My resolution for 2025 was to go to at least one live event every month this year and I must say I smashed it 😄 From Broadway to local community theater, the Symphony to my friends' record release, filmmaker q+as from Saturn to Queens, book signings and stand-up shows, I had so much fun experiencing art in many forms (and I didn't even include most of the museums 🎨). Meeting so many amazing and influential creatives this year was the cherry on top! Cheers to artistic endeavors in 2026 🥂
As many of you know, I had the amazing experience of working with @janegoodallinst for around 2 years as part of my @thinkmff fellowship. When I learned I selected to work with the communications team at JGI I didn't dare to imagine that this might lead to being able to meet Dr. Jane Goodall. My role as a fellow was to interview different JGI staff members from across the world in order to identify the elements of a JGI story and use these common threads to strengthen JGI's storytelling strategies.
These interviews culminated in an hourlong private conversation the ultimate storyteller herself, Dr. Jane Goodall. We talked about the obvious things like her passion for the environment, her experiences with Roots and Shoots around the world, and elements of a JGI story, but it was also a treat to hear stories from her childhood, learn about her early days in Tanzania with her mother, and gather tips on public speaking from her. She even commented on our similar zoom background bookcases!
Here are just a few moments of our conversation where we discuss her sense of humor, her legacy, and how she was able to pioneer as a woman in science.
I am just one person who was able to have a brief, personal moment with Dr. Goodall. We had this lovely conversation in 2022 and I was able to meet her again before a speech in Atlanta last year. I've also been lucky enough to have the experience of eating meals in her house in Gombe surrounded by her possessions and other wonderful members of her worldwide staff.
She is one of the few of us who has unquestionably made a global impact on the world for the better, all the while teaching us that the small things each of us can do to improve our environment and communities is enough to make a difference. Her legacy of hope is something we would do well to emulate as we navigate a world without her guiding light.
💚 "Hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity. It is what we desire to happen, but we must be prepared to work hard to make it so." 💚
Good times, great people, fantastic films - The 27th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival is a wrap! 🤩 Thanks to everyone who made it possible 💛🖤💛🖤
📸: @dasmithphotos , Thomas Diasio and my camera roll
Congratulations to my boys, @irongiantbhm , on their first album via @earthlibraries !!! I spent years as their manager getting to listen in to their renditions of Steve Reich, John Cage, Terry Riley, and more all across the state. They even scored my first student film! 🎶 You can also check out their new music video directed by @dennis_calvert during this year's @sidewalkfilm festival!
Huge thanks to everyone who came to my SOLD OUT @discourse.bham talk on stories last night! If you missed it, swipe to see a few of the slides on stories that shape cultures, cultures that shape stories, and some of my sources 🤓
My sister reminded me that yesterday was the three year anniversary of one of the most meaningful things I've ever done in my life, the culmination event of part one of my experience with the @janegoodallinst and @thinkmff MAP fellowship! I met some truly amazing people through this experience (including Dr. Goodall herself, twice!) from JGI staff who are truly the most kindhearted people the world to the brilliant fellows using their talents to benefit other nonprofits from across the country. Under the wonderful guidance of @sjsweeney , I really felt I made a difference in the work of this storied and global nonprofit. (1)
What's also struck me is my dad flew to DC to see the speech and recorded the whole thing just like in days of pulling out the camcorder to record ballet recital and Mom and Samantha were cheering along from home (which I think I had too much adrenaline to fully appreciate at the time 🥲). My parents have always been very good about supporting us as we find our own paths in a way that, unfortunately, some children don't get from their families, even if its something that they dont quite fully understand themselves 💞.(2)
Swipe to see how Samantha showed her support in a way that only a little sister can. (3)
In 2025, I'm trying to be more reflective on the good in the world, and JGI's legacy of hope is definitely a great place to start.
I was thrilled when some of my students from last semester reached out to interview me for a current class project a few weeks ago. They were so sweet and pointed out all the things that they were doing that I taught them throughout the semester and asked some really great questions! Seeing them applying the skills we'd worked on in class really made my day! 🥲
It's unbelievable how giddy I was to get a junior ranger badge 😅
My goal this year is to go to at least one place I've never been before every month and I was wayyyy overdue in checking out the AG Gaston Motel (spurred by a @uabblackalumninetwork event).
Now, more than ever, it's important to support the @nationalparkservice , and all the staff members I met today were super sweet and knowledgable. The Motel is open Thursday - Saturday from 10am - 4pm with a cute little café (@aliciascoffee_aggastonmotel ) and be sure to check out the other sites in the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument!
This is an integral time for supporting the places, spaces, and people that are important to YOU (for your own sanity, if nothing else) through your money, time, or talents! 🖤
Spent some much needed time enveloped in art, literature, and music with some amazing people this week 😌
💌 Made valentines and bouquets with @samchries98 at @bplarchives taught by @thelittleredprintshop
😋 Enjoyed two delicious local pop-ups, @pizzagracebham donuts and @deli.ole
💙 Explored the @bhammuseum with @georgiemcdaniel before the Black in Blues conversation + book signing with André Holland and Imani Perry and saw my lovely friends who I met on the Alabama Humanities Alliance Young Professionals Board @tonygreendown and @hey_bo0 and many other great folks
🎵 Got to preview Summer the Donna Summer musical at @redmtntheatre with my mom
Good stuff, Birmingham!
@georgiemcdaniel and I hit up alllll the Christmas markets 🎄 and supported a lot of local businesses and makers today (and saw bunch of friends!) starting with the Pantazis Pancake Party 🥞, made a Cala pit stop ☕️, Jim Reed Books 📚, Theatre Downtown market 🎭, Saturn market 🪐, Avondale Brewing market 🍻, Forrest Park Hoilday Bazaar including General 🛍, Knit (we made pom poms!) 🧶, Shoppe🪴 and more! 😮💨 And I finally found a Christmas present for my dad 🥲
