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January • 2022 The power of positive, solution-based journalism.

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Sean Penn and Ann Lee

THE CORE

OF REBUILDING

VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES Street Artists Worldwide Spread Joy

New York City Restaurant Holds a Torch for Refugees

HONDURAN MAN

Devotes Life Soneva Fushi Unveils World’s First Fine Dining Zipline

to Rescuing Young People

The Wall Street Journal news organization was not involved in the creation of this content.

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January • 2022

globalheroes.com The power of positive, solution-based journalism.

Sean Penn and Ann Lee

The CORE of Rebuilding Vulnerable Communities RAYE MOCIOIU

Oscar-winner Sean Penn has branded himself a hero both onscreen and off. The Mystic River star has long used his Hollywood power to mobilize and motivate change internationally.

From humanitarian efforts in New Orleans and Haiti to political controversies, the likes of which have only been ventured by the bravest of journalists, Sean Penn has a history of boldly taking action for causes he cares about.

Penn made headlines in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Frustrated by the search and rescue efforts at work, he launched his own rescue mission, saving 40 stranded locals.

“It’s not enough to just be an artist,” Penn says in an interview with Variety Magazine. “I think, in Haiti, that’s how I finally felt. I had other stuff to give. And so I found a place to do that.”

In 2010, an earthquake rocked Haiti, causing significant damage to multiple cities in the region and affecting over three million people.

Within hours of the disaster, Penn founded CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort, formerly known as J/P HRO), which immediately mobilized a powerful network to take action, operating a 55,000-person tent camp for displaced locals.

“When I met Sean in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, I was working for one of the biggest U.S. NGOs,” says CORE co-founder and CEO Ann Lee. “Initially, I was cynical of an actor coming in to help. A lot of times the actors came in and took photo ops and left. But Sean was there to learn and listen. His vision and perspective as an outsider proved different—he challenged and broadened my understanding of what can be achieved in a relief effort. He wasn’t like, ‘I have the answer for it.’ He was very humble. Soon, he and I began to conspire against the traditional—and flawed—ways of emergency response. Sean shoestringed innovation to respond swiftly to one of the worst disasters of modern time, building lasting change in the hardest hit, poorest neighborhoods. He has infused that mentality in our work over the past decade, and we pride ourselves on being nimble and, at times, scrappy.”

Lee, who has a long history of humanitarian efforts, worked as the lead on urban humanitarian response for the UN’s Organization for Coordination and Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and as a private-sector liaison for the Secretary General’s World Humanitarian Summit.

The author of “Livelihoods in Emergencies: A Double-Edged Sword,” Lee developed a gendersensitive emergency assessment tool called the CLARA, which is now used by international organizations around the world.

On CORE’s end, this involved COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution plans that ensured the safety of high-risk, low-income communities, as well as communities of color. Without federal funding, these programs were possible thanks to CORE’s longtime philanthropic partners, private organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation, and other humanitarian organizations. CORE also helped supply PPE, emergency medicine, and funded food programs.

In a critical time, these efforts made an incredible impact. Under the combined leadership of Ann Lee and Sean Penn, CORE administered millions of free tests and vaccines, © PHOTO BY MICHAEL KOVAC/GETTY IMAGES FOR CORE focusing their efforts on the destroying critical infrastructure.

CORE’s efforts have continued risk of being affected by disaster, most vulnerable communities Within days, CORE deployed an across the United States, infor over ten years, employing hun- all too often being social, dreds of Haitians who implement economic, exclusion, and social emergency response team to pro- cluding the Navajo Nation. education, reforestation, and com- injustice,” Lee continues. “While vide immediate relief to the most In 2021, CORE broadened its focus to have an international munity development programs. addressing immediate needs vulnerable communities. scope by serving the urgent need Who better, after all, to lead a com- in a disaster, we also recognize “Our first task was ensuring to support vulnerable groups in munity to positive change than the that we need to address the root the health and safety of Bahamians. In partnership with the Brazil and India, and expanded community members themselves? causes of vulnerability to have a “In 2017, in the wake of relief efforts in Haiti to include a long-term and sustainable impact. Municipality of San Juan, we deployed a mobile health unit, critical vaccination program.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria, we Focusing on holistic sustainable realized we could take our many many of whom had first-hand exIn addition, CORE continues solutions, we build systems that years of emergency response perience responding to Hurricane to support recovery efforts for better prepare communities for experience and help communities the most affected communities Maria in Puerto Rico. CORE’s crises and prevent the effects in Haiti following the most in the Caribbean,” Lee continues. mobile medical clinic provided of devastation on the most recent earthquake, and in New “This was a pivotal moment for hard-hit communities access to vulnerable populations.”

CORE as we were able to emergency care immediately Orleans after Hurricane Ida. Hurricane Ida made landfall as extend our work beyond following Hurricane Dorian, Haiti and apply our model of and our team of experione of the strongest storms in U.S. history, striking Baton Rouge and working directly with the local We are not saviors. We are not coming enced doctors and nurses to help for the glory and recognition, from the Municipality of New Orleans on August 29, 2021, community and government. and then leaving once the initial job San Juan were able to treat the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Following Hurricane is completed. We are trusted partners difficult-to-reach patients Florence in 2018, we helped Katrina. The storm caused major to the community, and that requires in the field, who otherwise communities in Florida and damage and flooding, leaving as close collaboration with community would not have received many as one million households North Carolina.” leaders and members to ensure we are critical care. With a focus on stranded without power. With the More than ten years later, addressing their needs. help of local partners, CORE was the organization continues children and seniors, espeto lead sustainable programs cially vulnerable populations, able to provide emergency shelter —Ann Lee, focused on four pillars: solutions, roof repair and tarping, our mobile clinic treated Co-Founder and CEO, CORE emergency relief, disaster conditions from trauma and water and other essential resourcpreparedness, environmental dehydration to broken bones es for those staying in collective resiliency, and community and infections.” centers. With local hospitals building. The latter has proved After the initial stages of already at limited capacity due a vital lesson, not just for the immediate relief, CORE has to the recent COVID-19 surge, With that mindset, CORE organization, but for the hard-hit developed programs ranging CORE focused on providing has invested heavily in building communities it helps. from rebuilding communities de- immediate solutions to hard-hit a brighter future for women and “The biggest impact we molished to offering psychosocial communities to allow them to children, providing equal access made in Haiti was centering all stay in their homes. to education for children from the support to those impacted. humanitarian action through and most marginalized communities.

