womxn-led communities across the mid-Atlantic through education, cooperative-building, and fiscal sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development and Food Sovereignty Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Agriculture & Food Security Development (BPAGABAB), Food Security, Agriculture & Nutrition Aid Programs (BPADABAD)

Keywords

• Food sovereignty programs
• Regenerative agriculture training
• Afrocentric youth education
• Cooperative farming services
• Nonprofit fiscal sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Bowie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

OurSpace World delivers community-based programming in food sovereignty, regenerative agriculture, and Afrocentric youth and family education through three core program areas. It also operates fiscal sponsorship and technical assistance services via the Calabash Network for Black and brown farmers, food producers, and mission-aligned organizations. Programs combine on-farm training, classroom workshops, summer camps, and online courses supported by an Afrocentric curriculum.

Product overview

OurSpace World operates as a non-profit community organization with three integrated, intergenerational core programs: The Ujima Initiative (organizing and cultivating cooperative groups for land-based/food-based enterprises), Project Teach22 (educating and training land stewards and Earth healers through youth/family programs and adult training), and the Calabash Network (technical assistance, fiscal sponsorship, and resource funneling for Black and Brown farmers and food producers). Together, these programs support over $1.5 million in directed resources toward food sovereignty and land stewardship goals, serving Black, brown, and womxn-led initiatives primarily in the Maryland/Virginia region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Ujima Initiative: A program that links people together, assembles sustainable communities, and supports the formation of high-trust collectives that pool resources and raise funds to support cooperatively-organized land-based/food-based social enterprises.
• Project Teach22
• Calabash / Calabash Network

Products and services

• The Ujima Initiative A core program that links people together, assembles sustainable communities, and supports formation of high-trust collectives that pool resources and raise funds to support cooperatively-organized land-based and food-based social enterprises. Serves Black, brown, and womxn-led initiatives.
• Shared Services Cooperative An emerging collective of Black and brown small-scale regenerative farmers in Prince George's County, Maryland who share resources and aggregate produce for institutional, wholesale, and other markets.
• Farm-to-Food Sovereignty Academy + Apprenticeship A training program in collaboration with farm and food partners in Southern Maryland and Northern Virginia that equips participants with hands-on regenerative farming, ecological building, food aggregation/distribution, and food preparation skills. Academy stipends start at $16/hr for 16 weeks.
• Project Teach22 An educational initiative that educates and trains 22nd century-ready land stewards and Earth healers through youth/family programs (Earth School, Camp EarthPact, Wild-Child to Wild Womanhood) and adult/young adult training programs.
• Earth School + Journeys Family Field Days An interdisciplinary, Afrocentric, nature-based education program first piloted in 2023-2024 for students ages 5-9. Offers outdoor labs, mindfulness, and creative projects, and has expanded to include classroom workshops for grades 1-6 with modules on Herbalism, Flowers and Pollinators, and Air and Atmosphere.
• Camp EarthPact An African-centered youth summer camp program first piloted in summer 2022 targeting campers ages 4-17. Focuses on environmental stewardship, building climate-conscious Black land-stewards, and integrating ancestral wisdom with core subjects. Includes a Leadership Lab component for training camp facilitators.
• Wild-Child to Wild Womanhood A framework/program adaptable for schools, homeschool co-ops, families, community organizations, or camps to bring nature-based and culturally-centered experiences at various developmental stages.
• e-Teach22 Library An online, public repository of multimedia resources representative of Black/African and people of color, centered around agriculture, farming, food, health, environmental health, and environmental justice.
• Africultural Connections Curriculum A curriculum bridging the gap between farm and classroom, empowering Black students with ancestral knowledge of land and agricultural history. Three modules covering Cash Crops, Land & Soil, and The Water Cycle, with 12 total lessons designed for middle grade students. Created in collaboration with Carter Farms and supported by USDA NIFA.
• Calabash Network A one-stop shop for technical assistance, teaching, learning, networking, and fiscal sponsorship serving Black and Brown farmers/growers, food producers, and consultants. Has directed over $1.5 million and several thousand hours of on-site support to mission-aligned groups.
• Calabash Academy A 12-week accelerated training program cohort designed to orient and prepare a network of skilled technical assistance (TA) consultants to support food/land sovereignty efforts of Black and Brown farmers and food folks. Includes Calabash 101 as a prerequisite.
• Calabash Fiscal Sponsorship A contractual relationship where OurSpace provides administrative and financial management services and its tax-exempt status to aligned businesses, collectives, and projects.
• Calabash Online Courses An online learning platform offering recorded lesson content on navigating USDA and other grant programs, Food Sovereignty, and related topics for Black and Brown farmers and consultants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.5 million directed toward mission-aligned groups
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Capital Area Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to address food insecurity and support food sovereignty initiatives in the Prince George's County area.
• Carter Farms / AfriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 5th generation farmer Michael Carter Jr. to support regenerative agriculture and Africultural education in the mid-Atlantic region.
• USDAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partnership supporting regenerative farming initiatives and food sovereignty programs.
• Prince George's Community College Owl MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity college partnership for market access for small-scale regenerative farmers.
• Backyard BasecampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting community food sovereignty and urban farming initiatives.
• Woodbox FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm partner in the mid-Atlantic regenerative agriculture network.
• Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting health literacy and resources for communities served by OurSpace World programs.
• Fountain Community EnrichmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting enrichment programs and initiatives.
• Great Commission Change of Life MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based partner for community outreach and support.
• Alexander Memorial Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based partner providing community support and outreach.
• The Sanctuary at Kingdom SquareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based partner for community engagement.
• Cornerstone Peaceful Bible Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based partner supporting community initiatives.
• Châteaux CocoaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in food production and agricultural initiatives.
• A Heart 4 People FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm partner supporting community food sovereignty efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Soul Fire Farm: Black-led farm in upstate New York offering food sovereignty training, youth programs, and farmer training rooted in Afro-indigenous practices. Highly comparable to OurSpace's Afrocentric, farm-based youth and farmer education model, though operating at a larger national scale.
• Carter Farms / Africulture: 5th-generation Black-owned farm in Virginia operated by Michael Carter Jr., focused on regenerative agriculture, Africultural education, and farmer training. Directly comparable given its status as an OurSpace partner and its parallel regenerative-agriculture-plus-Black-education model in the same mid-Atlantic geography.
• Black Family Land Trust: Nonprofit focused on land tenure, stewardship, and legacy planning for Black families and landowners across the US. Directly comparable to OurSpace's emphasis on Black land stewardship, food sovereignty, and intergenerational wealth through land.

