Seeds of Liberation: You Can’t Fight the Power if You’re Starving

The word “community” has been associated with a lot of things in the social media age. It’s a movement, an audience, an event, a Q&A panel — sometimes it’s nothing more than an idea. But at its root, community is a means of survival. Building it is one of the most primal instincts we have as humans, and it should begin with ensuring that everyone within a “community” eats, has shelter, feels safe and has access to vital information. 

For Aliffer Zamira Sabek, the founder of a nonprofit called Seeds of Liberation, the notion of an organization centered on the most basic human necessities as a means of liberation surfaced in the midst of the pandemic. “I remember early 2020, I saw the video of those men in a pickup truck who chased down Ahmaud Arbery,” said Sabek, referring to the February 2020 murder that sparked protest and outrage. “I took the anger I felt, and I was on the ground [protesting], I believe, for two straight months, Monday to Sunday every week ‘cause that's what all the protesters were doing.” 

Like many during that period, the call to action was to build new systems of support and reinforce community at a time when trust in government was at an all-time low. But Sabek didn’t just want to start a nonprofit for the sake of feeling involved; she wanted to build something that would have a deep impact, even if that impact wasn’t wide. “We're lacking in education, we're lacking in community programming, we're lacking health care, food, all of the things,” Sabek continued, “But at the very basic nucleus of it all, I want people to go out and fight for their freedom, and they can't do that if they're hungry. So food and water was the very first thing that I wanted to get started on, and that's what we did.”

Seeds of Liberation began with food rescue and distribution. It aimed to remove a common barrier that Sabek often saw in food justice spaces. “We don't ask people to sign up in any way. I don't need any information from you. You don't need to be documented or undocumented. You can be unhoused or housed. It doesn't matter what you are; you can come and grab food, and we don't police how much you can take.” Sabek said she noticed a trend at food distribution activations, where she only saw elders picking up free groceries. “We haven't bridged the gap between the young people and food security because young people are ashamed to not have food.” This observation motivated her to make food more accessible to her community, but also to instill a sense of dignity in the process of asking for help. 

Born in Venezuela, Sabek says her experience as an immigrant continues to mark everything she does, especially as it relates to the humanity of her neighbors. “I lacked so much community growing up that I think it makes complete sense that I turned out to be this kind of person,” she said. “But I sit and imagine all of the folks who are still in that position, who are undocumented, who are being treated as less human than the rest of us. I think that really affects my heart and spirit. So they’re always at the nucleus of anything I’m making.”

As Seeds of Liberation expanded beyond food justice to include political education and art programming, protecting humanity and eliminating shame remained a central theme. In July, she secured a space in Brooklyn and launched Studio Sabek, where she and her team grow the nonprofit’s offerings, including abolitionist book clubs, film series and arts workshops. 

Now, 5 years in, she’s envisioning growth: a million-dollar fundraising goal, building a community farm, and possibly a future in Congress. But whatever comes next, she’s clear about the path forward.

“The organization should live outside of me,” Sabek insists. “Yes, I absolutely am the heart of the thing. I love it so much. I’m so proud of this thing we’ve built.” Her work is a reminder that dignity and trust have to be at the root of community work, and as a leader, she can’t rush the process. 

“Seeds of Liberation is 5 years old, and I’m excited to see what I do in the next 25 years.”

Editor's Note: If you’d like to support the work of Seeds of Liberation, donations are currently accepted via CashApp. A formal fundraising campaign is launching soon.