In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the “Other America” speech at Stanford, highlighting the inequality faced by Black Americans, including poor access to food, housing, and jobs. Over 50 years later, these issues persist. The Other America Movement (OAM) was founded in 2020 when officials allocated $70 million to police while working-class residents faced food insecurity. OAM mobilized protests, blocked highways, and occupied the Durham police station for 37 days, enduring arrests while providing food and hygiene supplies to the less fortunate.

After failed negotiations with city officials, Skip Gibbs shifted from protest to seek economic security for Durham's underserved. The Organization aimed to educate through sovereignty. In 2021, a local scientist and his entrepreneur wife donated land to OAM. From then to 2022, OAM took a hiatus to develop the 4-acre BRIGHTWOOD AGRICULTURE GROUP, enhancing its infrastructure and purpose. In 2025, OAM rebranded as B.A.G & Company to reflect growth and inclusivity, fighting for all of Durham’s underserved, regardless of background. The name honors our roots while expanding our mission. B.A.G signifies our stewardship of the land and our collective legacy. We remain dedicated to a food-secure Durham through fellowship, sustainable living, and self-determination.

We’re not just feeding people, we’re planting systems. We’re not just creating jobs, we’re growing futures. We believe Durham can serve as a national model for how equity, sustainability, and community care can thrive when everyone has a seat at the table.