Postcard Cabins

In partnership with Rachel Cargle, The Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and Miir we’re giving away A Year of Rest, 365 nights in total, to those fighting for change. We’ll be sharing our recipients’ stories in the hopes of amplifying their voices and inspiring meaningful action in our community and beyond. 

Here are this week’s recipients of rest as described by those who nominated them:

Erika Davis
Erika is an amazing Black Queer Doula working in the PNW to support BIPOC families in preparing to have children. She works tirelessly to crowdsource funds so that families in need can take her classes free of charge. She deserves rest.

Hannah Gebresilassie
Hannah is a TIRELESS advocate for justice. She organized the line of solidarity protests in Atlanta which were daily, in-person demonstrations demanding justice and the end of police brutality. She was out every day for 50 days in a row fighting and educating, as well as organizing additional protests at the GA capitol and governor’s mansion. The protests have moved to a virtual platform due to COVID-19 and have continued every day since then. Hannah continues to provide education, community, leadership, and action steps for solution-based change. Even after contracting COVID-19 herself she has never stopped fighting. A lot of her current advocacy is around amplifying Justice for GA, an organization that seeks justice for the families of victims of police brutality. I can’t say enough good things about Hannah. She is in it for the long haul and always does an amazing job of inspiring others to keep up anti-racist work and educating about practical steps toward justice. I can’t think of anyone who deserves a break more.

Ifé Franklin
Ifé Franklin is an icon of Boston’s Black and queer arts and activist communities. She has served generations of Bostonians as an arts educator and works full-time as a youth specialist at a domestic violence service organization. In addition to all of that, she devotes her mornings, evenings, and weekends to her calling as an artist: producing sculpture, installations, drawings, collage, photography, and fiber arts. Ifé’s community-based art practice, known as Ifé Franklin’s Indigo Project, honors the lives and history of formerly enslaved Africans/African Americans. It’s a collaborative process, grounded in trust-building, dialogue, feedback, and community participation. The community response to her life-sized Ancestor Slave Cabins built in public spaces has been overwhelming. Her latest undertaking is a performance piece based on her recent work of historical fiction: The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae. Ifé gives so much to her community and breathing space for rest and revitalization is much needed.

Ivanna Solano
Ivanna is an educator and social entrepreneur in the Greater Boston area. She is a fierce advocate for equity in education and focuses on supporting the healthy development of Black and brown girls. Ivanna is the co-founder of  Love Your Magic, a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting and empowering Black and brown girls in disrupting school pushout and adultification. Ivanna is also the director of Boston programs for Girls Inc. Most recently, Ivanna has worked with a local organization to launch a learning pod for Black and brown students in order to support their remote learning. She is constantly working for the greater good and deserves rest.

Jasmine Smith
Dr. Jasmine Smith is a brilliant doctor on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. She practices both pediatric and adult medicine and has been providing excellent care at two major hospitals in LA. She’s also been one of the activists leading the charge for racial and health equity in medicine since June, and her tireless efforts and leadership have led to change in our hospital system. She deserves to recharge and take a break so she can continue to do all the amazing work she does.

Jonathan Jones
Jonathan Jones is a local business owner and organizer in Salem, OR. He regularly offers of himself, his time, and his business to help further change. He has helped to keep us informed and involved in community events, and engaged through letter/email writing campaigns. He has helped educate by creating a library of Black authors in his restaurant that people can (and do) check-out, speaking at local rallies, and engaging in (often exhausting) dialogue with other community members.  His restaurant website not only features the food and menu, but local and national action items, the restaurant library listings, and contacts for our local officials. It’s often a rallying point, whether we are chalking our sidewalks or coming together for music. He continues to do all of this despite being the target of racial intimidation, bigotry, and social media smears against him and his restaurant. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention Maura, Jon’s partner in life, business, creation and influence. Jon and Maura were also some of the first to voluntarily (before the state mandate) close their restaurant related to COVID-19 out of genuine human concern and responsibility.

Jordan “Lena” Potts
Throughout this pandemic, as the unit director of  Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula, Lena has led her team to distribute around 25,000 meals to families and seniors in need. As if that weren’t enough, Lena has also written many powerful pieces about the Black Lives Matter movement and her experience as a Black woman. Lena is a great leader, an amazing friend, and incredibly deserving of a Getaway.

Tamika Butler
Tamika Butler works to shine light on social inequality, inequity, and injustice. She has been educating and advocating for equity in the realm of planning and engineering in relation to safe streets for people to walk and wheel on. She recently produced the first feature of 14 Black people who love bikes in Bicycling Magazine to address systemic racism in North America and in the cycling industry. Tamika’s 2016 keynote address to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO, Seattle), Planning While Black was a wake-up call about racism in the US and how it impacts transportation and planning work. She has educated hundreds of transportation professionals, elected officials, consultants and government staff about what it means to plan safe streets in an equitable way for communities. We have never met, but I strive everyday to do the work for her in my role in Active Transportation and for folks in my Canadian city.

Taylor Johnson 
Taylor is active in the diabetic community and works regularly with charities to reduce the stigma of individuals with diabetes. She uses her social media presence to address both medical racism and weight discrimination as well as the narrative around DMI & DMII diagnosis as the “fault” of the individual. As a nurse, I really appreciate her continued vulnerability around living with type I, misdiagnosis due to medical racism, and her personal experience with discrimination in health care. She and her diabetic support dog, Claire, deserve rest and relaxation. I’m nominating her in the hope that she gets recognized for her continued commitment to both the Black and diabetic communities.

Ready to plan your own restorative escape? Book your Getaway today.

Earlier this month we announced an expansion of our initial offering, 100 Nights of Rest. In partnership with Rachel Cargle, The Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and Miir we’re now giving away A Year of Rest, 365 nights in total, to those fighting for change. We’ll be sharing our recipients’ stories in the hopes of amplifying their voices and inspiring meaningful action in our community and beyond. 

Here are this week’s recipients of rest as described by those who nominated them:

Alixx Lucas
Alixx is a 25-year old Black, queer, EMT, artist, creative and healer. In her day job as a first responder, she has come face to face with the most difficult moments of the pandemic, providing care amongst PPE shortages and advocating for patients whose care would have suffered due to cultural and linguistic barriers. When the protests started in June, Alixx offered her knowledge to friends on the ground, then went above and beyond to give a health equity talk to leadership at her company specifically tailored to the biases she sees in her day to day. She introduced them to the history of racism and discrimination in medicine that are the vestiges of slavery, bringing in examples and quotes based on what she sees in her role. She was not compensated or acknowledged for this work because they didn’t think she was qualified. Alixx is also a creative working on dance and visual arts to bring to life unique stories and share her experiences with the world. She has done all this while continuing to break patterns and bring healing into her own life amidst years of managing serious and at times life threatening depression. Her ability to grow and continue to share her gifts even amongst the most challenging of circumstances is an inspiration to me and those who know and have been touched by her. She is now known as a safe space for her people in her community to talk to who may feel otherwise judged by their mental health situation because of her lived experience. Providing support for our community healers is extremely important, given the rampant racism present in the medical field (seen in real time during COVID-19) and the need for competent and well rounded practitioners who will care for Black and brown folks.

Chanae Jackson
Chanae Jackson calls herself the “Accidental Activist,” and although I would never wish the circumstances that launched her into action on anyone, I thank God that she has stepped into this leadership role for our community. In 2018, she experienced the impacts of policing gone wrong when her son was stopped by a police officer in our small University town. She immediately fought to be a part of the solution by bringing to light the inconsistencies, inequities, systemic racism, and implicit bias at all levels of policing and community leadership. Her invaluable insight as a native to our community gives her unique positioning to reach a large audience and impact real change. With the most recent local election she led an effort to mobilize and educate community members to register to vote and get to the polls. Our community saw the direct impact of their voices this election when they appointed the first ever Black sheriff and school board members who vowed to better address the inequity in our county’s school system, which has the greatest disparity of any county in the state. We saw polling areas directly impacted by her efforts with significant increases in voter turn out when compared to 2016. Her energy and her voice have motivated the community to be actively engaged. In addition to her activism, she is a mom and an entrepreneur who doesn’t stop working around the clock for the betterment of our community.

Chanita Simms
Chanita quit her job to invest full time in her startup, Melanin Tech, a community platform to help BIPOC break into and be successful in tech. We met at the company she just left and she was the reason I joined. She wrote a blog about feeling like she belonged, and a Black woman feels that. Sadly, it all ended up being false and she left the company in a lot of pain. She is in the process of selling everything and relocating. This would be such a treat for her, to rest and have a night to herself. Cause watch out world, she is unstoppable now and going to change things!

Cherise Bernard 
Dr. Cherise Bernard is constantly and selflessly providing leadership, support, and guidance to people within her professional community. In her role as the co-leader of Spotify’s resource group for Black employees, Cherise gives of herself constantly in order to uplift those around her and lead the way toward positive change throughout the company. Cherise is relied upon for guidance and insight by so many people at Spotify, and we look to her as an example of the kind of leader we want to follow.

