SHARED COMMITMENT TO AN EQUITABLE DURHAM.
B.A.G & Company is a collaborative effort between Land And Legacy Group Nonprofit Corporation and dedicated community partners, united in our commitment to advancing the economic growth and well-being of BIPOC individuals and nuclear families. Rooted in Brightwood—an intentional community built on shared purpose—we model self-sustainable living and work to bring food, housing, and economic justice to the Durham community. Through agricultural and culinary education, renewable energy practices, and a holistic approach to life, we encourage and empower our neighbors to take ownership of their futures. Our vision is simple yet transformative: we want Durham to Imagine, Grow, and Sustain.
History
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 a new police budget. Although the founder supports military and first responders, he believed the $70 million was disproportionately allocated, while working-class residents faced food insecurity and housing crisis during the pandemic. 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, because of the respect and admiration Skip Gibbs had for MLKjr, his messaged differed from the message of other, rightfully upset community leaders; telling residents and protesters who stood in solidarity to not Burn the city—but instead BUILD THE CITY. This message set the organization apart from others- resulting in counter protests from other organizations, leaving the leader confused and jaded- in search of a more impactful way to make change.
After failed negotiations with city officials to create an economic development zone where residents coul live work and play, 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 3.5-acre property affectionately named BRIGHTWOOD for the massive century old magnolia nestled in the center of the historic farmland property. after 3 years of enhancing its infrastructure and purpose; In 2025, OAM rebranded as LAND AND LEGACY GROUP to reflect DEVELOPMENT and LONG TERM inclusivity through land use, fighting for all of Durham’s underserved, regardless of background. The name honors our roots while expanding our mission. B.A.G (Brightwood Advancement Group) signifies our stewardship of the land and our collective legacy. We remain dedicated to a more equitable 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.
Leadership
Skip Gibbs, Executive Director
Raised by a resilient single mother in Durham’s inner city, Skip Gibbs intimately understands the challenges of food, housing and occupational insecurity. His mother juggled multiple jobs while completing her higher education at NCCU, making every meal at home a necessity rather than a choice. Skip and his five siblings depended on home-cooked meals, as dining out was simply unaffordable. To stretch their resources, the family ingeniously collected and filtered rainwater, composted and tended a thriving garden beside their home—practices that ignited Skip’s enduring passion for sustainable living and culinary arts.
Driven by this foundation, Skip attended the Arts Institute in pursuit of a degree in Culinary Management and spent 16 years blending creativity and cuisine as an artist and chef. But in 2020, he made a bold shift—leaving his businesses behind to fully dedicate himself to educating people of color in the ways of homesteading, land development in the fight against food insecurity. Today, Skip is not just a husband and father; he is a powerhouse advocate deeply embedded in the movement to secure lasting economic justice for Durham, transforming his past hardships into relentless inspiration for change.
