The Allensworth Progressive Association (APA) was established in 1908 by
the township’s founders as the official form of government, conducting the
community’s business and fostering civic engagement. Reestablished in
1997 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the APA is the community’s development
organization, serving a largely Latinx population, but with the same vision
and founded on the original living legacy cultivated by the APA’s
founders.
About Allensworth
Allensworth Progressive Association
The APA is tasked with identifying, implementing, and managing
education, health, infrastructure, economic, and regional restoration and
revitalization projects, including the TAC Teaching and Innovation Farm and
improvements at Col. Allensworth State Historic Park. The APA is blessed to
partner and collaborate with a diverse array of agencies, organizations, and
friends, in cultivating a sustainable and thriving future for Allensworth
residents and neighbors.
education, health, infrastructure, economic, and regional restoration and
revitalization projects, including the TAC Teaching and Innovation Farm and
improvements at Col. Allensworth State Historic Park. The APA is blessed to
partner and collaborate with a diverse array of agencies, organizations, and
friends, in cultivating a sustainable and thriving future for Allensworth
residents and neighbors.
About Allensworth
Allensworth Progressive Association
The Allensworth Progressive Association (APA) was established in 1908 by
the township’s founders as the official form of government, conducting the
community’s business and fostering civic engagement. Reestablished in
1997 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the APA is the community’s development
organization, serving a largely Latinx population, but with the same vision
and founded on the original living legacy cultivated by the APA’s
founders.
the township’s founders as the official form of government, conducting the
community’s business and fostering civic engagement. Reestablished in
1997 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the APA is the community’s development
organization, serving a largely Latinx population, but with the same vision
and founded on the original living legacy cultivated by the APA’s
founders.
The APA is tasked with identifying, implementing, and managing
education, health, infrastructure, economic, and regional restoration and
revitalization projects, including the TAC Teaching and Innovation Farm and
improvements at Col. Allensworth State Historic Park. The APA is blessed to
partner and collaborate with a diverse array of agencies, organizations, and
friends, in cultivating a sustainable and thriving future for Allensworth
residents and neighbors.
education, health, infrastructure, economic, and regional restoration and
revitalization projects, including the TAC Teaching and Innovation Farm and
improvements at Col. Allensworth State Historic Park. The APA is blessed to
partner and collaborate with a diverse array of agencies, organizations, and
friends, in cultivating a sustainable and thriving future for Allensworth
residents and neighbors.
The Town that Refuses to Die
Located where the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River once existed, where the Wowol Yokuts navigated, fished, lived, and loved for thousands of years, Allensworth was established. The highest-ranking Black officer in the Armed Forces and Baptist minister, Col. Allen Allensworth established the Allensworth township at the southernmost part of the dry Tulare/Ton Tache Lake bed bottom, in 1908.
Tulare/Ton Tache Lake was recorded officially dry in 1898, after the Wowol Yokuts population was decimated by settler diseases and the Lake was drained, to establish an agricultural stronghold. It was here that Col. Allensworth and the community’s original founders decided to realize their vision.
Colonel Allensworth’s dream of Black self-determination and prosperity, and the community he helped to found on those principles, flourished for a number of years. Allensworth, once a thriving Black agricultural community, lost most of its population due to the racist and hostile actions of a
neighboring white community. With the help of those in power, transportation and resources were shifted away from Allensworth and towards the adjoining white town, undermining Allensworth’s economic vision and sidelining the community’s growth for decades. In 1969, the community of Allensworth was facing impending demolition when residents hailing from founding families petitioned the state to recognize Allensworth as a historic site. In 1974, Col. Allensworth State Historic Park (CASHP) was established and the adjoining community of Allensworth was given new life as well, becoming home to families that plant, harvest and process the renowned agricultural abundance of the Central Valley.
neighboring white community. With the help of those in power, transportation and resources were shifted away from Allensworth and towards the adjoining white town, undermining Allensworth’s economic vision and sidelining the community’s growth for decades. In 1969, the community of Allensworth was facing impending demolition when residents hailing from founding families petitioned the state to recognize Allensworth as a historic site. In 1974, Col. Allensworth State Historic Park (CASHP) was established and the adjoining community of Allensworth was given new life as well, becoming home to families that plant, harvest and process the renowned agricultural abundance of the Central Valley.
Almost five decades later, Allensworth continues to demonstrate the resilient nature of its Founding Fathers. Allensworth is the town that refuses to die, because we deserve to live and we deserve to thrive.
All About TAC Teaching and Innovation Farm
TAC FARM
The TAC Teaching and Innovation Farm is a model for re-envisioning Agriculture in the Central Valley through it's mission to nourish healthy rural BIPOC communities
and demonstrate the inherent benefits of integrating Community and Agricultural Education through the Central Valley BIPOC Farmer Training Program.
Although the community of Allensworth is located in one of the
top-producing agricultural regions of the world, the community itself
resides within a food desert. Large-scale monoculture agriculture has
stressed regional groundwater supply to its limits, increasing water supply
contamination, and depleting soil health. Rural communities in California
are predominantly communities of color and therefore face the brunt of
environmental degradation and its effects on human health and are already
more greatly impacted by the effects of climate change.
TAC Teaching & Innovation Farm aims to become the model for
re-envisioning agriculture in the Central Valley and nourishing healthy rural
communities of color. TAC Farm’s goal is to establish an economic engine in
Allensworth that can generate economic growth, provide education in
organic and regenerative agriculture, housing development and stronger
support for the Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park.
TAC Teaching & Innovation Farm will provide hands-on training in organic
farming, rabbitry, and composting to adults and youth throughout the
Central Valley, cultivating community-grown solutions to ongoing
challenges faced by Central Valley rural communities..