Courtney Ariel
Courtney works harder than anyone I know. On a practical level, she is exhausted most of the time just trying to make ends meet. As a Black woman in the south, she has quit multiple jobs because of the overt and covert racism she’s experienced. She has been published in the Tennessean, given lectures at several colleges nationwide, and had a couple viral articles, including “For Our White Friends Desiring To Be Allies” in Sojourners. She does this work unpaid. Her work for racial justice is all bridge-building work. She works tirelessly to communicate her experience as a Black woman to a mostly white audience, overflowing with empathy and the desire for us all to see each other’s humanity. She is the wisest, kindest person I know, which is pretty miraculous knowing the oppressive circumstances she faces every day. My wife and I love and trust her so much that she’s going to be the godmother to our child. I truly think Courtney deserves EVERYTHING and I am constantly outraged at the injustice of her not being able to have it in this America. Her work is a gift and has healed so many. It would be the biggest gift to her to simply be able to rest.

deandre miles-hercules
As deandre’s fraternity brother in Alpha Phi Alpha, I have watched them grow into a scholar-activist that has placed their community before themselves. Since 2016, I have witnessed deandre contribute to the Black community at our alma mater, Emory University, through voter registration programming, academically focused initiatives, and community service ventures; while also fighting against police brutality toward Black people on the national stage. They were a part of the Ohio 4 who peacefully protested the acquittal of the police officer who killed Philando Castile ini 2017, which resulted in their being wrongfully charged. Since then, DeAndre has honed in on their skillset as an academic and are currently pursuing their Ph.D in Linguistics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. A part of their research is centered around the concept of language and its usage in mis-identifying and identifying groups of people, specifically terms that include the Black community. Here are their thoughts on the harm of misidentifying people. Overall, I name these particular instances to showcase what I know personally: deandre has placed their body, mind, and soul at the center of the issues that plague this country, which are directly affecting the Black community, to fight against them. Their journey toward a greater state of mental health has been an uphill battle. I note this to emphasize that while we can hold up people like deandre in the spotlight, there is a toll on their psyche and body that is occurring behind closed doors. It is a sacrifice that one takes on to push change forward. Thus, for their knowledge sharing and their physical, emotional, and mental sacrifice to affect change, I nominate deandre for a night of rest.

LaTrenda Leonard Sherrill
LaTrenda works tirelessly to better the lives of others throughout her community and across this country. She pushes traditional organizations to fight against white supremacist culture, she stands up to the school system (organizing a group called Black Women for a Better Education), and she takes care of her two babies and husband. She is an incredible leader, mother, organizer, and friend.

Mawhyah Milton
Mawhyah is an illustrator and painter based in NYC who utilizes her talents to address social injustices in the Black community through her specific lens. I met Mawhyah in 2015 when we participated in AmeriCorps together in Central Florida, where she used her illustration skills to support a local non-profit. Through our friendship and this specific group of people, coming together to support one another in this year of reflection and service, I was forever changed by her willingness to use her story and knowledge to support me and so many others in understanding the systemic issues of our country. I will never know how these efforts to educate us have impacted Mawhyah, as I can’t begin to imagine having to explain the humanity of my people to another, as well as challenging this group of privileged people to understand and act on the systems we continue to benefit from. What I do know is that I have been forever changed by her presence and still am in awe of how she uses her talents to “illustrate what it means to be Black. The good, the bad and the unexplained.” Through her art, Mawhyah has tackled issues such as transgenerational trauma, cultural appropriation, and child abuse. Mawhyah has been featured at Art Basel in Miami and on social media through Ulta’s National Lipstick Day Campaign. Mawhyah deserves this getaway, because she continues to create art and share her perspective with the world. She truly opens her heart through her illustrations and puts it on display. Personally, I will never be able to repay Mawhyah for how she has impacted my life. Even though we don’t live a street away anymore, her voice and her lens is far reaching and constantly pushes me to continue to educate myself and work towards breaking down systems that have for too long beaten down and murdered Black bodies, while simultaneously profiting from their existence. I know her art and her story have impacted so many and just knowing Mawhyah is an honor in itself.

Renee Hess
Renee is a remarkable woman on a mission to support equity and inclusion in an overwhelmingly white sport: ice hockey. As the founder of the Black Girl Hockey Club (BGHC), Renee has gone from enthusiastic hockey fan to a recognized, passionate organizer and change agent in the game of hockey, from the most local levels to the best hockey league in the world, the NHL, with BGHC members and supporters all over the world, including representatives from national federations like Hockey Kenya and Hockey Algeria!  Renee initially founded BGHC to provide solidarity and space for hockey-loving Black women, their families, and allies in order to sustain passion for the sport, prevent exclusion from hockey and combat institutional racism. In just two years, her work has become so much more: in addition to hosting meet-ups for Black fans across the country, and creating a webinar series throughout the 2020 stoppage of play due to COVID-19, Renee has raised thousands of dollars to create the BGHC scholarship fund. She has consulted with multiple NHL teams and the league itself, and is currently collaborating with the Hockey Diversity Alliance, a new organization founded and spearheaded by 9 current and former Black NHL players. At the end of July, Renee went viral by creating the #Kneel4Hockey challenge on social media to draw attention to NHL players standing for national anthems, while other major sports leagues showed solidarity for #BlackLivesMatter. It is worth noting that four days later, 3 white players knelt alongside a Black player before an NHL game. Renee’s work with the BGHC has garnered the attention of outlets such as NBC Sports and Canada’s CBC and SportsNet. Renee is TIRED. Beyond her commitment to her burgeoning non-profit and community activism, she is a service-learning director at a Southern California University, teaches college-level writing and sports media courses as an adjunct instructor, is active in her church, and is a wife and mother, as well. The racial battle fatigue Renee faces in her professional and organizing lives is real and draining. I desperately want her to take care of herself: she deserves an opportunity to recharge, in order to continue to do The Work.

Tamara Thom
Tamara Thom is a therapist/counselor in our community. She works tirelessly to provide quality support for individuals experiencing addictions and other mental health concerns. One thing that always has stood out about Tamara is her dedication to lift others up, even if she is in a difficult place. She works hard every day and is always looking for growth opportunities. She takes the most challenging cases with an open mind and treats everyone with respect. Since the beginning of the year, she single handedly ran a substance use program serving up to 50 people per week, which is a LOT for a therapist to do. Tamara worked so hard with the intention of supporting others that she lost focus of supporting herself and her relationships. Tamara is an amazing friend and a spectacularly strong woman that is a great example to everyone in our community, but especially to people of color. Oftentimes in our area, people of color work with individuals outside of their race. Though they adapt to this, it is crucial that we lift up Black counselors so that they can properly support and advocate for minority groups that often suffer from the highest rates of mental illness due to systematic racism and intergenerational trauma. Tamara deserves a quiet retreat where she can reflect and rejuvenate her passion for mental healthcare so that she can continue to inspire others with her wisdom and empathy. Tamara continuously sacrifices her own wellbeing in an effort to support others.

Tamika Gadsden
Mika created the Charleston Activist Network and more recently the The Historically Accurate Antiracist Book Club for Charleston, SC. For a city that has been dealing with racism since pretty much day one, it’s shocking how little people in Charleston are working towards a better community. Mika has continually worked to educate those dedicated to a more just world; call out city leaders, local newspapers, and business owners for blatant white-washing, lack of care, or just blatant racism; organize safe protests in the city; and work tirelessly to keep the voices of important Civil Rights icons alive in Charleston. Her work has inspired many people to educate themselves not only about the history of our city but also about the most effective and safe ways to enact change.

Tomi Akitunde
Tomi is a freelance journalist, and also the founder/creator of mater mea, whose mission is to help Black mothers get the answers to their motherhood, life, and career questions through content and community. Throughout the pandemic and the spotlight on the deep and toxic racism in this country, she has continued to put together virtual community events for Black parents who are left out of the parenting space across other media platforms. She has made sure to be intersectional for LGBTQIA families, and is constantly trying to bring helpful materials to her followers. She is tired in a way I have never seen before. She has had a really hard year personally with her own goals of becoming a parent, while staying focused on uplifting others’ parenting dreams and stories. SHE NEEDS REST!!! And, she won’t take the time unless it is given to her.”

Know someone who deserves an escape to nature? Nominate a friend today.

Earlier this month we announced an expansion of our initial offering, 100 Nights of Rest. In partnership with Rachel Cargle, The Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and Miir we’re giving away A Year of Rest, 365 nights in total, to those fighting for change. We’ll be sharing our recipients’ stories each week in the hopes of amplifying their voices and inspiring meaningful action in our community and beyond. 

Here are this week’s recipients of rest as described by those who nominated them:

Lauren Barnett 
My friend Lauren’s Twitter name is “Lauren Barnett demands rest for Black people.” She challenges me to remember that in a culture that prizes busy-ness and productivity – REST, and making space for Black people in particular to rest, is an act of resistance. Lauren is one of the most brilliant and deeply spiritual people I have ever known! She worked with Habitat for Humanity for several years to bring affordable housing to underserved communities. She also recently started her own creative consulting company, Bound For Good, which provides education and resources for building better, more empathetic campaigns, businesses, and organizations in the creative space. In addition to being a girl boss, she’s an incredible mother, raising two sons to find their own voices and connect to others with empathy. Lauren’s husband, Kinard, works as the Associate Executive Director for YMCA Triangle in Raleigh-Durham, and has been instrumental in bringing the Black Farmers Market as well as other Black-led community events to the area. After his cousin was killed by a CMPD police officer in 2019, Kinard and Lauren continue to work tirelessly to work with the Charlotte city council and other citizen-led organizations to provide a safer Charlotte. Lauren and Kinard are some of my own heroes and I can’t imagine anyone who deserves this Getaway more!

