Rooted in Legacy: Celebrating Black Farmers and the SENPH Mission

As Southeast Non‑Profit Housing (SENPH) celebrates 20 years of service, the heart of that work can be found in the people who plant, nurture, and harvest our food — and in the families whose futures are shaped by opportunity and resilience. SENPH’s mission is to strengthen communities by providing housing and workforce development solutions for families, especially farmworkers and their dependents across the Southeast. 

Black farmers and farmworkers have long been essential to our region’s agricultural heritage, yet their stories are often overlooked. For Black History Month and SENPH’s 20‑year anniversary, we highlighted some of these voices.

Hill Family Farm: Cultivating Community and Healthy Futures

For the Hill family, farming began as a way of life. Growing up in a community grounded in agriculture and homegrown food, they embraced farming as both heritage and service. Today, Hill Family Farm extends that legacy through youth programs and hands‑on experiences designed to teach young people the importance of healthy eating and community care. Their work reflects core principles of stewardship, access, and opportunity -- values that echo SENPH’s commitment to empowering farmworker families through education and workforce services.

At Hill Family Farm, the goal is more than producing food -- it’s about building a legacy where healthy living and community belonging are accessible to all.

Rico McDuffie: Farming as Purpose and Pathway

For Rico McDuffie, farming has been a calling since childhood. Through an apprenticeship program in Delco, NC, Rico gained real‑world agricultural skills and discovered how hands‑on learning shapes personal and professional growth. Today, he’s working toward his GED and exploring agricultural training opportunities -- a journey that aligns directly with SENPH’s Career Service & Training programs, which offer career counseling, skill building, and mentorship to help farmworkers and youth achieve long‑term economic independence.

Rico’s story is one of resilience and ambition. He’s proud of his accomplishments as head of his household and intent on building his own farm -- demonstrating how access to training and support opens doors to future success. Watch to learn more.

Southeast Non-Profit Housing Celebrates 20 Years of Service, Expands Reach Across the Region

Formally known as Alabama Non-Profit Housing Inc., the organization has expanded throughout the Southeast, rebranding as Southeast Non-Profit Housing Inc. (SENPH) to reflect its broader impact. This milestone coincides with the celebration of the organization’s 20th anniversary, marking two decades of advancing affordable housing and workforce development solutions for families. SENPH’s mission is to improve our communities by providing housing and workforce development solutions for families. Primarily focused in rural communities across the southeast, SENPH has 14 office locations in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina.

The vision for Southeast Non-Profit Housing Inc. began in 2006 with the development of a grant proposal that laid the foundation for the group’s first housing project. That vision culminated in 2011 with the opening of Casa Bonita , a ten-unit community in Oneonta, Alabama, funded by USDA Rural Development. Casa Bonita was the organization’s first completed project and remains a cornerstone of its mission today.

What began in Oneonta Alabama 20 years ago has now grown into a regional effort. The expansion into Georgia and North Carolina reflects both the growing needs of rural families and our ongoing commitment to providing housing, career development, and supportive services across the Southeast.

Building on its foundation of affordable housing initiatives, SENPH has also expanded its focus on workforce development with an emphasis on empowering farmworkers and their families. Through comprehensive career and training programs—including job placement support, work experience, and on-the-job training with local businesses—SENPH is working to increase access to economic opportunity and long-term stability across the region.