Rejoice and Venture Outdoors with the 2015 Outdoor Afro Leadership Team!
Rejoice and Venture Outdoors with the 2015 Outdoor Afro Leadership Team!
Outdoor Artists, Wilderness Yogis, and Life Aquatics Unite to Build Community and Reconnect Black People to Nature
Outdoor Afro is so proud to announce the selection of our fourth Leadership Team. After receiving more than 50 applications from across the country, we’ve chosen a diverse group of 18 leaders from 13 states to bring our team to 30! This 2015 class will enrich our team and the lives of Outdoor Afros all over the U.S. with their experiences in foraging, snowboarding, farming, “creek stomping,” tree hugging, National Park fandom, stargazing and leading outdoor yoga exercises.
Last year, Outdoor Afro’s 15-member leadership got outdoors and built community with 3,000 Black people around the country. In 2015, with increased representation in Southwest, Northeast, Pacific Northwest and Southern United States, we anticipate re-connecting even more African Americans with nature.
As outdoor enthusiasts, community organizers, and health and wellness advocates, these leaders will continue the success of the previous three classes of Outdoor Afro Leadership. Each Leader will create and guide monthly trips, leverage social media and collaborate with local, relevant environmental organizations to deepen connections with the outdoors.
We deeply invest in our leaders through our annual in person training. In April, our team will gather at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia to deepen relationships with each other and build on existing expertise.
Leaders will affirm Outdoor Afro values through a curriculum that includes trip planning, the health impacts of nature, conservation ethics, risk management, and effective social media engagement. Moreover, leaders will strategize with leading outdoor industry brands, such as REI, KEEN Footwear, Klean Kanteen, Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation – California, The Kapor Center for Social Impact, Campion Foundation - and more!
Now Presenting the 2015 Outdoor Afro Leadership Team:
| City/Region | Name of OALT Leader | Areas of Expertise | |
| Atlanta, GA | Tamara Johnson | Wildlife Biologist, Aquatic Surveyor, Tree Hugger |
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| Stefan Moss | Professor, Environmental Educator, Father, Caribbean Barbecuer, Second Year Returning Leader |
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| Wandi Steward | Business Development Manager, Kayaker, Mountain Biker |
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| Bay Area, CA | Clayton Anderson | Nature Nerd, Backpacker, Ecologist, Fourth Year Returning Leader |
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| Zoë Polk | Outdoor Afro Leadership Director, Attorney, Swimmer, Fourth Year Returning Leader |
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| Cliff Sorrell | Architect, Map and Compass Expert, Father, Fourth Year Returning Leader |
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| Nina Thiebert | College Student, Bike Rider, Tidepooler |
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| Baltimore, MD | Brittany Leavitt | Interactive Teacher, Photographer, Yogi |
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| Santa Cruz, CA | Valerie Miranda | Art Entrepreneur, Hiker, Beginning Forager, Mother |
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Viva Yeboah | Accountant, Auditor, Outdoor Inspirationalist, Fourth Year Returning Leader |
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| Charleston, South Carolina | Adrienne Troy-Frazier | Executive Director, Kayaker, Ocean Enthusiast |
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| Durham, NC | Beky Branagan | Girl Scout leader, Environmental Educator, Outdoor Cuisine Expert, Fourth Year Returning Leader |
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| Chris Clarke | Animal Scientist, Father, Fisherman |
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| Gary, Indiana | Yolanda Crocker-Bradley | Licensed Practical Nurse, Mother, Runner, Yogi |
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| Los Angeles, CA | Vicki Allen | Higher Education Professional, National Park Enthusiast, Camper |
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| Louisville, KY | SteVon Edwards | Community Health Specialist, Adventure Seeker, Second Year Outdoor Afro Leader |
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| Minneapolis, MN | Josh Garubanda | Paramedic, REI Outdoor School Educator, Kayaker, Canoer, Second Year Outdoor Afro Leader |
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| Newark, New Jersey | Kelly Thomas | Theatre Artist, Cultural Organizer, Educator |
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| New York City | Allison Guess | PhD student focusing on critical black geography, Urban Guerilla Gardener, African-diasporic dancer |
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| Phoenix, AZ | Angela Fears | Tai Chi & BreathWork Facilitator, Wellness Coach, Wilderness Yogi |
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| Portland, Oregon | Pamela Slaughter | Investigator, Enthusiastic Hiker, Nature Walker Mother |
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| Richmond, VA | Deirdre Bryant | Community Health Professional, Kayaker, Hiker, Mother, Second Year Outdoor Afro Leader |
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| Tahoma, Washington | Paulette Peterson | Outreach Director, Gardener, Plant Identifier, Mother |
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| Seattle, Washington | Matt Reese |
Real Estate appraiser, S
nowboarder, Father, Second Year Outdoor Afro Leader |
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| St. Louis, MO | Duane Williams | Network Adminstrator, Hiker, Rocks his own Afro |
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| Washington DC | Tavia Benjamin | Program Coordinator, Farm and Garden Educator, Creek Stomper |
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| Yvonne Jones | Early & Middle Childhood Specialist, Girl Scout Troop Leader, Camping Enthusiast |
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| Autumn Saxton-Ross | Program Director for the Joint Center’s Health Policy Institute, Green Space Advocate, Mother, Kansas City Sports Fan, Second Year Outdoor Afro Leader |
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| Charles Taylor | Health Educator , Outdoor Recreational Enthusiast, Snowboarder |
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| Akisha Mackritis | Literacy Teacher, Gardener, Mother |
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We are truly uplifted by all of enthusiasm you showed for the recruitment of 2015 Outdoor Afro Leadership Team and appreciate all the ways that you have engaged with us. We can't wait to share in adventure and community with you
Interested in Investing in the Next Generation of Outdoor Afro Leadership?