Omisade Burney-Scott 
Omisade Burney-Scott is a Black southern 7th generation native North Carolinian feminist, mother, and healer. Omisade has spent the better part of the past 25 years of her life focused on the liberation of marginalized people, beginning with her own community, through advocacy work, philanthropy, community organizing, and culture work. She is a founding tribe member of SpiritHouseand previously served as a board member of The Beautiful Project, Village of Wisdom, andWorking Films. Omisade is the creator/curator of The Black Girls’ Guide to Surviving Menopause, a multimedia project seeking to curate and share the stories and realities of Black women and femmes over 50. This project is a direct result of Omisade finding herself and her peers living at the intersection of social justice movement work, creative healer identities, and aging. She has chosen to use the medium of storytelling to disrupt the erasure of Black women’s voices as they age. The Black Girl’s Guide to Surviving Menopause (BGG2SM) partners with Black southern photographers, videographers, documentarians, storytellers, and artists to cultivate a larger narrative of what decolonizing aging tropes for Black women through the use of their stories looks like in practice. To be decolonized is to be untangled from systems of oppression like white supremacy, patriarchy, misogyny, homophobia, etc, and made aware of their impact on the lives of Black women. Omisade has developed this project as a true labor of love, starting it with community donations and patronage. When she started this work she found herself without a job and had recently lost her home to a natural disaster. She did not accept those as barriers, and continued with her vision. It is time our community also holds her so she can receive the rejuvenation she gives to us. As she walks into her new role as an elder, this retreat space will make room for her to grow. Omisade is also the proud mom of two sons, Che and Taj, whom she continues to co-parent with grace and humbleness.

Lachandra Baker
I cannot say enough about La Baker and the strength this woman has. She is always giving to others, and creating safe spaces for others to be who they are and share their struggles. I work with La and she has spent her time here leading initiatives in our company and being a sounding board for employees of color, even though it’s not her official job. She is well known in the Columbus community as an activist and change maker. She is a force of nature and is beloved by all who meet her. She is the epitome of being proud to be who she is and standing up for what she believes in. La is truly a creative, innovative, dynamic human being who has never apologized for being exactly who she was born to be. I have cried with La, laughed with her, shared with her and received love and support from her. I can’t think of anyone more deserving to receive some much needed rest.

Ndeye Thioubou
Ndeye is a force that cannot be matched. During all of the uncertainties of 2020, she remains positive and spirited. At the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, Ndeye created Black Girls Chillin, a Zoom hangout for Black women to decompress, connect, and most importantly support one another. She started this hangout mid-March and she is still hosting them weekly. As the sessions have progressed, she has started to partner with brands and Black entrepreneurs. Outside of Black Girls Chillin, she is the supervising video producer at Genius overseeing all of original video execution at the company. Her resilience and ability to help transfer all of our content to remote content is imperative as we are highlighting many Black voices and Black artists. Outside of work, Ndeye is a light and beautiful human that deserves a weekend to rest and relax. She is an amazing coworker but a better friend!

Ashley Limehouse 
Ashley is an amazing leader across the Charleston, SC community and beyond. She Is the co-founder of BWRN Girl Talk (@brwngirltalk) and a gifted yin yoga teacher who holds classes locally and now nationally and globally, as well. Ashley is a wife and mama to a darling little boy. She is a force of love and leadership in our community and would be so deserving of this time to rest and restore from all that she gives and does to make the world a better place. We nominate Ashley on behalf of our entire teaching team at Still Soul Studio and our community! 

Kenny Jeannot 
Kenny is a mentor to countless Black youth in Manhattan communities where kids are not often afforded opportunities for change. As a basketball coach he works everyday to inspire a generation of teens to reach for the goals. He wants to keep kids off the streets by keeping them focused on their abilities to succeed. He especially works to empower young Black women, teaching them they’re just as valuable as their male counterparts through their dedication to sports. He coaches the girls LMC basketball team as he feels Black girls are often overlooked as vital community members, and wants to help break that cycle by personally changing the narrative. He is a strong fighter for freedom and started a platform called Connective, Inc. (@connectiveinc) to help Black youth develop critical skills for success. As a content creator he started a tv show called “the lost season” where he is able to display the talent of youth he works with and help them promote their stories. He does his best to help address racism in the school and workplace through podcasts and IG live. He is an educator who runs culture clinics to help youth become empowered by and reconnected to their roots. Aside from his dedication as a mentor to the New York community, he is a rapper (@247yb8) who uses his music to spread messages of struggle, prosperity, hope, personal growth, and the Black experience. His music is a platform he uses to inspire peace, promote awareness of Black violence, advocate for Black healthcare, ending hunger, breaking cycles of poverty, Dismantling systemic white supremacy, opening up dialogues of mental health within Black communities, and expressing his dreams for a better tomorrow. While his own life has had struggles (losing his dad at a young age, being a survivor of Black oppression, and the struggle to be financially independent while extolling the virtue of generosity) Kenny always does the right thing and is guided by his morals. He works hard everyday to continue his fight with no break, and despite that all manages to be an inspiration to everyone around him.

Lenore Schaffer
Lenore is an inspiration to all those around her, especially the women she serves at work. She works at Restore NYC, a nonprofit that serves survivors of sex trafficking, a horrific crime that disproportionately affects BIWOC. She helps survivors secure safe employment through job readiness courses. Outside of work, she is a mom to a sweet baby girl and wife to an activist in their Washington Heights home. As much as she navigates the devastation of the pain inflicted on Black communities with strength and grace, I know she could really benefit from a getaway to refill her soul. 

Lienna Feleke-Eshete
Lienna is a first-generation Ethiopian and Black woman, who has done years of work in the public health policy arena for reproductive and sexual health justice for black and brown folks. Lienna is a strong advocate for folks of color, and works tirelessly. She is determined, motivated, and rarely gives herself time to rest. I want to show my incredible friend that self-care is more than a luxury- it’s how we maintain who we are, and part of that is slowing down.

Meme Styles 
Meme is fearless, tireless, and driven in the face of every challenge that 2020 and white supremacy has thrown at her. She is inspiring, caring, and most deserving of a break amidst this global viral pandemic embedded in 400+ years of anti-Blackness in America.  She single handedly conceived of, and founded, MEASURE—a nonprofit that uses data and education to mobilize communities to eliminate social disparities. She has grown this nonprofit from literally just an idea to a crucial community voice to create a more just society. As if that wasn’t enough, Meme is growing her family in multiple ways in 2021, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of permission and space (literal & metaphorical) to REST. 

Know someone who deserves a restorative escape? Nominate a friend today.

 Back in June, we launched 100 Nights of Rest to provide 100 free Getaways to those fighting for change who need a space to rest. We were blown away by the response, receiving thousands of heartfelt nominations from across the country. In light of the critical work still taking place, we knew we couldn’t stop at 100 nights.

We’re thrilled to announce A Year of Rest in partnership with Rachel Cargle, The Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and Miir. In total we’ll be providing 365 nights of rest for Black people working for change, and those fighting for the Black community. 

 “I often say that being our best selves is our highest service. As so many Black people continue earnestly on the front lines demanding justice, there is a critical need for rest and restoration to continue the fight. Getaway is a space to find just that—the type of ease and repose that is so deeply deserved.”  

-Rachel Cargle, Activist, Public Academic, Writer, and Founder of the Loveland Foundation

Know someone doing the hard work who’d benefit from a night of rest in nature? Nominate them here.

Amanda Reid

Amanda is a calligraphy artist and the founder of @calligraphersofcolor, which celebrates BIPOC artists in the wedding industry.

Anastasia Tompkin

Anastasia is a perceptive and talented writer, a caring and loyal friend, and a defender of her community.

Andre Mercharles

As a photo journalist, storyteller, and documenter, Andre has been out on the streets snapping the raw moments of protests around the country and capturing moments the media is not showing us.

Angela Patton

Angela has turned a labor of love into a force that fully supports and guides Black girls in the Richmond, VA area.

Ashley Ogal

Every day, Ashley supports and honors educators, hosting workshops and retreats that allow for real conversations about divisions in the classroom and community to happen amongst all educational workers.

Ayanna Lyons

Ayanna has made advocacy for incarcerated folks her life’s work, dedicating her time to the Petey Greene Program, a program that trains volunteers to support the academic goals of incarcerated students.

Bola Ibidapo

Bola is the founder of The Queen Talk, which is a program that teaches young women (particularly black women) to be leaders.

Brandon Patterson

Brandon is a high school English teacher who has created an “Inclusion and Equity Team” at our school in which he has led likeminded teachers to support their students by teaching, encouraging, and embracing anti-racism.

Brandon Holloman

Brandon volunteers with Black youth to support and encourage their writing and rapping so that they feel empowered to productively speak up and speak out.

Brittany T. Paschall

Brittany is an organizer, teacher, and a wonderful friend who displays her leadership, care, and astounding ability to handle just about any task with grace.

Camara Stokes Hudson

Camara is an advocate for juvenile justice reform, pursuing a J.D. at NYU Law focused on child/family rights, race equity, and educational equity.

Carrie Kholi-Murchison

Carrie is a Head of People and Culture leading strategic and DEI efforts to help dismantle inequitable systems across the wellness industry.

Chanea Bond

Chanea goes above and beyond for her students, putting their feelings and needs above her own, and providing food for the kids who can’t afford lunch at school.

Chichi Agorom

One part healer, one part fighter, Chichi’s life’s work as a mental health counselor is to help all people feel less alone and more known.

Christina Rice

As the founder of OmNoire, a social wellness community for women of color, Christina has been working tirelessly to provide a safe space for Black women.