These efforts are driven by local Similarly, CORE’s teams in support of communities and community members hired to en- responded rapidly in the hard“With the support of the their social, cultural, and physical Qatar Haiti Fund, we rebuilt sure their initiatives are reflective est-hit areas of Grand’Anse, Sud, infrastructure, which in turn of the community. and Nippes in Haiti to support The University of Haiti: Faculty strengthens them against the next of Sciences Department, which In March 2020, as COVID-19 rescue operations, emergency crisis—be it a natural disaster, cases surged across the country, medical services, provide essential will benefit 2,215 students, economic downturn, or otherCORE stepped up, immediately resources, and address the critical professors, and administrawise,” Lee shares. “We listened, tive staff. In our early years in calling on every community to need for emergency shelter amid tropical storms following the we learned, and we engaged the Haiti, we founded The School of join together in a coordinated local community to be their own Hope, which is the first school commitment to masking, distanc- most recent earthquake. ing, testing, tracing, and quaranbest agents for rebuilding their in Haiti to serve children with As the only organization on the ground with local Haitian community. That ethos is the disabilities,” Lee recalls. “We also tining in order to save lives. foundation of CORE.” implemented an entrepreneurial leadership, CORE works with Over the summer of 2020, More than preparing to program for women that has be- they developed CORE 8, a list local and government partners to come a critical voice for women’s of simple guidelines (four for face disasters, CORE provides support the immediate and longinclusion in the labor market, sustainable programs from civilians and four for governterm needs of the Haitian people. while also empowering local busi- ments) to work together and youth education and women’s As they have since the beginning of their work in Haiti, CORE entrepreneurship to disaster nesswomen and equipping them ensure that everyone was doing mitigation. Hard-hit communities with the skills to succeed.” began by supporting operations their part to stop the spread— often need that level of support to to clear the debris and remove On September 1, 2019, Catfrom increased testing capacity egory 5 Hurricane Dorian made make long-term relief possible. to public education on the the rubble. landfall in the Bahamas, causing “Communities in crisis have Says Ann Lee, “It’s critical to government side, and self-isolawidespread devastation and many factors that lead to their clear rubble so that the rebuilding tion and accurate information vulnerability and disproportionate leaving thousands displaced and process can begin.” sharing on the civilian side.

© ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF CORE

HAITI STILL NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

Donate now to directly support the communities most impacted by the devastating earthquake. coreresponse.org

January • 2022

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ADVERTORIAL

From the Pieces of a Broken Heart, A New Purpose Was Born

GINA M. PÉREZ

Today, 348 newborns are in caring homes and are reaching for their dreams because of the work and devotion of one man—Nick Silverio. His commitment and dedication to helping those that cannot help themselves is his passion. Nick has made it his life’s mission to be there for the most defenseless and vulnerable of all—the newborn.

Safe Haven for Newborns was born late one night, 21 years ago, as Nick was browsing through a magazine and an article on infant abandonment caught his attention. He had been searching for something he could do to honor his late wife, Gloria, who had died in a car accident caused by a speeding driver. Although they never had children of their own, they both loved children, and he knew that this was what he was meant to do.

After some research, he discovered there was no program that these scared young girls could turn to for help, and in a state of panic and believing they had no other recourse, they would abandon their newborn in unsafe places; more often than not, culminating in the infant’s demise.

He knew what he needed to do. He would establish a nonprofit that would provide support and guidance to expectant mothers before giving birth.

Although he had no experience setting up a nonprofit, he was determined to establish a foundation that would help pregnant girls who could not keep their newborns. The Foundation would bear his wife’s name.

A business owner all his life, Nick closed his successful IT business and founded the Gloria M. Silverio Foundation 501(c)3; its only program would be A Safe Haven for Newborns, helping the mother-to-be by providing her with the resources needed to make an informed decision regarding her and her unborn child. He used his personal savings to fund and establish the Foundation and converted his existing office space into the Foundation’s offices. And this was just the start of what he needed to do.

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP Nick partnered with local hospitals, Fire, and EMS stations to educate them on the process to receive the surrendered newborn. He also built a network of

agencies that would provide help and guidance, established a 24/7 multilingual confidential helpline, and created a web-based curriculum used by hospitals and first responders. Nick is continuously reaching out to the community by producing public service announcements and ad campaigns, reaching out through social media, visiting high schools, and attending community events. He also created a Community Service App for students that meets the criteria for students to fulfill their community service hours and help spread the message.

CROSSING STATE LINES Today, through a grassroots approach and public awareness efforts, A Safe Haven for Newborns is saving lives across all 67 Florida counties and far beyond state lines. Its success in addressing infant abandonment has been recognized in other states and countries. Nick has helped set up similar programs in Kansas and Missouri and the country of Panama and is currently collaborating with other states. He also has received inquiries from South Africa and Germany and will be working with them, providing the information they will need to create a similar program.

In these first 21 years, Safe Haven has helped over 5,000 women in distress, assisted five women to reclaim their parental rights. Because of Safe Haven for Newborns, 348 couples are now a family.

DONATIONS FUND THE PROGRAMS Thanks to the generosity of the Foundation’s supporters and the four annual events organized to raise funds, Safe Haven is able to provide helpful services and peace of mind to expectant mothers.

Help is just a phone call away by calling the confidential 24/7 multilingual referral helpline.

More often than not, A Safe

PHOTOS COURTESY OF © A SAFE HAVEN FOR NEWBORNS

Haven for Newborns is the expectant mother’s only recourse and their safety net.

They offer distressed pregnant women assistance when they are faced with making decisions that will impact their lives and that of their unborn child. Some resources that Safe Haven for Newborns offers include referral to counseling, parenting services, health-related issues, shelter, baby items, and confidentially placing their newborn at a Safe Haven location. All the services are offered at no charge to her and no questions asked.

Together with a group of volunteers, Nick organizes the four annual events to raise funds for Safe Haven for Newborns—the gala, a 5K walk/ run, a golf tournament, and a virtual telethon.

Even in 2020, when the

world was in lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nick continued his life-saving mission. He continued going to the office to work on behalf of the newborn. Nick can be found in his office working—even on holidays. Phone in hand, he is always available when the call comes in and on the other end of the telephone is a scared young pregnant girl looking for help.

Mark Twain once said, “the two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.”

Nick found his “why” in A Safe Haven for Newborns.

For more information on A Safe Haven for Newborns and how you can help and be part of their mission, visit their webpage at asafehavenfornewborns.com.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE Need help? We are just a phone call away Dedicated to saving the precious lives of newborns from the dangers of abandonment and assisting pregnant girls/women in crisis.

WWW.ASAFEHAVENFORNEWBORNS.COM Florida Helpline - 1-877-767-2229 • National Helpline - 1-844-767-2229 @asafehavenfornewborns

@asafehavenfornewborns

A Safe Haven for Newborns

@haven4newborns

A Safe Haven for Newborns

January • 2022

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Honduran Man Devotes Life to Rescuing Young People From Deadly Gangs MARÍA RUBI, TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS

When he was in his early twenties, Santiago Ávila had but one thing on his mind: music. As the singer in a heavy metal band, music dominated his life to such an extent that it largely obscured many of the harsh realities of life in his home city of Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, where armed gangs are widespread and the refusal to carry out their bidding often proves fatal.

