Ren Martin (they/them) acts as the Community Events Manager for Soul Fire Farm. Born into the suburban sprawl of Richmond, VA, Ren’s heart has always belonged to the red clay and open skies of their grandparents’ countryside farm in Buckingham, Virginia. Summers were filled with playing with baby goats, chickens, barn cats, and long days rooted in relationship with the land. Those early experiences shaped Ren’s deep love for the Earth and the people who tend it.
Ren is unapologetically Black and queer, and they understand firsthand the power of authentic communities of care. At eleven years old, Ren was displaced from their home after a house fire. This life-changing experience solidified their commitment to creating dignified, safe spaces to form beloved community for all, especially those most often pushed to the margins. Ren is now trained in Trauma-Informed Approaches (TIA), practices Healing-Centered approaches, and is certified in Mental Health First Aid.
In 2021, Ren earned a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences from Virginia Tech, with minors in Urban & Community Forestry and Leadership & Social Change. Since then, Ren’s experience has extended to both local and national movements: they have served as a member of the National Steering Committee for Interfaith Power & Light, as a JEDI Co-Chair for the US Climate Action Network, and as the Co-founder of the Youth Climate Policy Council. They are also an alum of Faith For Our Planet’s prestigious Youth Climate Change Fellowship. In previous roles, Ren has worked as a nonprofit communications and program coordinator, facilitator, and inner-city Lead Art Instructor, bridging the gaps between storytelling, strategy, and youth empowerment. Their work has been recognized with a 2025 Young, Gifted & Green 40 Under 40 award.
At their core, Ren feels called to act at the intersections of food, faith, art, youth advocacy, and environmental justice. As a writer and poet, they seek to spark others’ imagination and movements of liberation. Off the clock, Ren can be found curled up with a dystopian novel, within arm’s reach of some tea and seaweed snacks. They enjoy tending to their garden, camping under the stars, and attempting (if everyone is available) to play Dungeons & Dragons with friends twice a month.