Click Here to join Outdoor Afro's March Matchtness Campaign!
Join Outdoor Afro March Match-ness!
Make a Slam Dunk for
Outdoor Afro!
We are over the moon to announce that we have a challenge grant from two generous donors.
They have pledged together to match your giving for Outdoor Afro dollar for dollar up to $10,000 starting this week!
Funds will be used to provide training and support for our Outdoor Afro leadership program that helps thousands of people around the country connect to nature each year!
Click to make your tax-deductible donation TODAY, and check for updates on our Facebook page to follow our progress!
Thank you!
Rue Mapp
Founder and CEO
A Proud Preservation: The Pullman Porters Role in Creating Chicago's First National Park
By Viva Yeboah, Outdoor Afro Chicago
"Salvation for a race, nation or class must come from within. Freedom is never granted; it is won. Justice is never given; it is exacted. Freedom and justice must be struggled for by the oppressed of all lands and races, and the struggle must be continuous, for freedom is never a final act, but a continuing evolving process to higher and higher levels of human, social, economic, political, and religious relationships." --- A. Philip Randolph, Founding President of The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Civil Rights Activist
On February 19th, President Obama signed a proclamation designating three new sites: Chicago Pullman District, Honouliuli Internment Camp and Colorado Browns Canyon as national parks and monuments. For Outdoor Afro and especially Outdoor Afro Chicago this is a big celebration!
For years community leaders have pushed to make Pullman a national park, achieving Chicago Landmark District and National Historic Landmark designations along the way. Preserving Pullman's dynamic history ensures the legacy is passed to future generations.
The Pullman neighborhood was the first industrial town in the US and has a powerful history of labor movements. In the late 1800s, newly freed African-Americans migrated to Chicago for job opportunities with the Pullman Rail Car Company as porters, servants and maids. This employment stimulated the development of Chicago's vibrate African-American middle class community. Though their jobs were glamorized, employees were mistreated, paid low wages and worked long hours. Understanding the need to protect their rights, one of the first African-American labor unions, The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, was formed. In 1937, the union won a historic labor agreement, ensuring increase wages and gained charter from the American Federation of Labor.
Decades later, Pullman is still a neighborhood with residents committed to community. Throughout the county, investments are being made into outdoor recreation, conservation and stewardship; from the growth in urban farming, the Millennium plan by Forest Preserve of Cook County, to the investments in restoration and stewardship projects in the Calumet region. The Pullman District becoming a national park is now the highlight of many things currently taking place in Chicago. National monument status assists in protecting areas and growth in local economies. Chicago philanthropists raised close to $8 million in supporting community led efforts to make Pullman District a national monument. With these investments, communities will hope to see employment opportunities, increase in tourism, growth in local businesses and property value increases.
National parks and monuments provide the full circle experience where we connect to our history, nature and each other. What has fascinated me are the stories of migration and resistance. I have lived in Chicago for several years. I grew up in metro Atlanta and my parents are Ghanaian. Listening and reading migration stories gives light to the historical movement of humans. We move for better opportunities, safety, desire to redefine oneself, growth, resources and much more. The Pullman District provides many of these stories.Outdoor Afro Chicago is looking forward to sharing the vast stories and experiences of the Pullman District through community rides, bird watching, neighborhood tours and other activities.