Deolu Aromolaran

Delou is a pediatrics resident who works in a hospital treating primarily minority patients.

Dominique Owens

Dominique is a very committed nurse who exemplifies what a nurse should be, especially after treating COVID-19 patients in the ICU.

Efe Osaren

Efe is a doula who started in reproductive justice on Rikers Island and is now pursuing nursing and masters in midwifery to better serve her clients.

Erin Gaines

Erin is a liscensed music therapist in a prison, spreading joy and providing essential therapy during this period of isolation.

Esther Hardy

Esther is an incredible advocate for Black youth and women working to create spaces for Black women to come together in solidarity, strength, and joy.

Evainna Ross

Evainna started The Black Suit Initiative to help at-risk young Black men explore career opportunities and build leadership skills, working tirelessly as part mother/sister/friend to every one of them.

Everett Arthur

Everett Arthur not only focuses on gun violence prevention and bettering the material conditions of Black communities, but he consistently advocates for Black women and Black queer people in navigating the workplace.

Haquika “Kika” Howze

Kika is a force with incredible energy who has always been at the forefront of uplifting, educating, and creating action for the health and economic advancement of the Black community.

Hugh H.D. Hunter

Hugh is one of the most consistently vocal activists as a writer and facilitator for Black representation and educational reform in schools.

Ieasha Ramsey

Ieasha is a therapist with a deep devotion to healing her community and to supporting Black women’s mental health.

Jasmine Edwards

Jasmine has been working as a Music Therapist in the Pediatrics Unit of Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital in NYC since the first week that the coronavirus pandemic hit our city.

Jasmine Marie

Jasmine is the founder of @blackgirlsbreathing—an organization creating safe spaces for Black Women to breathe, heal trauma, and be themselves.

Jo Ayuso

Jo created Movement Education Outdoors (MEO) to engage youth of color “to experience wellness in an outdoor environment.”

Kayla Vinson

Kayla, a Law Fellow at the Equal Justice Initiative, has led efforts to rename the Montgomery public schools, many of which are named after Confederate generals.

Kelabe Tewolde

Kelabe is an advisor to over 90 low income students of color in Seattle and has raised money to buy food from black-owned businesses to hand out during protests.

Leila Marchbanks

On top of fighting for Black lives daily and raising two sons, Leila Marchbanks is a teacher who is pushing for changes in school curriculum and she recently launched The Book At The Table.

Lina Washington

Lina Washington is one of few Black female sports broadcasters, and she used her voice to create @boardsforchange, raising over $10,000 for Black Lives Matter.

Lynsey Weatherspoon

Lynsey is an editorial photographer on the frontlines of the BLM movement, documenting the changes as they happen in the Southeast, with work in The New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today.

Madin Lopez

Madin runs a non-profit organization called ProjectQ, which provides free gender affirming haircuts and other services to homeless LBGTQIA+ youth.

Mariah Parker

Mariah is not only an influential black artist, PhD candidate, and activist, but she’s also the Athens-Clark County Commissioner at the age of 26.

Marlene Boyette

Marlene Boyette radiates positive, healing energy and uses her yoga practice to support people around her of all ages to practice radical self care.

Mekeala Joseph

As the director of Step It Up After School, Mekeala has built a community of young people who encourage one another in their passions, who have gained the strength to be transparent about their feelings and fears, and who love one another.

Melony Samuels

Rev. Dr. Samuels is the founder and executive director of the Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger (BSCAH), NYC’s largest emergency food pantry, offering support services including tax preparation, healthy cooking classes, and a variety of community needs.

Michelle Dowe

Michelle has spent almost all of her adult life fighting for Black children, Black families, and Black futures as a single parent and within her work at Child Protective Services.

Naomi Grevemberg

Naomi teaches about anti-racism through her organization “Diversity Vanlife” which provides a safe space for BIPOC in the van life community.

Olithea Anglin

Olithea is an incredible artist and activist, writing music, anthems, and tributes as expressions of Black resilience, excellence, beauty, and strength.

Paula Champagne

Paula is a storyteller, an artist, and an essence-capturer, working hard to showcase Black people’s place in nature.

Peyton Dix

As the special projects editor of InStyle Magazine and the previous social media manager for PAPER Magazine, Peyton Dix has been pushing the culture for LGBTQ and black communities front and center.

Rach Junard

Rach—a black, queer yogi—has transcended the traditional yoga studio by building her own following through @yougoodsis and hosting inclusive wellness events.

Raheim Robinson

Raheim is a wonderful father and passionate climber who’s dedicated to creating a sustainable, diverse outdoor climbing industry.

Riyona Abraham

Since she can’t risk exposure to COVID-19 by going to protests, Riyona, a registered nurse working in one of Chicago’s largest Neonatal ICUs, has been organizing fellow nurses in a silent kneeling protest of their own on the hospital rooftop for 8 minutes 46 seconds every day.

Rocky Lane

Rocky works tirelessly for the Black trans and LGBTQ+ community as the board chair for Transgender Education Network of Texas.

Shaina Harrison

Over the past 15 years, Shaina has been fighting to amplify the voices of young Black teens living in communities disproportionately affected by violence and poverty.

Tami Sawyer

Tami is an activist, elected official, and community leader who led the movement to take down our confederate statues.

Tanya Denise Fields

Tanya is a mother of six, the founder of The Black Feminist Project and “Black Joy Farm,” and she’s one of the most passionate, transparent, resilient, and powerfully humble women I’ve ever met.

Tanya Nixon-Silberg

Tanya is one of the cofounders of Boston’s Wee The People, a social justice project that aims to teach children about using their voices for justice, resistance, and activism.

Taylor Jett

Taylor has always fought to affect change for marginalized communities, and recently raised over 100k in donations for more than 10 organizations.

Tina Alexander

Tina is a dedicated, compassionate, empathetic, and fierce social worker at UT Austin’s counseling center, providing therapeutic services to many of the 50,000+ students.

Yeshimabeit Milner

Yeshi is the founder and executive director of Data for Black Lives, a movement of scientists and activists working to make data a tool for social change.

Zakiya Bell-Rogers

Zakiya works as a domestic violence educator and has an incredibly special and unique way of making people, especially survivors, feel seen, validated, and lifted-up.

We’re sharing more amazing stories from recipients of rest through our 100 Nights of Rest offering, in partnership with Rachel Cargle. Get to know Brittany, Camara, Erin, Esther, Ieasha, Kayla, Kelabe, Olithea, Rachel, Tami, Tanya, and Tina through the eyes of those who nominated them.

Ashley Ogal

“My wife works hard every day to support and honor educators. She hosts workshops and retreats that allow for real conversations to happen amongst teachers, principals, and all educational workers. She provides safe spaces for educators to get real about divisions in classrooms and communities. For the past four years she’s put her heart and soul into bringing unity, peace and joy back to American classrooms. She is an example of what the world needs to see. As a Black woman, building this nonprofit has been incredibly hard for her, but she knows that reaching a wide audience of educators will ultimately impact the lives of many children and their families.”

Brittany Paschall

“I think anyone who knows Brittany knows she deserves all good things. Brittany is an organizer, teacher, and a wonderful friend. Ever since I met Brittany over three years ago, she has been the most consistent, dedicated, and passionate person I know. As an organizer and educator, Brittany displays her leadership, care, and astounding ability to handle just about every task whether it be management, design, education, media, etc. You name it and Brittany can do it or will learn to do it. Check out her website or just google her name and you will see her magnificence. What makes Brittany unique in her her activism, educating, and organizing is that she is a fierce friend. There is no better person to call for laughter, tears, or pain. Brittany is always there to hold her friends, to pray for them, and to listen. Brittany is phenomenal and deserves the best, however, we know that the world does not treat black women with the love, care, and respect they deserve. It hurts to witness my friend deal with the pain the loss of friends and family. It hurts to witness my friend be attacked by white supremacy. It hurts to see my friend have to endure a world that demands her greatness but disregards it. If there is one thing I wish for Brittany each day, it is that she is able to find a moment of peace. A moment where she does not need to fight the racist, be burdened by the world, or more loss. This is why I am nominating Brittany – she deserves much more than a moment, but in this world, a moment can equate to the strength to continue fighting another day. Thank you for the opportunity to nominate my friend.”

Camara Stokes Hudson

“Camara has been on the front-lines of the BLM protests in DC for years – where she was born and raised in the activist community – and has been a very active BLM protestor and legal advocate for the last few months. She is currently pursuing a J.D. at NYU Law focused on child/family rights, economic security, educational equity, and race equity. She has been a passionate advocate for juvenile justice reform as a Policy Fellow at Connecticut Voices for Justice (publishing on the school-to-prison pipeline for BIPOC children in CT) and an instructor at Vermont SPEAK’s Prison Debate Initiative (a program that aimed to promote powerful voices through public speaking, education, critical thinking, and diplomatic dissent), and she has held a variety of positions at the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, inter alia. Camara is a force of nature. She was one of the 80 people kettled in on Swann Street in a DC protest that went viral, and as a close friend of hers, I want her to have the time and space to regroup. She has limitless energy and devotion, and I want to support her to keep that fire going. She is empathetic, smart, organized, and passionate. Where she leads, people follow. She deserves a slice of quiet to rest. It is hard to be a committed advocate, law student, and friend, and she makes it look easy, but I know she would love the opportunity to focus on a moment alone. I want to help her however I can, because I love her, and because I know she will struggle to make the time for herself.”