Broad incumbents

• Federation of Southern Cooperatives: Long-standing regional cooperative supporting Black farmers and landowners across the Southeast US, including rural cooperatives and land retention. Broader incumbent with overlapping mission on Black farmer cooperative development, which is directly relevant to OurSpace's Ujima Initiative and Shared Services Cooperative.
• FoodCorps: National nonprofit placing service members in schools to teach food education and improve school food. Comparable in its youth-focused food and agricultural education mission, though operating nationally at much larger scale and through schools rather than community-rooted programs.

Emerging players

• Black Farmer Fund: Emerging community investment fund providing capital and capacity-building to Black farmers in the Northeast. Comparable to OurSpace's Calabash Network resource-funneling role, though focused more narrowly on financial capital rather than fiscal sponsorship and TA.
• The Greening Youth Foundation: Nonprofit focused on youth environmental education and pathways to careers in natural resources. Comparable in its youth-and-environmental-education mission, particularly with OurSpace's Camp EarthPact youth stewardship pipeline.

Regional players

• Accokeek Foundation: Maryland-based nonprofit operating a historic plantation site with regenerative farm, education programs, and food access initiatives. Comparable to OurSpace's mid-Atlantic farm-based education model and its geographic footprint in the DC/Maryland/Virginia region.

Others

• Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI-USA): Nonprofit advocating for equitable food systems, farmer livelihoods, and rural communities. Thematically aligned with OurSpace's food sovereignty and small-farmer support work, though focused on policy and advocacy rather than direct programming.
• HEAL Food Alliance: Coalition of food justice organizations working on worker rights, food sovereignty, and ecological farming. Comparable in its food sovereignty and regenerative agriculture framing, though operating as a coalition rather than a direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ourspace-world-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/ujimadmv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OurSpace World