GAINING GROUND | THE FIGHT FOR BLACK LAND PANELISTS
Troy Osborne Pryor | Moderator
Media Producer
Troy Osborne Pryor is a media producer and host with the superpower of connecting with wide audiences. Pryor's directorial debut was on TV One's Change Agents and his collaborations have led to award-winning content on multiple platforms. Pryor is the founder of Creative Cypher, a portfolio of media brands and investments. He is the founder of XL Film Festival, Vice President of SAG-AFTRA Chicago and an advisor to an array of organizations.
Eternal Polk
Gaining Ground: The Fight For Black Land Director and Filmmaker
Eternal Polk is a Midwest-raised, Brooklyn-cultured filmmaker who currently calls Charlotte home. As an award-winning director, Eternal has crafted content with purpose and intention. His work has appeared on various outlets including HBO, ESPN, BET/VH1/ MTV, FOX, NFL Network, TBS & HGTV. He makes his feature film debut with the documentary Gaining Ground: The Fight For Black Land.
Sonya Harper
Illinois State Representative, 6th District
Sonya Marie Harper has been a journalist and community activist on the south side of Chicago since she was 16 years old. She also served as Joint Caucus Chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus during the 102nd General Assembly where she led the caucus in appropriating a historic 2.5 billion dollars for black communities in the state budget and oversaw the passing of and implementation of a 4 pillar legislative agenda to attack systemic racism in Illinois. The state of Illinois now recognizes urban agriculture and provides incentives for urban farmers because of a law sponsored by Harper. Harper has been at the forefront of Agriculture Equity by authoring the Illinois Farmer Equity Act, Agriculture Disparity Study, Cannabis Equity Commission, and most recently the Agriculture Equity Commission.
Harper serves as Chairman of the Agriculture & Conservation Committee and Midwest Regional Vice Chair for the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), a board member for the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women, and the Illinois State Director for Women In Government.
Ebony Woodruff
Director of the Southern University Law Center Agricultural Law Institute
Ebony Woodruff is the Director of the Southern University Law Center Agricultural Law Institute for Underserved and Underrepresented Communities. She is a first-generation attorney, legal entrepreneur, and a former Louisiana state representative. Ebony earned a Master of Laws in Agricultural and Food Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law, a Juris Doctor from the Southern University Law Center, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Louisiana State University. She is a 2023 Aspen Institute Food Leaders Fellow and serves on the Board of Directors for the New Orleans Food Policy Action Council