But 11 years ago, that reality pierced Santiago’s musical bubble, and his world came crashing down. His 16-year-old brother, Mauricio, the second-youngest of Santiago’s four siblings, was brutally murdered by a local gang after a relative failed to pay a debt to one of its members.

“When my brother was killed, everything fell apart,” said Santiago, now 33. “My family is still mourning.”

But the family’s hardships did not end with Mauricio’s death. Soon afterwards, Santiago’s third-youngest sibling broke the unwritten code of conduct in gang-dominated neighborhoods by lashing out at a gang member who had robbed his girlfriend. Fearing reprisals from the gang’s leaders, the Ávilas fled their home in Tegucigalpa’s Nueva Capital neighborhood to what they hoped would prove a safe area in a far-flung region of Honduras and, later, abroad.

Endemic violence has forced at least 247,000 Hondurans into internal displacement while another 185,000 are estimated to have fled the country. In both cases, people often run with little more than what they can stuff into a backpack.

In the wake of his family tragedies, Santiago found himself consumed by thoughts of young Hondurans like his brothers—who all too often see their dreams and futures cut short by violence, or are forced to leave everything behind. Within about a year of Mauricio’s death, Santiago decided to return to Tegucigalpa to work with young people in need. He went on to help found Jóvenes Contra la Violencia, or Youth Against Violence, an organization that works to give vulnerable young people an

SANTIAGO (LEFT) WITH HIS FRIEND AND FORMER BAND MATE FABIAN ZUNIGA. © ALL PHOTOS UNHCR/NICOLO FILIPPO ROSSO

SANTIAGO LOOKS AT PICTURES OF HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, MAURICIO.

alternative to the gangs through activities, structure, and support.

“I felt it was cowardly to just leave without trying to do something for others,” said Santiago, adding that he was driven by a need to “try to save the lives of young people, so they don’t have to go through what my brother did, nor what I did.”

For his work carving out safe spaces for children and teenagers—many of whom have already endured internal displacement or are at risk of being forced from their home communities by gang violence— Santiago has been chosen as the regional winner for the Americas

of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award, a prestigious annual prize that honors those who have gone to extraordinary lengths to support forcibly displaced and stateless people.

In the decade since its founding, Jóvenes Contra la Violencia has grown from a ragtag group of young people, meeting in cafés to strategize about how to go about breaking the seemingly endless cycle of violence, to a prominent and respected organization with a seat at the tables of power. The group’s basic aim is to give young people, whose tumultuous home life and dismal prospects might

make them prime recruits for gangs promising easy money and status, a sense of belonging that allows them to resist the gangs’ advances.

Some 400 volunteers ply the streets of some of Honduras’ diciest cities and neighborhoods, seeking to bring children, teenagers, and community leaders into the fold of the organization, which offers a variety of community-building activities, sports, and coaching sessions.

The volunteers also reach out to families teetering on the edge of the kind of forced displacement that the Ávilas themselves faced, and work to keep them in their

homes by interceding with respected community leaders.

Paradoxically, many of the youth who work with the organization are themselves the children of gang members, who are eager to keep their own kids from following in their troubled footsteps. It is partially this fact that allows the group to operate without interference or violence from the gangs they are standing up to.

While it is impossible to keep a precise tally of the number of young people who have been assisted by Jóvenes Contra la Violencia over the years, a modest estimate puts them in the tens of thousands. Alumni of the organization have gone on to become lawyers, social workers, and civil servants.

“Joining Jóvenes Contra la Violencia increased my life expectancy,” said Edras Levi Suazo, 25, who joined the group seven years ago and now serves as its communications director. “I thought that by the time I reached age 20, someone would have murdered me. Jóvenes Contra la Violencia not only saved my life but it also showed me my self-worth.”

Santiago credits his family with allowing him to steer clear of the gangs. Despite the hardships sparked by Mauricio’s murder, and the trauma of internal displacement that followed, the Ávilas remained united, giving Santiago and his surviving siblings the strength they needed to resist the gangs.

“I think that my family—my mother’s love, my father’s sense of responsibility—played a fundamental role when it came down to deciding whether to join a gang to avenge the death of my brother, or to seek out a way to do something for the young people of my country,” he said, adding that his work with Jóvenes Contra la Violencia is a two-way street. While of course he gives enormously of himself, he has also received a huge amount in return.

“I’ve learned how to appreciate the little things; how to be tolerant; how to appreciate real friendship. I’ve learned how to go the extra mile,” he said. “And most importantly, I’ve learned how to listen.”

THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED ON THE GLOBAL WEBSITE OF UNHCR, THE UN REFUGEE AGENCY.

January • 2022

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© M. DOUDOU SINNA

New York City Restaurant Holds a Torch for Refugees Entering the U.S. these specific stressors, Emma’s Torch leverages the power of the Emma’s Torch, located in culinary industry to provide an innovative curriculum and holistic Brooklyn, is paying homage programming that promotes to a poet whose words greet agency and empowerment, one newcomers to the country.

Emma Lazarus, a staunch plate at a time.

“Emma’s Torch Culinary supporter of immigrant rights and a prolific writer, wrote the sonnet Training Program welcomes ‘The New Colossus,’ which adorns refugees from 42+ countries with varying levels of culinary the Statue of Liberty. The Emma of Emma’s Torch refers to her. experience, language proficiency and less than five years in the “Many don’t know that the famous line, ‘Give me your tired, United States on average,” shares Kira. “Approximately two-thirds your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,’ was of our students are women, many supporting and raising children on written by Lazarus,” shares New their own, and around ten percent York Director Dr. Kira O’Brien. of our students self-identify as “For over 100 years, those words have greeted thousands of refugees LGBTQI+. The intersecting fleeing hardship and dreaming of nature of forced migration leaves this population vulnerable to a better life in America.” major stressors such as housing With those words in mind, and food insecurity, joblessness, Emma’s Torch works to welcome violence, and lack of access to refugees from over 40 countries, basic healthcare.” offering community and job According to the UNHCR, training—a lifeline for newcomers. adult women account for 25 Starting a new life in a new country can be extremely difficult, percent of all forcibly displaced especially for those who have to people, and children account for a shocking 42 percent. At a learn a new language, on top of time when people have lost their everything else. Acknowledging RAYE MOCIOIU

© COURTESY OF EMMA’S TORCH

homes, their comfort, and often their access to basic rights, a program that helps them get situated in a new country can be a lifesaver. Emma’s Torch provides refugees with culinary training, ENL classes, and interview preparation, all in the safety of a community in which they can build supportive relationships.

“Our programmatic approach is based on a combination of classroom and on-the-job training, which sets our students up for success upon graduation. The program consists of approximately 300 hours of culinary skills training and approximately 100 hours of personal development skills. Our students learn in both a classroom setting and through their work in our restaurant, café, and catering businesses. The program lasts for ten weeks, during which our students are paid $15 per hour.