Visit National Pullman Porter museum, http://www.aphiliprandolphmuseum.com, and Pullman Historical society, pullmanil.org for more information. Also read a great interview with Sherry Williams of Bronzeville Historical Society on their efforts of preserving Pullman district black history, goo.gl/r5MpkC.
Join Outdoor Afro Chicago meetup for upcoming events: meetup.com/Outdoor-Afro-Chicago
Celebrate Black History Month with Outdoor Afro
Join us in living and remembering Black History this February and every month of the year
by Outdoor Afro Leader Zoë Polk
On Saturday February 7, 2015 Outdoor Afro Richmond Virginia hosted a “Healing Hike" in York River State Park. This hike was part of Outdoor Afro’s nationwide campaign to engage as a community in solidarity activities with Ferguson and New York City. It is in the same spirit as similar Outdoor Afro events in Seattle, Chicago, Louisville, Washington DC, and Oakland, CA. And it honored our belief that nature is just as important to our living history as it is to our past.
Every February, Black History is commemorated and celebrated in schools, churches, political speeches, and art exhibitions. During this month, we sing louder and dance harder to the music of Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, and Sista Monica Parker. We reread speeches and biographies of political heroes including Bayard Rustin, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, A. Phillip Randolph, and Fannie Lou Hamer. And we contemplate the living history embodied in Barack and Michelle Obama, Janet Mock, Serena Williams, and the #BlackLivesMatter Movement. We also head outside to honor Black Americans who used the outdoors to break barriers including Harriet Tubman, "hikers" in the Selma to Montgomery March, Expedition Denali, and the 25th Infantry U.S. Army Black Bicycle Corps .
Since we were founded, Outdoor Afro has inspired nature lovers, kayakers, climbers, campers, fishermen and women, and picnickers to use every day in nature as a time to contemplate the accomplishments and relevance of Black History, and 2015 is no different. In January, Outdoor Afro Los Angeles headed to the Santa Monica Mountains to hike to a waterfall in Soulstice Canyon and visit the ruins of a home designed by renown African-American architect Paul Williams.
This February, we are issuing a special invitation for you to join us on Black history month inspired events around the country:
February 14, 2015
Outdoor Afro Washington DC will gather at the Fredrick Douglas National Historic to celebrate the abolitionist's 197th birthday. They’ll participate in day long activities including walking tours of Fredrick Douglas’ house and historic Anacostia neighborhood.
Outdoor Afro Chicago will grab their snowboards and alpine skis and "get their Andre Horton and Bonnie St. John on" at Devils Head Resort.
February 15, 2015
Outdoor Afro Bay Area will gather in the Presidio of California for a four-mile hike and history lesson Buffalo Soldiers’ roots in San Francisco.
February 21, 2015
Join 50 members of the Outdoor Afro Los Angeles team as they create their own history hiking Echo Mountain via the Sam Merrill Trail.
February 22, 2015
Outdoor Afro Louisville will do an urban hike along the Chickasaw Heritage trail and learn about the Chicksaw Park’s important role in the de-segregation of Kentucky’s parks. Due to inclement weather this event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled.
Outdoor Afro Bay Area will do hike along San Francisco's coast to the Golden Gate Bridge. Along the way, they will picnic on the beach and discuss the local influence of poet Maya Angelou, civil rights hero John Harris, and black whaling boat Captain William P. Shorey.
February 28, 2015
Outdoor Afro North Carolina will visit historic Stagville. They will see the remnants of one of the largest plantations in the pre-Civil War South and hike on trails named for the enslaved Black Americans who used to live there.
Outdoor Afro Minneapolis will lace up their skates and learn the history of the Colored Hockey League.
Outdoor Afro Seattle will convene at Seward Park for a day of food and fellowship in nature.
Don't see an event near you? Tweet/facebook/instagram photos of you enjoying Black History Month in nature using hashtag #outdoorafro. And stay tuned for some exciting news about our expansion of the Outdoor Afro Leadership Team!
Now Recruiting: 2015 Fellows to Join the National Outdoor Afro Leadership Team!
Outdoor Enthusiasts, Nature Lovers and Community Leaders Across the Country Are Encouraged to Apply
*Do you enjoy hiking, birdwatching, camping, kayaking, skiing, gardening, barbecuing or other recreational outdoor activities?
*Do you have a passion for inspiring community in the outdoors?
*Are you interested in creating, sharing and implementing strategies to reconnect African Americans to nature?