Erin Gaines

“Erin and I were roommates for two years, and she’s one of my dearest friends. She’s a recent KU graduate with a degree in Music Therapy and is currently working as a licensed music therapist in a prison. Erin had just moved to LA to start her music therapy position when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Due to concerns about the pandemic her job suddenly became even more stressful, her personal workload and number of clients in sessions more than doubled. She’s working so hard, lost a friend just weeks ago, and hasn’t had a break. She’s going through one of the toughest seasons of her life, and yet I see her mindfully choosing joy and positivity. She still pours out for her clients and colleagues; celebrating their victories and helping them continue to rise in their defeat. She’s providing essential therapy during this period of isolation, but deserves some therapeutic isolation herself. Erin has always found peace and mindfulness in nature and often goes for walks and enjoys the outdoors. She makes friends with every bumblebee she finds and loves to stop and smell the flowers. I think a peaceful night in a cabin in nature would be the ideal way for her to have a chance to breathe. It may be hard to see the ways Erin is fighting for change from an outside perspective, but that is because so many of her battles take place privately in a clinical setting. Erin helps her clients make internal changes; encouraging them to be vulnerable and acknowledge their feelings, and write their own stories. But because these things are private they aren’t shared on social media, and she never discloses private information. Very few people get to see the amazing and transformative work she does every day, and she often has trouble seeing the difference she makes. She’s constantly educating me by leading by example, even though I don’t think she realizes it. I’ve learned so much from her about putting others first, and continuing to work toward a goal even when it seems like no progress is being made; and I think it’s time Erin had a chance to put herself first and take a break so she can continue toward her own goals. Recently the work she loves has felt more and more like a burden, but she still goes in to work each day with a smile and a heart that’s open and eager to help others. Erin is truly a role model, and if you said so to her she would laugh it off and not believe it. But it’s absolutely true. She’s strong and vulnerable, honest and hard-working, humble and confidant, an artist and a friend. Basically a real-life Disney Princess.”

Esther Hardy

Esther is a dear friend and an incredible advocate for Black youth and woman in her professional and personal life. She is one of the only Black staff members at the Beaverton High School, where she has gone the extra mile to support their BSU and create spaces for Black womxn to come together in solidarity, strength, and joy. She lives a life of radical love for herself and others, and during this time has experienced the loss of a friend and a family emergency, amidst everything else. Esther comes from a strong family legacy of Black leaders of faith in Portland, which is the whitest city in America. She is a beacon of light and her faith, and holds a deep love for the outdoors. Where it can be hard to get away in the city right now, Esther deserves this space to exhale as a part of the continuous work she does for the revolution.

Ieasha Ramsay

“Ieasha is a therapist who serves predominantly young women of color. She is an unbelievable safe space for the black women who continue to feel left out, unseen, fetishized and brutalized by the white supremacy and misogyny that rules this country. Ieasha is deeply devoted to healing her community and to supporting black women’s mental health as they fight for their rights together. She is one of my very best friends and has been struggling with her own processing of black lives lost, while supporting the processing of other black women. She is amazing and brilliant and kind and deserves some rest in nature!!!!!!”

Kayla Vinson

“Kayla is a force for Black people in the South and across the nation. For her full time work, she is a Law Fellow at the Equal Justice Initiative where she consistently goes above and beyond expectations. Contributing to the organizations re-entry program for formerly incarcerated people, conducting research and writing for EJI’s award winning reports (such as the recently released report on racial violence during Reconstruction), and supporting communities across the nation working to advance racial justice through EJI’s community remembrance project. In addition to her paid-work, Kayla is a key organizer with Southerners on New Ground (SONG) in Montgomery. She has led efforts to rename the Montgomery public schools, which are predominantly attended by Black students and are named after Confederate generals. A former educator, Kayla also does the slow work of holding space with friends and peers and family to bring them along in the fight for racial justice. If all this weren’t enough to demonstrate that our good sis needs some REST, she is also a beloved daughter, auntie, sister, and friend. Her community in Montgomery know to turn to her for a listening ear or a time of relaxation. She embodies the mission of this program in every way. Her work is holy and her rest is truly needed.”

Kelabe Tewolde

“Kelabe has been supporting his community in a big way. By day, he is an academic counselor at Rainier Scholars and is an advisor to over 90 low income students of color in Seattle. Since the protests started in Seattle, he has been raising money to buy food from Black-owned businesses to hand out and feed the movement. He has raised almost $10,000 and supported Black restaurants stay in business while also feeding BIPOC youth at protests. On top of all that, he also has been driving his single mother, a refugee and nurse assistant at Swedish hospital, to work during COVID-19. He loves helping people and always puts others first. He also has a ton of vacation days that he has been stockpiling because he hasn’t taken a break in a long time. He is an incredible leader in his community and supports so many people. He loves adventure and deserves a rest!”

Lynsey Weatherspoon

“Lynsey is an editorial photographer that has been on the frontlines of the BLM movement, documenting the changes as they happen in the Southeast. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of a night off in peace and quiet.”

Mekeala Joseph

“Mekeala is the director of Step It Up After School in 3rd Ward, Houston. She has overseen students from 1st-8th Grade in an after school/summer program for nearly 8 years. She has also fostered her niece and nephew for nearly 3 years. Mekeala has faithfully guided her students through multiple instances of sibling or parent incarceration, neighborhood violence, and bereavement. Most recently, one of her students, age 14, was shot multiple times in a random act of violence while walking to his friend’s apartment. Mekeala continued summer programming, through her tears and distress, so that his classmates — her students — could have a safe place to gather and process. She has built a community of young people who encourage one another in their passions, who have gained the strength to be transparent about their feelings and fears, and who love one another. Mekeala loves these children so fervently but has not taken a true vacation for personal rest in years! I believe she deserves the space to reflect and recharge before the next school year begins.”

Olithea Anglin

“Olithea is an incredible artist, educator, activist, and friend. She has been writing music as anthems, tributes, and expressions of Black resilience, excellence, beauty, and strength for years. She teaches young people in NYC who have been impacted by gentrification, and serves as a community leader and role model in so many ways. She is a constant source of light and inspiration to everyone around her and she is ALWAYS hustling. Nonstop. She is an extraordinary human who deserves all the best things, including a moment to rest and recharge.”

Rachel Junard

“In Boston, there are yoga studios everywhere, but it’s difficult to find a teacher who doesn’t fit the white, able-bodied woman stereotype. Amidst this unwelcome environment, Rach—a Black, queer yogi—is working to create wellness spaces for Black & brown yogis who otherwise may not feel like they have a safe, welcoming place to practice. Her business @yougoodsis hosts regular pop-up events around the city. Rach has transcended the traditional yoga studio to build her own following and host inclusive wellness events on her own terms. More recently with the country’s uprising against police brutality and racial injustice, Rach has been receiving a lot of new attention as one of the few Black yoga teachers in the city, and white studio owners are been looking to her to solve their lack of diversity problems when previously ignored opportunities to support and uplift her. Rach has been working tirelessly for years to create a community and give space for non-white yogis for years, and she deserves rest!”

Tami Sawyer

“Tami is an activist, elected official, & community leader. She led the movement to take down our confederate statues, recently ran for mayor, and in her commission seat has been tirelessly working on behalf of the Black people in Memphis, most recently by working to hold businesses accountable for the customer’s use of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic & proposing to defund the police department by 10% and reallocate those dollars to community services. On every front – personal, professional, community – she is fighting and overcoming challenges no one should have to face alone, let alone combined. Those that she fights with, for, and alongside often don’t realize how often they’re asking her to step into the “strong Black woman” archetype; she does it because the work is vital for Black life & liberation. And my friend is tired. She needs a break!”

Tanya Nixon-Silberg

“Tanya is one of the cofounders of Boston’s Wee The People, a social justice project for kids that aims to teach children about using their voices for justice, resistance, and activism.”

Tina Alexander

“Tina is a dedicated, compassionate, empathetic, and fierce social worker who fights for racial justice. She is a full time social worker at UT Austin’s counseling center, where she provides therapeutic services to any of the university’s 50,000+ college students. She is one of few Black counselors at that center. By working there, she fights for the Black community to have access to a Black counselor. She deserves a Getaway because she is on the front lines, advocating for the mental health needs of clients, for racial representation in therapists, and holding space for her clients to express their own traumas and challenges. It requires much emotional labor for her to not only help her clients, but advocate for herself as a Black woman in a predominantly white counseling system. She created a project and pitched why racial representation at the counseling center is so important. She expels so much emotional and physical energy working in this space, but she does it because she loves working with her clients.”

Meet 20 more recipients of a night of rest through our offering in partnership with Rachel Cargle—100 Nights of Rest. In the words of those who nominated them, we’re sharing their stories in the hope that their dedication, conviction, and spirit will help make this a movement, not a moment.

Amanda Reid

“Amanda, is not only a PhD working as a physical therapist at a hospital amidst the pandemic, she is the founder of a group that celebrates BIPOC within the white elite space of the wedding industry. She explained how “white hands were the default” when it came to our art, and that very few resources were available for and from people of color. She created the @calligraphersofcolor community, bringing a lot of us together ad used her platform to highlight us. As the #BLM movement recently brought a lot of attention to our cause, she has been working tirelessly to create more space for us black artists and professionals by moderating both the Instagram and Facebook accounts, coordinating communication with different organizations that want to work with us, trying to increase our platform, create art and business tools and still promote black and POC artists. I believe she definitely deserves this Getaway because she is such an amazing woman who, even when it cost her so much time and effort, went the extra mile to create more space for us in a predominantly white industry. She is one of the most humble and genuine people I have met in the industry, and I know that with her love for nature, she would benefit immensely from a retreat from the city and the space and time to keep dreaming big.”