The program is full-time, and by the end of the 400-hour course, each student earns approximately $6,000. Upon graduation, we work with employer partners to secure career opportunities with upward mobility in the culinary

© S. MURRAY

industry for each of our graduates.”

Their programs prove to be immensely helpful, and seeing their students return to Emma’s Torch to teach new students after starting their own careers in the culinary industry is uniquely rewarding and creates a cycle of positivity.

at Emma’s Torch. Each trainee graduate has the opportunity to make a dish or two from their home country, sharing not only what they’ve learned throughout the program but also a taste of their history.

“The Cohort 27 celebration dinner was a wonderful experience that we shall never forget,” reports one guest.

“Emma’s Torch helped It’s not only a celebration of me believe in myself and diversity, but part of what makes encouraged me to achieve my dreams.”—Jonathan, Cohort the experience so much more unique. Allowing students to find 25 Graduate a place of belonging in the culiDescribed as “New American nary world paves the way for their cuisine prepared by new cultural heritage and cuisine to be American students” by culicelebrated. Emma’s Torch shares nary director Alexander Harris, the power of bonding and finding Emma’s Torch is able to take common ground through food. inspiration from their students “Refugees, asylees, and survivors and infuse a world of flavors into of human trafficking from over 40 their menus. Harris works with countries have passed through our students and guest chefs alike, kitchen. Although Lady Liberty using flavors from all over the is no longer the first site for those globe and blending seasonal and coming to the United States, the local ingredients to make every words still ring true. We honor meal an experience.

Emma’s advocacy and her emphasis In fact, diners report that the on vocational training. She created graduation dinners are some of a legacy that we are proud to the best times to enjoy a meal uphold,” Kira says.

© E. HUANG

ADVERTORIAL

A Doorway to Freedom in Buffalo’s Vive Shelter Buffalo’s Vive Shelter has been called “a new underground railroad” for refugees, though it has never been a secret.

In 1984, a group of Catholic sisters in Western New York housed asylum seekers en route to the Canadian border. Their convents were used so often that they decided to create a standalone shelter

specifically for that purpose. At the time, the vast majority of asylum seekers were coming from Central and South America, and most of them were planning to make a refugee claim in Canada.

Since 2015, Vive has been a program of Jericho Road Community Health Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Federally

© COURTESY OF JERICHO ROAD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

THE PATH TO HOPE

STARTS AT VIVE. HELP PAVE THE WAY FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS AT JRCHC.ORG/GIVE-VIVE

Qualified Health Center. Over its 37-year legacy, Vive has seen more than 100,000 people come through its doors, seeking safety and hope for a new beginning.

“We see different waves of people coming through depending on what’s happening in the world,” says Vive Director Matt Tice. “In the ‘80s, that was mostly Central and South Americans. Today, we see a lot of people from Haiti, Sri Lanka, Angola, the DRC, and still parts of Central and South America. But it can change in an instant.”

In addition to demographic changes like Tice describes, the shelter has also seen a huge increase in the number of people seeking U.S. asylum. This change has drastically altered Vive’s operations from its early days. Whereas people en route to Canada stay in the shelter for around a week, those seeking U.S. asylum can stay for up to two years or sometimes longer.

The shelter, which has permanent beds for 120 people but can scale up to accommodate more in a pinch, provides housing, meals, medical care, and legal aid to

around 1,000 asylum seekers each year. On-site support programs include ESL classes, structured children’s activities, and behavioral health and trauma therapy, plus job training and parenting classes through partnerships with other local nonprofits. Children who are staying long-term enroll in Buffalo Public Schools. Adults find jobs after they receive their working permits, a process that Vive’s legal team helps with.

Asylum seekers who come to Vive are all unique. Their situations are often complicated. Some people fly into New York City and travel directly to Vive, arriving at the shelter with little more than a small suitcase and an address scribbled on a scrap of paper. For some, the journey to Vive takes months or even years of walking through jungles and across many borders while enduring unbelievably dangerous conditions.

Though the specifics are different, nearly all of Vive’s residents have one thing in common—they are fleeing dire conditions in their home countries due to violence, war,

political persecution, or other kinds of danger.

This danger is not merely hypothetical. Over 75 percent of those seeking U.S. asylum through Vive have endured torture.

Ian* from southern Africa fled his home country after his father was murdered and Ian himself felt threatened. He came directly to Vive after flying to NYC. “When I came, I was sick. Vive did everything,” he says. “They gave me a bed, they gave me clothing, they told me to make myself at home and feel safe.”

After harrowing journeys, residents like Ian describe Vive as a refuge where they finally feel like they don’t have to run or look over their shoulders anymore.

“The two words I hear most often from new arrivals are ‘hope’ and ‘safe,’” says Tice. “Those are the ideas that Vive really represents to people from all around the world.”

To support Vive’s work on behalf of asylum seekers, visit jrchc.org/give-vive. * NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT CLIENT PRIVACY

January • 2022

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© REUTERS / CHIARA NEGRELLO

© REUTERS / NURI YILMAZER / RED BULL CONTENT POOL

Street Artists Worldwide Spread Joy Through Meaningful Designs From detailed murals to intriguing stencils, street art has long been a way for artists to express their thoughts, ideas, and creative spirit. Street art can be found in cities across the globe, with just as many admirers as it has critics.

Aside from being a means of colorful self-expression, street art also promotes diversity, representing the different groups that come together to form a community. All over the world, artists use their talents to bring joy and creativity to their communities, whether by inspiring viewers to consider their history, or to look toward a brighter future.

GRAFFITI ARTIST CAPTURES THE LIGHTNESS OF CLOUDS TO LIFT SPIRITS In France, a graffiti artist’s monumental mountaintop project aims to encourage a more contemplative approach to life by inspiring childlike wonder at clouds drifting by.

The 1,500 square meter painting ‘Un Nouveau Souffle’ (A New Lease on Life) by French artist Saype graces the summit of the Moleson peak in the western Swiss Alps.

Using biodegradable paints made from natural pigments such as coal and chalk, it depicts a little boy blowing bubbles in an area known for its clouds, seeking to reflect the link with children’s skygazing.

“I think we are in a world that is super heavy and we need a little lightness and I believe that the clouds are also a bit of a dream, the imagination,” said the 32-year-old artist.

“When we were kids we were always imagining shapes in the clouds. And I believe that now is also a moment we must breathe and—also with lightness—relearn to create by reverie the world of tomorrow.”

Known for massive works of graffiti on grass best seen from the air, Saype has also adorned sites ranging from an impoverished shantytown in South Africa to the lawn in front of the United Nations’ European headquarters in Geneva.

ITALIAN STREET ARTIST BATTLES RACISM BY TURNING SWASTIKAS INTO CUPCAKES An Italian artist is transforming hateful graffiti into food. Swastikas on the wall become giant cupcakes with purple icing, and nasty words become cheesy pizzas.

All in a day’s work for the street artist who uses his talent to turn hate into love.

