EBONY WOODRUFF, ESQ., LL.M.
Ebony Woodruff is a first-generation attorney, legal entrepreneur, and a former legislator. She is the first woman elected to represent District 87 in the Louisiana House of Representatives. During her tenure in the legislature, she developed a passion for agricultural and food policy Currently, Ebony is the Director of the Southern University Law Center Agricultural Law Institute for Underserved and Underrepresented Communities. She is a 2023 Aspen Institute Food Leaders Fellow. In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors for the New Orleans Food Policy Action Council and Provost Farm Heritage Center and Community Garden, Inc. 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.
Ebony was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a Certified Agricultural Mediator, Louisiana Master Gardener, an herbalist apprentice, genealogist, and budding seamstress. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, and learning new languages. Li apè aprenn parlê Kouri Vini. Y también habla español.
Hello. Bonjou. Hola.
EDUCATION
LL.M., Agricultural and Food Law
University of Arkansas School of Law
J.D., Civil Law
Southern University Law Center
B.S., Business Administration
Louisiana State University
LICENSES
Louisiana State Bar #32274
Louisiana Notary #88658
ORGANIZATIONS
Black Professionals in Food and Agriculture
Louisiana Women in Agriculture
EXPERIENCE
Southern University Law Center, Director of the Agricultural Law Institute for
Underrepresented and Underserved Communities
Provost Farm Heritage Center and Community Garden, Inc., Board of Directors Member
New Orleans Food Policy Action Council, Board of Directors Member
Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund, Attorney
John Deere / Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Legal Fellow
New Orleans Food Policy Advisory Committee, Co-Chair
Louisiana Obesity Prevention & Management Commission, Co-Chair
Louisiana House of Representatives, State Representative (Jefferson Parish, District 87)
Jefferson Parish Attorney's Office, Assistant Parish Attorney
Jefferson Parish Finance Attorney, Trustee
Jefferson Parish Council District Office, Clerk
Louisiana Office of the Honorary Consul for the Republic of South Africa, Assistant
Law Office of Ebony T. Woodruff, LLC, Founding Attorney & Notary Public
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Upcoming Events
Heirs' Property Update, Panelist
USDA National Agricultural Library (NAL)
Webinar
April 25, 2024
Agricultural Law CLE, Presenter
Southern University Law Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
May 24, 2024
Legal Frameworks: Navigating Legality of Forming a Cooperative, Panelist
The National Conference on Black Cooperative Agenda
St. Paul, Minnesota
June 13, 2024
Past Events
Gaining Ground Screening, Panelist
The (In)Justice For All Film Festival International
Chicago, Illinois
April 6, 2024
Gaining Ground Screening, Panelist
MANRRS 38th Annual Training Conference and Career Expo - Diversity Summit
Chicago, Illinois
March 20, 2024
Funding Fundamentals and Fellowships for Agricultural Entrepreneurship, Panelist
MANRRS 38th Annual Training Conference and Career Expo - Diversity Summit
Chicago, Illinois
March 21, 2024
Heirs' Property, Presenter
Zinpro
Webinar
February 20, 2024
Estate Planning, Presenter
Save Rural America Conference
Amite, Louisiana
January 23, 2024
Land Tenure Challenges for Black Farmers, Presenter
2023 End of the Year CLE
Southern University Law Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
December 15, 2023
Heirs Property, Presenter
50th Annual Bayou Classic CLE
Southern University Law Center
New Orleans, Louisiana
November 24, 2023
The Path Forward - Heirs' Property Certification Program, Panelist
Heirs' Property Practitioners Network Retreat
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
October 28, 2023
Bridging the Gap - Creating a Transformative Pipeline for MBEs Success in Agriculture, Panelist
National Minority Supplier Development Council 2023 Annual Conference & Exchange
Baltimore, Maryland
October 25, 2023
Food, Policy & Law Forum: Legacies of American Slavery in Farming & Agriculture, Panelist
Dillard University Ray Charles Program in African American Material Culture
New Orleans, Louisiana
October 19, 2023
Generational Land Management, Panelist
AgFTAP Training
Weslaco, Texas
October 11, 2023
USDA DFAP Assistance, Presenter
Provost Farm Heritage Center, Inc.
New Iberia, Louisiana
September 23, 2023
USDA DFAP Assistance, Presenter
Morehouse Parish Black Farmers & Landowners
Bastrop, Louisiana
August 29, 2023
Heirs Property / Transition Land to the Next Generation, Presenter
Southern Family Farmers and Food Systems Conference
San Marcos, Texas
August 6-8, 2023
Heirs Property and Heirs Property Certification Program, Presenter
Southern Regional Risk Management Conference
Pensacola Beach, Florida
August 2-3, 2023
The Importance of Wills, Presenter
Morehouse Parish 2023 Farm Field Day
Bastrop, Louisiana
July 21, 2023
Heirs Property, Presenter
Louisiana State Bar Association CLE
Webinar
June 23, 2023
Heirs Property: Practical Tips and Pointers for Resolving Title, Presenter
Tenth Annual Mid-South Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference
Memphis, Tennessee
June 8-9, 2023
HBCUs and Cooperative Community Development, Panelist
The National Conference on Black Cooperative Agenda
Las Vegas, Nevada
June 1-3, 2023
Heirs Property: A Case Study of Cultural Competency in Pro Bono, Presenter
25th American Bar Association / National Legal Aid & Defender Association Equal Justice Conference
Dallas, Texas
May 4-6, 2023
Growing Careers in Agricultural & Food Law for Law Students, Guest Speaker
The National Agricultural Law Center and the American Agricultural Law Association
Webinar
March 29, 2023
Heirs Property, Presenter
Alabama A&M University and FSC/ LAF Conservation Reserve Program Workshop
Gainesville, Alabama
March 25, 2023
2023 Farm Bill and Heirs' Property, Presenter
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives 51st Annual Meeting
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
March 17 - 18, 2023
Agricultural Law, Presenter
Southern University Law Center 2022 End of Year Continuing Legal Education
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
December 16-17, 2022
Estate Planning Essentials for Heirs Property Owners, Presenter
Forward 2023 National Heirs Property Conference
Atlanta, Georgia
December 1-3, 2022
Social and Economic Justice in the Black Belt: Opportunities and Challenges for Transformation, Panelist
80th Professional Agricultural Workers Conference
Tuskegee, Alabama
November 13-15, 2022
Heirs Property & Implications for Funding & Financial Access, Moderator
CDFIs and Regenerative Agriculture, Panelist
9th Conservation Finance Roundtable
Durham, North Carolina
November 1-3, 2022
Rising from the Depths of Slavery: Legacies of Cultural Expression, Food, Music & Tourism, Mistress of Ceremony
Dillard University Ray Charles Program in African-American Material Culture Symposium
New Orleans, Louisiana
October 28-29, 2022
Land Advocacy Fellowship Session , Panelist
National Young Farmers Coalition Session
Virtual
October 18, 2022
Heirs Property & the USDA Heirs Property Relending Program, Presenter
American Community Gardening Association 43rd Annual Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana
October 6-9, 2022
Estate Planning, Heirs Property & USDA Heirs Property Relending Program, Presenter
11th Annual Louisiana Small Farmer Conference
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
September 21-23, 2022
DOCUMENTARY APPEARANCES
CONNECT WITH EBONY
Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land
Al Roker Entertainment
2023
Weediquette (Season 1, Episode 3 - The War on Weed)
Vice TV
March 15, 2016