Bola Ibidapo

“This beautiful friend of mine is an organizer, entrepreneur, leader, activist, superwoman. She is the founder of The Queen Talk, which is a program that teaches young women (particularly black women) to be leaders. She is also a founder of Too Fly Foundation, which is a nonprofit that raises money to help primarily BIPOC youth travel the world. She is active in her church, her community, her alma mater, and her city. She grinds, hustles, makes time for her friends and family, is helping raise her cousin, and is always a text or message away if you need her. She engages with people consistently, is one of the kindest, most passionate, most talented, hardest-working people I know, and is now pursuing a law degree to help continue the fight for Black liberation in every avenue. She would benefit from a night of rest, even if she won’t take it for herself (because there’s always someone to help and something to do!) Please consider Bola as a recipient of a night of rest. She could use some TLC because of all of the tireless work she does for Black folx and folx in every circle she’s a part of. Thank you!”

Brandon Holloman

“Brandon is a young black man who continuously contributes his talent of writing and reciting powerful spoken word poetry to our community. He volunteers with black youth to support and encourage them with their writing and rapping that develops confidence and opens a pathway to empower them to productively speak up and speak out.”

Dr. Carrie Kholi-Murchison

“Over the past few months, I’ve watched my wife work tirelessly as the Head of People and Culture at her company leading strategic and DEI efforts to help dismantle inequitable systems across the wellness industry. And she continues to educate and uplift her community with tools for their own healing via Instagram and our business together that focuses on recentering marginalized narratives and developing communal growth strategies. She is relentlessly consistent and also…tired. She deserves a moment to rest and recharge.”

Chanea Bond

“I believe my sister deserves a getaway because she’s always been everything to everyone. As a Black school teacher, she’s always gone above and beyond for her students. She’s constantly checking in with all of her students — making sure that they’re okay and putting their needs ahead of her own. Every other week when school was in session, we would do a target run to get Ramen noodles and granola bars, so that students who couldn’t afford to each lunch at school or knew they wouldn’t have food when they got home, could take a cup-of-noodles home with them so they could have something on their stomach. Since the pandemic hit, things have only escalated. Some of her students call her 2 or 3 times a day because they just need a listening ear, and she’s that for them. Every year she’s nominated as “Teacher of the Year” because not only is she a good teacher, the kids love her as a person. On top of being an extraordinary teacher, she’s also a mother to the feistiest two-year-old who wants every to spend every waking moment with her mama. She’s been trying to be the perfect employee, teacher, therapist, friend, mom, sister, that she doesn’t ever get time for herself and that’s why I think she deserves one of the 100 nights. I love her and I hope she wins so that she can unplug and finally take care of herself for once. She suffers from anxiety and depression, but you’d never be able to tell because she grits her teeth and does what has to be done because there are kids who need her.”

Chichi Agorom

“Chichi is an incredible woman. One part healer, one part fighter, her grace, intensity, and brilliance overwhelm the human spirit with a desire to be better. Her life’s work is to help all people feel less alone and more known and to create spaces that increase connection and compassion. She does this through her work as a trained mental health counselor, coach, and guide in The Narrative Tradition. These practices emphasize the felt experiences and voices of participants. This means that Chichi is constantly doing the work of helping others heal. Her work fills her, but also depletes her, especially in times like these. Recently, she wrote ‘In a system that thrives on reminding me why my existence in its fullness is wrong, I celebrate blackness. I celebrate this skin, which I would choose a million times again in a million other lives. I celebrate black love, black joy, black brilliance, black rest, black ease, black healing, black thriving.’ I hope Chichi will have the opportunity for rest, ease, and healing.”

Christina Rice

“As a professional in the wellness arena who founded OmNoire—a social wellness community for women of color—Christina is, and has been, working tirelessly to provide a safe space for black women to have discourse around mental and physical health for years. With the onset of Covid-19 and BLM protests, Christina has provided virtual workshops to ensure that people are receiving the tools needed to share and learn from others on a range of topics including, but not limited to, meditation, anxiety, health, gardening, and fertility. She has put on amazing events with other black women that are at the top of their respective fields and made their knowledge accessible to many (including a number of free events). I have personally benefited greatly from being a part of her OmNoire tribe. A getaway would be appropriate and deserved for Christina as she continues to serve her community in various ways and avenues during these trying times.”

Dominique Owens

“Dominique worked very hard here in Houston with the COVID-19 patients in the ICU. She is very committed and hardworking registered nurse who exemplifies what a nurse should be and she is dedicated to the mission of care. She really believes that caring is the essence of nursing, because her willingness to care for those extremely sick patients during such a chaotic time showed just that.”

Efe Osaren

“Efe is a Black doula and student midwife who has been busting her ass to advocate for her clients for years. When I met her in 2015, she was working as a doula and doing reproductive justice work on Rikers Island, advocating for basic needs such as sufficient drinking water for pregnant people. Efe’s next step was to start her midwifery journey at Maternidad de la Luz, where she encountered an insufferable amount of microaggressions. She has since left that space and, realizing she could be more effective in serving Black families as a certified nurse midwife, she is pursuing a nursing degree and a subsequent masters in midwifery. Since covid-19, Efe has done what is safest for her & her doula clients by staying home and offering virtual support but many of her clients left her for the white doulas still attending births physically. My first instinct is to call Efe tireless — she is certainly the determined, strong-willed, and ambitious kind of Capricorn — but I don’t want to dehumanize her as we all need rest. Efe dreams of living in an intentional space surrounded by nature with the ability to be off-grid and self-sustaining. She is a treasure to all who know her. Her wit and sarcasm and knowledge and fire and heart and her self-awareness are what I love best about her.”

Hugh H.D. Hunter

“Hugh has been a diligent activist for Black people and Black rights for many years. He is one of the most consistently vocal and hands-on BLM activists that I have the pleasure of knowing. Most recently, he has co-organized a peaceful protest, Black Alumni for Black Lives, to be held on the campus of Emory University, an institution where he, during his time as a student, felt the direct sting of unjust, racist attacks. He has been a steadfast advocate for racial equity, long before George Floyd’s murder sparked national and international protests. Even in his daily work, as a writer and facilitator for Black representation and educational reform in schools, he never stops fighting for racial justice. He deserves a moment of rest, to revitalize his spirit and to refuel, as he continues fighting the good fight.”

Jasmine Marie

“Jasmine is the founder of Black Girls Breathing—an organization creating safe spaces for Black Women to breathe, heal trauma, and be themselves. They’ve blown up during the current Black Lives Matter movement, rightfully so! In the incredible space Jasmine is holding – I would love for her to have a getaway, be taken care of and nurture herself. I feel this getaway will allow her experience ease as she brings her powerful & much needed mission to the world.”

Jo Ayuso

“Jo is a Black woman who created a new organization called Movement Education Outdoors (MEO). Through MEO, Jo works to engage youth of color and youth from limited financial means “to experience wellness in an outdoor environment.” Through outdoor experiences and community partnerships, MEO engages young people in a variety of activities that help them improve self-care through movement, food choices, and mindfulness; increase awareness of indigenous history; engage in stewardship and advocacy activities; develop relationships and leadership skills; and have fun. In addition, Jo reached out to the organization I work for, the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association (RIEEA), after the murder of George Floyd (and so many others) and gently but amazingly helped our completely white-led organization reflect deeply on the Black Lives Matter movement and how RIEEA can be an agent for change. The RIEEA board has decided to take immediate actions such as allocating 50% of our own professional development scholarship fund for black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC); creating a fund to support BIPOC-led environmental organizations in Rhode Island in order to amplify their voices and their work; scheduling a series of virtual town hall forums to specifically invite voices from the frontlines of the environmental justice movement and intersectional BIPOC-led organizations to be heard by the environmental education community (BIPOC will be compensated for their time and energy); and more. I am amazed by everything Jo does through MEO. I was incredibly touched that at a particularly difficult time for her as a woman of color, she took the initiative, time, and energy to help a group of white people learn, grow, and start to use our platform and privilege to make real change – not just for environmental justice, but for racial justice. If she doesn’t deserve a night of rest, I am not sure who does.”

Madin Lopez

“My wife Madin and I run a non-profit organization called ProjectQ. We provide free gender affirming haircuts, and a plethora of other services to homeless LGBTQIA+ youth. WE ARE TIRED! Whole covid has closed most things down, (including our Salon), we have not stopped working. We have been busier than ever trying to make sure our community is taken care of. We had our 5th wedding anniversary trip to Paris in March, and it was cancelled because of covid. I’d love to be able to take a day or two away with my love so we can really rest and disconnect. That way we can recharge, and continue doing the work we do!”

Mariah Parker

“Mariah is not only an influential black artist, PhD candidate, and activist in Athens, GA, but she’s also became the Athens-Clark County Commissioner at the age of 26. She was sworn in to that role with her hand in a copy of The Autobiography of Malcom X. During this movement for Black Lives, Mariah has proposed cutting the Athens police force by half and replacing them with mental heath and community welfare workers (which has resulted in threats on her life). Oh, and she also was hospitalized with COVID 19. She has since recovered, but the woman needs rest.”