*Would you like to join a nationally recognized network of African American outdoor professionals?
If these questions resonate with you, APPLY TODAY to join the 2015 Outdoor Afro Leadership Team.
About the Fellowship Program
Launched in 2011, the Outdoor Afro Leader Fellowship promotes a strong sense of community among leaders around the country through a shared vision of reconnecting African Americans with the nature.
Supported in partnership with REI, Keen Shoes, Sierra Club, Klean Kanteen, the Kapor Center for Social Impact and other supporters, the fellowship provides professional support, coaching, and outdoor skills development training to individuals interested in celebrating and increasing the presence of African Americans in the outdoors. Fellows help expand the national Outdoor Afro social and nature network by leading trips, sharing experiences via social media, and forging partnerships with relevant outdoor organizations and groups. Leaders exercise thoughtful engagement that, in 2014 alone, convened more than 2,000 African Americans in the outdoors.
Meet the Fellows
Outdoor Afro Leadership Fellows are team of motivated individuals from around the country deeply connected to the outdoors and committed to celebrating and increasing the presence of African Americans in nature.
In 2015, Outdoor Afro will emphasize recruitment of leaders to join our Chicago, Los Angeles, North Carolina, Washington, DC, Atlanta and Seattle based leadership teams. Motivated individuals from the New York, Mid-West, and Pacific Northwest regions are also strongly encouraged to apply.
What Our Members Say About Outdoor Afro Leadership Fellows
“Wonderful, chill group of people who enjoy nature! Who could ask for more? Viva is an amazing leader! She walked with everyone and keep us on point, but also let us do our own thing when we wanted! Great work, V! ”— Shirley M. Member, Outdoor Afro Chicago
“I'm thrilled Beky is willing to create such amazing experiences for complete strangers. ” -Lakisha, Member, Outdoor Afro North Carolina
“This group ROCKS! Clay is by far a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, passion and energy. Everyone had something to share, whether it be encouragement, humor or just good old fashioned kindness, and the vibe among those in attendance was positively genuine. I really felt welcome and it was such a blessing to be in the company of folks who love and participate in outdoor leisure activities.”— Karen B, Member, Outdoor Afro San Francisco Bay Area.
How to Apply
Here is what we require:
- Facilitate a minimum 1 OA sponsored event every month
- Participate in a monthly conference call with other OA Leaders
- Develop two new OALT ambassadors in your region
- Live within 50 miles of an REI store
Leader perks include:
- Select FREE premium gear and supplies from sponsors KEEN Shoes, REI, Klean Kanteen, and more!
- Professional support, coaching, and outdoor skills development training
- The ability to make a tangible and positive difference for your local community and the natural world
Apply now to join our diverse team from around the nation to bring the outdoors to more people in your community!
Next Steps to be Eligible for Consideration:
1. Complete the application— submit via email by Friday, January 31 and participate fully in the interview process via phone and video conference calls.
2. Be available for a mandatory in–person training from April 23-25, 2015 at National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown,West Virginia (transportation not included).
3. The 2015 Class of Outdoor Afro Leaders will be confirmed and announced in March 2015.
Special Call
Outdoor Afro is strongly interested in leaders who can join our Chicago, Los Angeles, North Carolina, Washington, DC, Atlanta and Seattle based leadership teams. Motivated individuals from the New York, Mid-West, and Pacific Northwest regions are also strongly encouraged to apply.
For any questions, please contact us at [email protected]
ARE YOU THE NEXT OUTDOOR AFRO LEADER FOR YOUR REGION? APPLY TODAY!
Sustainable Celebrations: Creatively Incorporating Nature in Our Holidays
by Outdoor Afro Leader Zoë Polk
As the daughter of a fisherman, repurposing was a big part of my upbringing. Cleaned fish carcasses went into the crab pots. Outgrown t-shirts were used as rags to unhook slimy, squirmy Catfish. Driftwood was rescued and incorporated into my mother’s artistic creations. And at the end of every December, we still gather around our Christmas tree and haul it out to the backyard. My Dad walks the tree down the "plank" (also called a fishing pier) and with a quick push, into the water it goes. We always watch it submerge with smiles on our faces, thinking about how this tree would attract the fish that we like to catch in the summer months. It's one of my family’s favorite holiday traditions.
On Saturday, Outdoor Afros gathered at Pollinate Farm and Garden to creatively repurpose nature into our seasonal decorations. Using locally grown materials, including fallen Eucalyptus and Magnolia leaves, rosemary, dried pomegranates, Juniper shrubs, dried chilies, walnuts, acorns and Douglas firs, we assembled holiday wreaths. While everyone’s creation was unique, they shared the green brilliance and the fresh fragrance of Bay Area nature.