“I take care of my city by replacing symbols of hate with delicious things to eat,” says the 39-year-old artist, whose real name is Pier Paolo Spinazze and whose professional name, Cibo, is the Italian word for food.

On a recent sunny morning, he was alerted by one of his 363,000 Instagram followers that there were swastikas and racial slurs in a small tunnel on the outskirts of Verona.

Wearing his signature straw hat and necklace of stuffed sausages, he set off. He took out his bag of spray paints and got to work while cars drove by.

He covered up the slurs with a bright slice of Margherita pizza

and a Caprese salad—mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. A swastika was transformed into a huge red tomato. As he created the murals in the tunnel, which each took around 15 minutes, people drove by, peering out of their windows to stare and wave. One art teacher wound down her window to compliment his work.

In recent years human rights groups have warned of growing racism in Italy following mass immigration from Africa. While Spinazze has become a local celebrity in Verona, he has also made enemies.

When someone spray-painted “Cibo sleep with the lights on!” in big letters on a wall, the artist turned the threat into the ingredients of a gnocchi recipe.

“Dealing with extremists is never good, because they are violent people. They are used to violence, but they are also cowards and very stupid,” Spinazze said. “The important thing is to rediscover values that we may have forgotten, especially anti-fascism and the fight against totalitarian regimes that stem from the Second World War. We must remind ourselves of these values.”

ACROSS THE GLOBE, ARTISTS USE BASKETBALL COURTS AS THEIR CANVAS All over the world, street artists and local communities are transforming basketball courts and creating an eye-catching legacy that brings vibrant color to neighborhoods.

The likes of renowned Italian artist PISKV and talented

© REUTERS / REALWON MULTIMEDIA / RED BULL CONTENT POOL

ARE YOU READY TO CONNECT AND HELP US BREAK DOWN BARRIERS?

Fostering Curiosity, Inclusion, and Community for a Better World

There are almost 100,000 international students and scholars studying in the greater New York metropolitan area—in fact, it’s the leading destination for international undergraduate and graduate students in the United States.

The role these students play is incredibly valuable. International students and their families contributed over $38.7

Visit onetoworld.org/community to sign up as a host or corporate partner!

“They also come here to play from all the other neighborhoods and the community has always been very active. Some of the young people, who come from disadvantaged situations, found new energy, and contributed together with PISKV to make it a reality that this slightly disfigured facility that had been abandoned over the years could be restyled.”

Swiss artist Serge Lowrider took on a similar challenge, colorfully transforming a court at Lausanne’s sporting heart, the Vidy Bowl.

Lowrider has a long artistic connection to basketball, having worked with Nike and produced commissions for Michael Jordan’s 50th birthday and the March Madness tournament, so the project aligned heavily with his previous work.

In Turkey, Red Bull Half Court, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament challenging the world’s top ballers, partnered with the Mural Istanbul festival to transform three of the country’s courts. Designer and muralist Max On Duty took inspiration from local legend Sinan Güler for his revamping of the court in Istanbul’s Abbas Ağa Park. In Ankara, graffiti artist Esk Reyn created a masterpiece of colors and angles on a court in the city’s Anıttepe Park. Over in Bursa, street artist Mr. Hure was responsible for the abstract creation at Hüdavendigar Kent Park.

Red Bull Half Court reaches its conclusion at the World Final this month on the same iconic court where PISKV painted his mural in Rome.

(Source: Reuters)

ADVERTORIAL

“We are here to excel in our studies, but also to weave a fabric of human experiences outside of the classrooms.

That’s where One To World comes in.”—Felipe

One To World is a bridge between local residents like you and our international community as they learn to thrive in their new home.

Nigerian graffiti artist Osa ‘Seven’ Okunpolor have helped transform 3x3 half courts globally, exploring the intersection between basketball and art.

In Nigeria, Osa ‘Seven’ Okunpolor, one of Africa’s most talented and sought-after graffiti artists, helped renovate Ndubisi Kanu Park Court in Ikeja, Lagos State. He believes basketball is art—the art of bouncing, shooting, dribbling—and the courts should reflect that.

The project, which ran in partnership with the Lagos parks authority, invited contributions from the local community, who were able to make their own additions to the artwork, promoting unity and creating a lasting legacy in the park.

Francesco Persichella, also known as PISKV, designed a new artwork that has given new life to Rome’s Scalo San Lorenzo neighborhood for the 2021 edition of Red Bull Half Court in Italy’s capital city. The artist worked with volunteers from the local community to create his masterpiece, which shows a player dunking within the grounds of the famous Colosseum.

“A player stands out in the Colosseum in the act of a dunk, the most famous act of Street Basketball,” the artist explained.

“Dynamic lines and vividness of colors give strength to the design, really crushing the grey reality that previously distinguished this field.”

“This playground has always been a landmark of the city,” said Matteo Baruzzo, a member of the San Lorenzo Family basketball community.

96% of major employers say they need employees who are “comfortable working with colleagues, customers, and clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.”

billion to the U.S. economy Each program provides a unique in 2019-2020 and supported opportunity for U.S. residents and 415,996 jobs. international students to engage on an intimate level, from having But how do these students get dinner inside local homes to sharconnected to their new home? ing culture and experiences in the classroom and volunteering their Established in 1977, One time together through community To World is the major organi- service projects. zation in New York City that Whether forging connections provides enrichment programs over a shared meal, connecting for international students and them to job shadowing or employFulbright scholars to ensure ment workshops, or engaging them they are successful, engaged, in roundtables with experts on corand supported. porate governance, One To World With an unwavering com- is preparing the next generation of mitment to building bridges global leaders for a brighter future. between international students on campus and the broader “One To World is always New York community, One making connections that To World has created multiple stretch around the globe. In opportunities where people can 10 minutes’ time, I had a very come together face-to-face and helpful network that would share their perspectives, expe- otherwise have taken me a very riences, and lives. long time to develop.”—Cecilie Now, One To World serves as a bridge between local residents, international students, and the Visit onetoworld.org/community global community as they learn to learn more about One To to thrive in their new homes.

World’s work!

January • 2022

globalheroes.com

ADVERTORIAL

Humans to Heroes: Living With Neurofibromatosis

H

eroes come in all shapes and sizes—some with capes, some without. But there are some things that heroes from all across the world have in common: courage, resilience, and the drive to help others.

Ordinary people can do extraordinary things, and everyday heroes can be found around every corner.

Doctors, for example, are everyday heroes, working tirelessly to help patients and find cures.

Dr. Legius, the head of the Human Genetics Department of the University of Leuven in Belgium, as well as clinical director of the Center for Human Genetics of the University of Leuven, has been devoted to understanding NF for over 20 years.

Considered by many as the most influential NF1 clinician and scientist in Europe, Dr. Legius has dedicated himself to the advancement of patient care and lends a strong spirit of collaboration to the NF clinical and research community, from organizing stimulating NF workshops to sharing his broad insights from genetics, cancer, pediatrics, psychology, and basic cell biology.