Michelle Dowe

“My mother is an immigrant; born in Jamaica and raised in the South Bronx. My mother was a single mother, who put me before everything; making sure that I knew my feelings mattered and that I knew that no dream was too big. My mother was a first generation college graduate who has worked her way up, up, up into the Director role that she’s in today. And it’s only up from here. She’s been working for Child Protective Services for roughly 22 years, first as a Case Worker, then as a Foster Care and Adoption Supervisor, and now as a Child Welfare Director. This is to say, my mother has spent almost all of her adult life fighting for black children, black families, and black futures. In the city where she works, black people make up 30% of the population but are disproportionately present in the child welfare system. This is something my mother has always been acutely aware of and thus has consistently brought compassion and relatability — as someone who grew up in a disadvantaged community and raised a child as the primary caregiver — to task. Whether it be putting in the extra time to recruit black foster homes so that black children being removed from their bio-homes feel less alienated, or implementing Family-Team meetings so that families can brainstorm, alongside social workers, the plans of action that affect them, my mother has shown up time and time again. She’s been doing this work for so long because she genuinely cares. She never seeks acknowledgment or praise, which is why I think a Night of Rest would mean more than words cam express. It would be amazing for her to have a reason to pause and recognize all that she’s done, and then return to this work revitalized.”

Naomi Grevemburg

“Naomi has been such a pillar in not only teaching about anti racism but in working to change the narrative of outdoor life and bringing diversity to it as well as creating safe spaces for BIPOC in the van life community. She has started Diversify Vanlife which is a safe space for BIPOC and underrepresented people in the vanlife community. I am a Mexican American nomad who has lived vanlife and traveled all over the world but never saw that reflected in social media platforms. She works tirelessly to educate and promote diversity and I love her for it. She is so deserving of a Getaway.”

Raheim Robinson

“Raheim is a black creative, wonderful father and passionate climber. He spends all his energy and time into creating a sustainable, diverse environment for the future of his daughter and the outdoor climbing industry which is (often) predominantly white. As a side project he also started to support and mentor troubled teens in the community to help them change their lives and have a better future. He has a big heart, hardly asks for any help or complains about any of the troubles or difficulties he has on the way and always has a smile on his face. He truly deserves a rest in nature, his favorite place, to charge up and channel his creativity.”

Rocky Lane

“Rocky works tirelessly for the black community, the black trans community, and the entire LGBTQ+ community in Austin, TX and all over Texas every single day. He works as the board chair for Transgender Education Network of Texas and he also works closely with other organizations like Austin Black Pride, Queerbomb, OutYouth, Human Rights Campaign, and many more local organizations, businesses, and charities. He never spends money on himself and if he ever has anything extra he gives it away to someone in need. He is such a generous person and as a black trans man in Texas during an extremely challenging time, he deserves some extra TLC. Please consider him for this getaway prize so that he can take some time to be away from his computer and phone for some rest and relaxation that he so deserves.”

Taylor Jett

“Since the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many others, Taylor has raised over 100k in donations for over 10 organizations. From the age of 13, she has tried to create a space for marginalized communities, especially Black people, to feel safe and express their thoughts on how to effect change in their community. She is currently an assistant at a major streamer, and is not only fighting for diversity and inclusion in the community but for representation on/off the screen. While doing this Taylor has also been incredibly active in the frontline. She’s participated in protests since the murder of Trayvon Martin. Her most current volunteer project is supporting Black-owned businesses by not only solely purchasing from them but volunteering her resources, time, and knowledge to help elevate their business. Meanwhile, she is also working behind the scenes to convince major entertainment companies to divest from having police at their events and onset until ALL people feel safe with their presence and invest in hiring more Black people..”

Yeshimabeit Milner

“Yeshi is founder and executive director of Data for Black Lives a movement of scientists and activists working to make data a tool for social change instead of a weapon of oppression in the lives of Black people. Yeshi has been an organizer and abolitionists since she was 17. And in all of that time, she has rarely had the time or resources to take a vacation. We need her to show up rested and restored in this moment and for the long haul. Please grant her this opportunity.”

Meet 20 recipients of a night of rest through our offering in partnership with Rachel Cargle—100 Nights of Rest. In the words of those who nominated them, we’re sharing their stories in the hope that their dedication, conviction, and spirit will help make this a movement, not a moment.

Anastasia Tompkin

“Anastasia is a force of nature. From the day I met her she has used her voice and her actions to combat racism and white supremacy. She is a prolific writer, having created and managed a blog dedicated to topics related to racial justice, and she now publishes regularly on her Medium page. She is a poet and a fiction writer, with a poetry collection soon to be published. She works at a nonprofit dedicated to mitigating the damage caused by mass incarceration, and she weaves advocacy and the fight for justice into her every move, be it in the workplace, in her relationships, or in her self-expression. She is a perceptive and talented writer, a caring and loyal friend, and a defender of her community. In short, Anastasia deserves a Getaway because she deserves to breathe and thrive and prosper.”

Andre Mercharles

“Andre describes himself as a photo journalist, storyteller and documenter. He has been out on the streets of New York City, Minneapolis, and Texas capturing the raw moments of every protest—whether they start out peacefully and end peacefully or even when they unfortunately end in a violent manner. He is capturing moments the media is not showing us—he is acting how a true journalist should be acting; showing true integrity even if the face of rubber bullets, tear gas, and exposure to COVID-19. I truly expect his photos to show up in history books in a few decades. The story he is sharing with the world, through his camera lens, matter and he is committed to sharing this story with anyone who will listen. They say a picture is worth a thousand words but if you have a moment to check his Instagram feed, there is a whole novel ready to read.”

Angela Patton

“Angela has turned a labor of love into a force that fully supports and guides Black Girls in the Richmond, VA area. She started this after an unfortunate event took the life of a young girl she loved. She knew then that Black girls needed a safe space to go. She has grown the Camp Dive into Girls For A Change that has social justice at the forefront while also nurturing and empowering girls. She has brought so many resources like coding, workforce training, policy reform, and much more. She creates a safe space for young girls to grow into leaders and get the space that they need to develop and get resources. Not only does she help young girls but she also empowers and connects young women like myself as well. She can always connect you and go out of her way to get you the support and resources that you need to chase your dreams. She is a pivotal component in so many lives and she does so much of the work by herself!”

Ayanna Lyons

“My sweet friend is one of the kindest, most hardworking people I know. Ayanna has made advocacy for incarcerated folks her life’s work. Ayanna works for the Petey Greene Program, a program that trains volunteers to support the academic goals of incarcerated students. As a former coworker of Ayanna, I can attest to her incredibly driven, loving, and hardworking attitude. Outside of work, Ayanna advocates for her community and for the abolition of prisons. As someone who is always working to better her community, Ayanna deserves a break to rest. I am so proud to know her and witness her brilliance.”

Brandon Patterson

“Brandon is a high school English teacher who created an “Inclusion and Equity Team” at our school in which he has led likeminded teachers to encourage, teach, and advocate for anti-racism. He continues to provide resources and ideas to our school leadership to better the program and the school as a whole, and provides unwavering support to his students. He’s truly an amazing individual and a fierce advocate for our students. I would love for him to rest.”

Dr. Deolu Aromolaran

“Deolu is a pediatrics resident who works in a hospital treating primarily minority patients. He goes into work every day, fighting against the racist healthcare system and provides Black children with excellent care and acts as a mentor to look up to. A few weeks ago, when the curfew was in place, he risked his life, driving as a Black man after curfew, going back and forth to work. On a weekly basis he has young Black male patients tell him they have never seen a Black doctor. He works tirelessly with the administration to increase the number of Black physicians hired by the hospital and works to improve their experience once they are hired. He spends hours personally mentoring them so that they can succeed. He is actively working to bring others into the spaces he occupies and increase diversity in medicine. As a Black male physician, his existence and success is an act of resistance.”

Evainna Ross

“Evainna tirelessly works for the young men in her program. Part mother/sister/friend to every one of them. She started The Black Suit Initiative to help at-risk young Black men explore opportunities for careers and build leadership skills. They are awarded a black suit at the end of the program because wearing a suit increases your confidence and bearing. Their major fundraising event was held just a week before COVID-19 shut everything down and donations have only trickled in since. She’s been working a part time job to help sustain this non-profit as well as continuing it’s programming with the 35+ students. Always focussing on others, she deserves some time away for herself.”

Everett Arthur

“Everett is an incredible friend and coworker who has spent the better part of his life showing up for, and supporting, his community in both his personal and professional life. Everett works with a national gun violence prevention organization and has helped to advocate for and pass a number of GVP bills across the country. His focus on gun violence prevention is tied to his commitment to bettering the material conditions of Black communities. He consistently draws attention to inequity in the workplace and advocates for Black women and Black queer people in navigating their workplaces. As someone who is deeply committed to bettering the world for his community, Everett often forgets to prioritize his own needs. In the midst of the pandemic and ongoing national protests, I believe a Getaway is the perfect opportunity for Everett and his partner to rest and recharge.”

Haquika “Kika” Howze

“Kika is an incredible energy and force who has always been at the forefront of uplifting, educating, and creating action for the health and economic advancement of the black community. Most recently she co-founded an initiative to mobilize voter registration for the black and brown communities (@blackouttheballot), all the while working full time as an influencer marketer for a black owned agency, Team Epiphany. (TE partners with some of the biggest brands in the world including Nike inc, Audi, HBO, etc. and Kika has been spearheading providing a seat at the table for young black and brown talent within the corporate landscape.) This type of activism and action is something Kika has been a part of her entire life, the power of which has been passed down to her from her mother and her mother before that. I have been in awe of her light and impact for as long as I’ve known her however I know for Kika to share that energy and make change—she not only deserves that energy to be invested back into her; she needs it for her mental and physical health.”