We were a group of longtime friends, a beekeeper, a gardener, a mother and daughter team, and individuals who drew inspiration from our environment and our family traditions. As we worked, we discussed the ways and reasons we practice sustainability during the holidays. One wreath maker reflected on her preference for DIY gifts as a way of rebelling against the mass consumption and consumerism of this time of year. Another crafter shared her longtime tradition of buying potted trees, which she replants in her backyard immediately following Christmas.
In partnership with Klean Kanteen, Outdoor Afro is committed to divesting from single use plastics. Its a culture we live and encourage all year round and especially during the holidays. In addition to reusable water bottles, we love giving our loved ones Klean Kanteen mugs, cups, tumblers, and food containers. Instead of giving (single use plastic) gift cards, we go to our local REI with the intended recipient and thus, personalize the experience of picking out the present. When we attend holiday parties, we bring our potluck items in reusable dishes and drink eggnog and hot apple cider from reusable mugs instead of single use plastic containers. And whether it's a gift basket or a live green decoration, we buy locally grown, natural items because, as daughters of fisherman and as environmental stewards, we are mindful of how much single use plastic ends up in our oceans.
After we put the final touches on our wreaths, we admired each other’s use of color and integration of different materials. I got excited thinking about the way my wreath would naturally illuminate my home. And then I remembered another long standing repurposing tradition of my childhood: My Mom used (and still uses) my father’s fishing line to hang her wreaths. While my fresh creation fortunately will not have the faint smell of flounder or striped bass (no offense, Dad!), it will have the fragrance of Northern California, a recent, but beloved family connection.
We Need Nature Now More Than Ever
Call to Action
Join Outdoor Afros around the country on December 13th for a Healing Hike
#HealingHike
Right now we are living in times that are hard to understand. Recent events in Ferguson and in New York have re-opened wounds of fear and doubt that have divided our country, revealing riveting currents of pain and distrust.
These events touch me personally and professionally. As a mother of three brown children (two of them boys), and the aunt of several young adults in Oakland, California, I find myself holding them all tighter with alternating rage and despair, knowing my hope and love alone cannot defend them from a shape-shifting and potentially lethal enemy.
As the leader of an organization that strives to lower barriers of historic fears between people and nature, especially for people who look like me – how can I now reassure members that it's OK for our children to go outside to play or stroll, and that they will come home alive?
The weight of these concerns feels suffocating indeed.
Yet through it all, I still feel hopeful knowing we have at our disposal a variety of platforms to respond and press for change and justice. For instance at Outdoor Afro, we typically call out the ways nature teaches and heals us.
Throughout our history in the US, there are many examples of how our people have expressed our greatest societal needs in both the streets and in natural settings.
We recall how Harriet Tubman led our people with and through nature to help us find freedom. The March on Washington brought together thousands of all hues in a national park to demand civil rights. In recent years, #Occupy reclaimed and camped in city plazas around the country, calling on economic fairness. And today, we are protesting in nearly every major city in response to the grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York City calling once again for justice because #BlackLivesMatter.
Photo: Debra Benton
Right now, our country is ailing, and I hold the belief that we can turn to nature to provide an important pathway toward our healing as we always have. So in keeping with tradition, and building off our own poignant Healing Hike in Oakland last week, Outdoor Afro leaders around the country call on friends, allies, and partners to join us December 13th for a day of healing in nature.
Locate your local Outdoor Afro network through Meetup.com; or simply get out with your friends, family, church, or local outdoor organization. Share how you are healing in nature to inspire others: Hashtag #HealingHike
We hope you will join us, but more importantly, we hope you find healing and hope during these challenging times for us all.
Beach Biking and Dancing
Who says you need to camp to enjoy nature?
Denene shares:
We're at Kiawah Island, on the coast of South Carolina. We are landlocked in Atlanta, so we always look forward to getaways to the beach, specifically the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, where we African Americans have such an incredible history. We knew we wanted to take in all of what nature has to offer on this beautiful island. More specifically, we wanted to ride bikes on the beach. So we did just that. The sun was high, the ocean was spirited, the sand was cool and we were one with her. Nature. We shouted. We ran. We laughed. We danced. We raced with the wind. And we loved every moment, knowing that right there on that sacred land, where our ancestors toiled and paid the heavy price, it was our duty to be... free.
Thank you Denene for sharing a slice of your vacation and fun with us!