In 2007, Dr. Legius and his team discovered the genetic basis of the NF1-like disease, now known as Legius Syndrome.

He authored over 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and was awarded numerous

EDDIE PURTELL ON THE RIGHT, WITH HIS PARENTS MARGARET AND NED PURTELL

times, including the Collen Research Foundation Fellowship (Belgian-American Exchange Foundation) in 1990-1991; the Blackwell Public Service Award for neurofibromatosis (NNFF) in 1995; The Scientific Prize NFKONTAKT in 1997; the NF-Holland Award in 2002, and the “Sidmar prize” in 2010.

He also received three yearly prizes for his medical research: one for his work on chronic disorders by the Royal Academy of Medicine Belgium; the Theodor Schwann award for research of neurofibromatosis type 1 and related syndromes in Europe in 2012 and he was nominated by his colleagues for the prestigious

Friedrich von Recklinghausen Award, CTF USA in 2015.

Patients, too, can be heroes.

When faced with a diagnosis, the road ahead may look scary.

Patients must show resilience, courage, and put their all into facing another day. Through it all, their bravery helps healthcare workers in their efforts to find a cure—not just for them, but for the future generations who may face the same illness.

Eddie Purtell was diagnosed with NF at just one-month-old. By the time Eddie understood what it meant to have NF, he had already undergone several surgeries and had his left eye removed, due to an optic nerve glioma behind the eye.

DR. ERIC LEGIUS

EDDIE WITH HIS PARENTS AND SISTERS CAROLYN AND ELIZABETH

INFER (INTERNATIONAL NF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES) INFER (International NF Educational Resources) is a series of online educational lectures for medical professionals by leading neurofibromatosis experts. An initiative of Children’s Tumor Foundation Europe and supported by an educational grant from AstraZeneca, INFER offers Masterclasses on a variety of important topics.

• Emotional Challenges in NF1, NF2, and Schwannomatosis • Cognition and behavior in NF: phenotype and treatment approaches • Surgery in NF2

Since then he has had well over 20 procedures but never let that stop him from achieving all he has to this day. His parents recall that through all that he’s experienced, Eddie has always been fearless.

He lives his life to the fullest, determined to prove that having NF does not have to stop him from enjoying life. From skiing to soccer to lacrosse, Eddie found joy in being active and playing sports. His love of sports led him to start running marathons, and he has since run 14 half marathons, 11 of which have been to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. With these efforts, he has raised over $130,000 to find a cure for NF.

births across all populations equally, and there is still so much to learn.

There is no cure yet, but the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s mission of driving research, expanding knowledge, and advancing care for the NF community fosters our The Masterclasses take place online vision of one day ending NF. approximately once a month, each on a different topic, and include real-time interaction between the expert presenter and the SOME OF INFER’S participants. The presentations are MASTERCLASS TOPICS conducted in English, with realINCLUDE: time audio interpretation available • NF1 Cutaneous Neurofibromas in six additional languages: French, • NF1 Malignant Peripheral German, Italian, Portuguese, Nerve Sheath Tumors Russian, and Spanish. A recording • NF1 Orthopedic of each INFER masterclass is then Manifestations made available online in each • NF1 Associated Glioma in language for those who could not Children attend an event.

• NF1 Pediatric Management NF affects one in every 3,000

On top of that, he is also involved in the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s Volunteer Leadership Council and Junior Board.

On Monday, November 15, during the Children’s Tumor Foundation 2021 National Gala, Eddie was honored as the 2022 NF Ambassador, an award bestowed upon an individual with NF to recognize their courage living with the disorder, their personal efforts to further the Foundation goals of research, public awareness, and patient support.

Despite the challenges of neurofibromatosis, Eddie has graduated college, is working a great job, has run multiple marathons, and serves as a role model for others. He hopes that his contributions will help make life easier for young kids with NF and that he can serve as an inspiration to those children.

“To quote the great Vince Lombardi, ‘It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.’ Anyone with NF will have to deal with some difficult situations, so no matter how many times you get knocked down, always remember to get up and keep fighting,” says Eddie.

EDDIE AND NED PURTELL

THE CHILDREN’S TUMOR FOUNDATION T h e C h i l d r e n’s Tu m o r Foundation is a global not-forprofit organization dedicated to funding and driving innovative research that will result in effective treatments for the millions of people worldwide living with neurofibromatosis (NF), a term

for three distinct disorders: NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis. NF causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, which can lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning disabilities, disabling pain, and cancer. To learn more, visit ctf.org.

DR. ERIC LEGIUS RECEIVING THE VON RECKLINGHAUSEN AWARD. LEFT TO RIGHT, DR. LUDWINE MESSIAEN, DR. ANNETTE BAKKER, DR. ERIC LEGIUS, DR. GARETH EVANS

January • 2022

globalheroes.com

Celebrity Heroes Call for Diversity and Education, On-Screen and Off

© REUTERS/CARLO ALLEGRI

© REUTERS/PHIL LEWIS/WENN.COM/COVER IMAGES

M

odel Winnie Harlow has called on the fashion industry to take “accountability” for change in the world.

Winnie Harlow wants people to realize that the struggle for diversity isn’t just a “trend.”

The Canadian model, who is of Jamaican ancestry, has been actively supporting the current movement for equality, having partnered with Puma to support the Trayvon Martin Foundation— the organization named after the Black teenager who was fatally shot in the U.S. in 2012.

While Winnie is committed to using her influence to bring about change, she thinks the fashion industry could do more to help.

“Diversity is an everyday thing,” she told WWD.com, “It’s not a one-off thing or a trend. I’m hopeful that these discussions are currently being held. We just need to keep the dialogue going.

“There is a lot of work to be done in terms of representation and diversity within fashion from behind-the-scenes, too, of course, in front of the camera, from the CEOs to the designers, and all the way to entry-level, whether it’s a new model or whoever is being hired. I also think that everyone in the fashion industry needs to take accountability so that real change can happen.”

Winnie revealed she has long dreamed of landing a Puma campaign because they encourage their ambassadors to get behind charitable causes that matter to them. The model said she wanted to partner with the brand to showcase “Black hair in all its glory.”

With that same goal in mind, Winnie Harlow has been named the first-ever global ambassador for haircare brand Paul Mitchell.

She debuted in the brand’s 2021 campaign, shot by photographer Micaiah Carter, centered around “celebrating the power of self-expression through hair.”

“I think it’s important to show Black hair in all its glory because for so long, Black girls weren’t able to get specific hairstyles,” Winnie told People. “At one point in time, there weren’t a lot of hairstylists that knew how to handle or style Black hair.

“It’s really important to me to show that, as a Black woman, I can have all the hairstyles that any other girl can have—it just takes someone with the education and knowledge of Black hair to execute it.”

The model said her love for haircare started in childhood and recalled sweet memories of watching her mother working in a hair salon.