Jasmine Edwards

“My best friend Jasmine has been working as a Music Therapist in the Pediatrics Unit of Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital in New York City since the first week that the Coronavirus pandemic hit our city. No, for real, her first day was that week! At the same time, she has been working as an Adjunct Professor in the Music Therapy Department at Howard University in Washington DC. Jasmine took the job at Howard—though she had to commute to DC for 4 hours twice a week—because she is deeply invested in the success of Black students in the therapy professions as a way to provide mental health resources to Black and other underrepresented communities who often have stigmas about self-care though they experience the most trauma. She cares so much about the students that she comes into contact with, and she genuinely wants to see them succeed. Because she was working both jobs at the same time, Jasmine had to work 6 days out of the week for the whole semester. She did not complain even once, because she was happy to support her students and the children at the hospital. She has trouble with anxiety and I know the toll that the uncertainty of the pandemic was taking on her every day, yet she went to work every day with a smile on her face. I am so proud of Jasmine for the work that she is doing every day, but I would love for her to have some much-deserved time to rest, relax, and recharge.”

Leila Marchbanks

“Leila is an inspiration to me on so many levels. On top of fighting for Black lives daily and raising two sons, she is a teacher who is pushing for changes in school curriculum. She recently started The Book At The Table, which gives teachers and parents resources to give children books with diverse authors and stories. She continues to fight to have the full history of the Black community told in schools, and she is helping create change by inspiring youth!”

Lina Washington

“Lina Washington is one of the hardest workers I know. She is one of few Black female sports broadcasters, she has been protesting, and she’s used her voice to create @boardsforchange, raising over $10,000 for Black Lives Matter. This, all while her father suffered from COVID-19. He recently passed away from the coronavirus, and she has not only continued to raise money for BLM and supported her cause, but she has had dozens of interviews to expose the dangerous working conditions for those forced to go back to work too soon, and the rising danger of COVID-19 in her hometown of Phoenix. This girl is non-stop and had to publicly announce she would now like to take a day to grieve after weeks of nonstop community service. She is amazing, she deserves everything. There are few people who have single handedly done more for their community.”

Marlene Boyette

“Marlene radiates positive, healing energy. She uses her yoga practice to support people around her of all ages to practice radical self care. In this time of deep trauma for the black community, she has stepped up to provide opportunities for people of color to take time for healing and self care. This is an essential part of racial justice. Black people are exhausted and experiencing severe trauma and Marlene is overcoming that reality to support others. She is the epitome of extending self care to community care. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of a rest so she can keep showing up and providing herself as a resource in the community.”

Melony Samuels

“Rev. Dr. Samuel is truly a remarkable Black woman who has dedicated much of her life to affecting change in the Bedford Stuyvesant community in Brooklyn. She founded the Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger over 16 years ago and serves as the Executive Director of the organization. She left a well paying job to start the organization to meet the demands of the food insecure in Brooklyn. Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger (BSCAH) is more than a food pantry, it’s a super pantry and NYC’s largest emergency food pantry. Five days a week, New Yorkers in need can visit for free healthful food and support services including tax preparation, healthy cooking classes, and a variety of additional community needs that are too long to list. Once the pandemic hit the need for their services exponentially increased and she and the staff had to contend with potential food shortages. But, Rev. Samuels is somehow tireless in her drive and dedication to making sure people did NOT go hungry, and started to try filling in the financial gaps. I nominate her, because while I say she is tireless, I know that can not be true because the work that she so willingly and lovingly does has to be emotionally and physically draining. I know she could and deserves some rest to decompress and recharge, so she can keep fighting food insecurity and poverty.”

Paula Champagne

“Paula is a storyteller, an artist, an essence-capturer. She describes herself as a visual storyteller, plant gatherer, and nap taker. I met Paula when we both worked for a local environmental conservation nonprofit, where she was a photographer, tasked with capturing images and anecdotes of folks getting outdoors, but I soon learned that she was an artist as well as a photographer. I first discovered her art when I saw her Black Women in History series for Black History Month where she created a series of posters celebrating impactful Black women in history, and then saw her Nature Nurture series, an illustration series exploring and celebrating the relationship between Black folks, femininity, and nature. There is nothing that Paula touches that doesn’t turn more beautiful because of her, whether that be a plant, a soul, or a mind. The outdoor industry often features white people in their advertisements and makes space largely for white people and no one else, and Paula works hard to showcase Black people’s place in nature.”

Peyton Dix

“Peyton, who is the special projects editor of InStyle Magazine and was previously the social media manager for PAPER Magazine, has been pushing the culture for LGBTQ and black communities front and center. Her dedication to elevating marginalized communities can be shown throughout her work. She is a leader in activism and spreads sunshine, humor and education through all the content she produces. She is continuously open to her followers on social media by discussing her mental health and the importance of such discussions. If you ask me or any of the fans, we believe she truly deserves this getaway.”

Riyona Abraham

“Riyona is a registered nurse working in one of Chicago’s largest Neonatal ICUs and the only one serving the predominantly Black population of the West side of Chicago. In order to protect the fragile babies she cares for and avoid potential exposure to COVID-19, Riyona has been organizing fellow nurses in silent protest and kneeling on the hospital rooftop for 8 minutes 46 seconds every day. Riyona has been fighting for better treatment for her Black colleagues, Black moms and babies and Black lives throughout her career. She deserves rest and healing!”

Shaina Harrison

“My sister is an amazing mom, teacher and activist. She’s the Educational doctor at New Yorkers Against Gun Violence. Over the past 15 years she’s been fighting to amplify the voices of young Black teens living in communities disproportionately affected by violence and poverty. She’s a mentor to hundreds of young people all over NYC. She’s written curriculum and taught restorative justice and empathy in NYC school. Organized marches with 50,000 thousand participants. Created a COVID-19  response for the DoE and facilitated virtual learning classes for young people throughout the epidemic. She is a hero. She deserves rest. She’s been written about in the New Yorker as a New Yorker of the week twice. All while taking care of a 2-year-old. She even blogs about plus size fashion creating brave spaces for plus size women to love and advocate for themselves.” 

Tanya Denise Fields

“If there is anyone that deserves a Getaway, it is Tanya Denise Fields aka Mama Tanya. Tanya is one of the most passionate, transparent, resilient and powerfully humble women I’ve ever met. I have watched her document her struggles and her triumphs, with tender grace and with righteous rage; a striking, daily polarity known by Black people all too well. Her Facebook Lives are known for expletive-laden, full facing truths and undeniable, glaring looks at racism, social injustice, intersectionality and Black feminism; just as much as they are a glorious window to watching her prepare delicious recipes from Mama Tanya’s Kitchen, revel in her children’s accomplishments and bask in a beautiful, Black love story with her fiancé, Mustaphai. Tanya is a mother of six and was featured by the New York Times, highlighting her fight with Coronavirus while living in their crowded apartment—it was a harsh and hurtful look into economically-disadvantaged people seeking equitable healthcare during a pandemic. A few weeks ago, Tanya and her fiancé, along with her 17 year old daughter, participated in a peaceful protest in a South Bronx neighborhood that turned into a brutal, ambush by the NYPD. They were tear gassed, pushed, shoved and manhandled by the police. The melee resulted in Mustaphi being unlawfully arrested. Through each of Tanya’s very public experiences, I am inspired, encouraged and motivated to action. I recently volunteered at the “Black Joy Farm“, which is a radical food growing green space in the South Bronx that Tanya founded. Since 2014, the farm has grown and given away hundreds of pounds of food. On June 12th, during the the farm’s first Food Box Giveaway, we distributed fresh vegetables, fruit, dairy and meat to over 80 families, almost 200 people. Even after the obvious traumas she recently experienced, she still shows up for the people. Tanya doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks it… hard AF. Tanya is also the founder of The Black Feminist Project—which “enriches the lives of, restores agency, justice, joy and health to Black women, girls, and non-men, often referred to as marginalized genders or MaGes and the children they care for—with an emphasis on mother-led families. Using dynamic and engaging food and reproductive justice programming that explores not only the intersections of race, class, gender and respectability politics but also empowers them to tap into their inherent leadership abilities and dare to put themselves at the center of their own universes.”

Zakiya Bell-Rogers

“Zakiya works as a domestic violence educator at Helpmate DV Advocacy in Asheville, NC. She has an incredibly special and unique way of making people, especially survivors, feel seen, validated, and lifted-up. This is so important because domestic violence survivors are often unseen and controlled by their abusers, and they face gaslighting and intense shame and loneliness. Zakiya also works hard to educate community members, including law enforcement, about how to respond to witnessing domestic violence or hearing someone disclose the abuse they are experiencing. She is passionate, energetic, and she kindly challenges ignorance. She has been working so hard amidst the coronavirus and the protests, including working overnight shifts in the shelter and additional hotline shifts, which are draining and demanding. She has been challenging racism and anti-blackness within Helpmate and in the Asheville community, despite personal health concerns. When Zakiya speaks, I listen. She has been a source of education, not only around domestic violence, but also race and racism; I am so grateful for the time that I’ve gotten to spend with her, and I feel like I am better at my job working with DV survivor because of Zakiya.”