“I wanted to partner with a haircare brand because hair is so important to me, and the health of hair especially is really important to me,” she explained.

“I loved just watching her style other people’s hair and watching them come in and leave with a big smile on their face from their hair transformation.”

She also touched upon her own hair regime and shared that she enjoys wearing wigs to protect her natural locks.

“My hair journey has been broad and across the spectrum— with extensions, weaves, wigs, and natural hair. Right now, I’m just enjoying protecting my natural hair. My priority has now become taking care of my hair. I just wash my hair, get my hair styled and braided, and then leave it for a month at a time to just let it grow and be healthy,” Winnie shared.

© REUTERS/ ANDREW BOYERS

name, people that are recognized all over the world, need to speak up about things that affect them and affect the world,” Holding said.

Holding, regarded as one of cricket’s authoritative commentators and regularly used by broadcasters worldwide, has spoken out extensively on racism since a passionate plea for society to change its attitudes following the murder CRICKET CHAMPION of George Floyd in 2020.

MICHAEL HOLDING Holding has published a book WANTS MORE SPORTS called Why we Kneel, How We Rise, STARS TO SPEAK OUT which covers racism in sport and AGAINST RACISM has contributions from several Michael Holding wants more high-profile Black athletes. sportspeople to step forward and “People must recognize that it’s speak out against racism. all folks from different denomiThe star athlete said it was nations and from different sectors important that public figures and different parts of the world used their celebrity and status have done great things,” says to convey important messages, Holding, who made sure to highparticularly antiracism. light the discoveries, innovations, “If people who have a platform and much more that people of and who are able to reach out and color have contributed throughRIZ AHMED CALLS FOR get people to listen and people out history.

MORE ON-SCREEN to understand, say nothing, then Holding also said athletes should DIVERSITY who will?” he asked. “There are not confine their opinions to Riz Ahmed has criticized the sportspeople who are well known sporting matters. “shocking” lack of diversity on TV throughout the entire world. If “When they leave the arena, or and has called for better represen- they get up and say something, the basketball courts, they have people around the world will want to go back into society to live a tation of Muslims on screen. to hear what they have to say and The British-Pakistani actor normal life. If they are affected by will want to try to understand what society, they have to speak up and recently opened up about how they have to say.

Muslim representation is a blind use their platform.” spot in our culture and called for “And that’s the reason why peobetter representation on-screen. ple with a platform, people with a (Source: Reuters) “It’s not surprising, but it is shocking,” the star said. “It’s a blind spot that’s all over our culture. And it costs lives. Countries get invaded, hate crimes go up, laws get passed. So off the back of that, we’re thinking, ‘What do we need to shift?’ And, actually, it’s about empowering people to tell their own story.”

ADVERTORIAL

Black Youth Helpline: Improving Health and Well-Being for Vulnerable Youth A POWERFUL MISSION Black Youth Helpline recognizes that Black youth experience different challenges. The Helpline aims to develop equitable pathways for the next generation of leaders and create a community to help position them to be their best. Black Youth Helpline puts its mission into action by working collaboratively with government, communities, and businesses to drive and support sustainable change.

Black Youth Helpline is a registered charitable organization that serves vulnerable/underrepresented youth in communities across Canada. The organization prioritizes prevention, access, and cultural relevance and works with youth, schools, and families to build healthy, successful, and productive futures.

Black Youth Helpline delivers programs focused on three key strategic pillars: 1. EDUCATION

Education is a key investment in the future of Black youth.

Educational activities are focused on engaging with governments and school districts across Canada to help vulnerable youth stay in school and get an education. Over the years, the Black Youth Helpline has participated in various school initiatives and workshops to provide culturally relevant support to families and school districts.

and underserved youth across the country. Committed to promoting mental health and facilitating access into professional, mainstream health assessment and treatment services, Black Youth Helpline is working towards equitable access to professional assessment and treatment. This helps to address 2. HEALTH the major barriers faced by diverse Society has an important responsi- youth in nurturing a healthy mind, bility to care for underrepresented body, and spirit.

© COURTESY OF BLACK YOUTH HELPLINE

3. COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING

Partnership is a powerful tool, and Black Youth Helpline knows that through strategic partnerships with clients, other organizations, and businesses both Canadian and international, they can deliver greater impact to their communities. Black Youth Helpline is committed to building upon existing relationships with schools,

law enforcement agencies, universities, corporations, and various non-profits to help youth see and realize their potential. This includes providing mentoring, networking, and training opportunities that can lead to greater social cohesion, job security, and income levels. These investments in vulnerable families and communities will result in a more innovative and productive society.

BUILDING MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES TOGETHER Your financial backing, the depth of volunteerism, and other resources you bring to support Black Youth Helpline inspires youth and helps prepare them for long-term success. The overwhelming response to ensure those from underserved and underrepresented communities thrive as contributing members of society is proof that positive change is more than possible, and together, we can build a better future for our youth.

BLACK YOUTH HELPLINE IS PROUD TO BE BUILDING ON

30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO CANADIAN YOUTH We would like to hear from you. We offer many ways to support projects that you feel passionate about.

Learn more at blackyouth.ca

Phone 416-285-9944 • 1-833-294-8650

email info@blackyouth.ca

January • 2022

globalheroes.com

ADVERTORIAL

Sight is Equal to Freedom Over a billion people today live with vision impairment that is either preventable or treatable.

Almost 90 percent of people affected with vision impairment live in developing countries, where not being able to see often means a life of poverty. It’s nearly impossible to work, feed yourself, or support your family. Together, we can change that. 90 percent of vision impairment can be prevented or cured. In fact, more than half of the world’s blindness is caused by cataracts, a condition that can be reversed with a 15-minute surgery costing only $50.

Seva’s vision is a world free of avoidable blindness. Restoring sight is one of the most costeffective interventions to end

suffering and poverty. With clear vision, those you help can return to work and school and lead productive lives. Seva builds sustainable eye care systems worldwide by creating access to eye care, building capacity of new and existing eye hospitals and systems, and collecting and learning from evidence. Since 1978, Seva has empowered underserved communities and provided eye care services to more than 46 million people in more than 20 countries including Native American Communities in the U.S. Seva’s work was recognized in a huge way recently—they were named the winner of the Kristof Holiday Impact Grand Prize!

“It feels miraculous to watch people regain their sight, but it’s a miracle that we can all make happen. Seva Foundation, the Grand Prize Winner of this year’s Holiday Impact Prize, is transforming people’s lives for as little as $50 per cataract surgery. Seva works in more than 20 countries abroad and in Native American communities in the United States, and nothing is more joyous than seeing the impact of its work on people who had thought they would never see again.”— Nicholas Kristof

PHOTO BELOW © 2012 ELLEN CRYSTAL PHOTOGRAPHY. ABOVE: WOMAN IN TANZANIA CONDUCTING AN EYE SCREENING © BY JOE RAFFANTI/SEVA FOUNDATION

PHOTO OF WENDY © COURTESY OF SEVA FOUNDATION

A SEVA STORY It started as a typical hot, dusty morning in Melchor de Mencos, a small town in the Peten region of Guatemala near the border of Belize. As the morning progressed, the town became crowded with people streaming in from miles around. Some came by bus, others on motorcycles, bicycles, and on foot. Filled with hope, they had come to attend a Seva-sponsored outreach screening camp organized by Seva’s longtime local partner, Visualiza.

Word traveled quickly that the outreach team had returned, offering free care to anyone with an eye problem. Over two days, 700 people waited patiently to have their eyes examined at the temporary clinic that had been set up in the center of town.

The first morning, the line spilled out of the front door. Many sought refuge from the unrelenting sun beneath umbrellas. A nervous mother brought her nine-year-old daughter Wendy, hoping the doctors could restore sight to her blind eye. Five years ago, Wendy had lost vision in her eye after accidentally being bumped in the head while playing with friends.

Making their way through the series of exam stations, Wendy

and her mother learned that Visualiza’s ophthalmologists might be able to help her see again by operating on her eye. The doctors informed them that a cataract that had formed after the injury was causing her vision loss.

Wendy was scheduled for surgery, which would take place the next morning at Visualiza’s outreach clinic. Transportation was arranged for Wendy and her mother, along with all of the other patients who had been identified as requiring sight-restoring surgery. Of the 25 patients who boarded the clinic’s bus, Wendy was the only child.

The next morning, dressed in a hospital gown, Wendy bravely sat with the adult patients as she waited to be called in for surgery.

Twenty-four hours later, after a successful surgery, the eye patch was removed and Wendy slowly opened her eyes. For the first few days, Wendy’s vision was a little blurry. But after being fitted with a pair of prescription glasses, Wendy’s follow-up exam showed that her vision had come back nicely and the surgery had been a great success! With vision restored, Wendy can now see clearly and is excited to be returning to school. Thanks to Seva donors, Wendy’s future is bright and full of potential.

Transform

Lives by

Restoring

Sight.

YOU CAN GIVE SOMEONE THEIR SIGHT BACK FOR JUST $50.

Donate at www.seva.org

Restoring sight is one of the most effective interventions to reduce suffering and poverty.

Help someone see clearly again so they have a chance at an education, work and can support their families and communities!

January • 2022

globalheroes.com

The Snowball Effect: The Healing Bond Between Military Families

RAYE MOCIOIU AND ALEX CARTER

In 1994, Gary Sinise played the role of Lt. Dan Taylor in the award-winning film Forrest Gump—a role that changed his life forever. As the military community embraced the character he brought to life, Gary discovered his calling: a life of advocacy for America’s military veterans.

More than 26 years later, Gary Sinise keeps the spirit of his famous character alive through the Gary Sinise Foundation, working to see that those who defend this country and its freedoms are never forgotten.

For over a decade, Gary Sinise proudly supported Snowball Express, an organization dedicated to serving the children of our fallen military heroes, surviving spouses and guardians.

In 2017, the Snowball Express became an official initiative of the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Relief & Resiliency program, expanding the program’s impact to support even more Gold Star families.

“The roots of all this go back to the ‘80s and supporting our Vietnam veterans and then in the ‘90s beginning to work in support of our wounded after playing Lt Dan,” Gary Sinise shares. “After the tragic and devastating attacks on September 11, 2001, I began devoting much of my time to supporting the men and women who were answering the call to duty. I personally felt called to service in some way and wanted to do more. I began volunteering my time with the USO and many other non-profits supporting our nation’s heroes, gold and blue

star families, firefighters, police officers, and wounded veterans.

I’ve entertained our troops across the globe and all over our country, playing over 500 concerts since 2003. Over the years, it became clear to me that my journey was now a lifelong service mission to keep all of our defenders, first responders, and their families strong in difficult times by serving and honoring their needs. All of the programs at the Gary Sinise Foundation were born from a personal experience supporting our defenders.”

Beyond supporting veterans and military heroes, the Gary Sinise Foundation takes its impact one step further by creating a safe environment for the families of fallen military heroes to spend time honoring their loved ones while creating new memories with other families. Snowball Express, which takes place every December, is one such program.

While the holiday season is a joyful time for many, it can be incredibly challenging for grieving families. Snowball Express is a five-day experience at Walt Disney World Resort for 1,750+ children and their surviving parent or guardian. Snowball Express provides a supportive and understanding space for healing and celebration, surrounded by other families who understand.

With time to honor their fallen loved ones and a blend of fun entertainment and inspiring programs, these families can lean on their peers for support.

No matter where these families are in the grieving process, the goal of Snowball Express is to inspire them to believe that anything is possible.

Mikki Frison and her tenyear-old son Christopher have been attending Snowball Express since 2015, before it became an official program of the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2017. The two have been a team since the loss of Christopher’s father, Lt. Demetrius Frison, in 2011.

“Our very first Snowball was in 2015, in Dallas, Texas. Gary Sinise would do his show with the Lt. Dan band, out of an airplane hangar in one of the military bases in Texas. It was always really cool, the kids loved going up on stage to sing with Uncle Gary.”

Chris was one of the youngest kids at that particular Snowball, and Mikki recalls feeling nervous about how he would fare on his own.

“A friend of mine was there with her son, and they had been to the Snowball before, but this was our first one.

Her son, Kevyn, decided to hang out with Chris in the kid lounge, even though he had the option to go into the teen lounge. I joke and call my kid a limited edition because he’s my only child. There’s only one of him, and there will never be another kid like him ‘cause his dad is gone. He’s never really too far away from me. I was so thankful that Kevyn stood by him that entire experience, kind of like a big brother.”

Part of the power of these experiences is the unspoken bond between the families and the opportunity to bond with people who understand what you’re going through. In 2018, Mikki and Chris went to the first Snowball Express held at Disney World, where Mikki saw

© PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIKKI

that bond at work once again.

“My son had never been to Disney World before; that was his very first trip. He had been going to the kids’ lounge for years at that point.” Mikki recalls seeing a mother with her young son attending the Snowball for the first time. The pair reminded Mikki of her first experience with Chris back in 2015. “I grabbed Chris and said, ‘do you remember your first Snowball and how Kevyn hung out with you when you didn’t know anyone? Well, here’s this new little boy...’ I didn’t even get to finish what I was saying. He immediately went to the little boy, and they ran into the kids’ lounge together. We still keep in touch.”

In addition to the magic of Disney each December, the Gary Sinise Foundation also hosts intimate Snowball Express community events around the country year-round, from basketball games to educational opportunities. These events are essential for children and surviving spouses to develop bonds with the only

people who can truly understand their loss: each other.

“Support and empathy mean so much more when they come from someone who deeply understands what you’re going through,” Mikki shares. “It’s comforting to know that somebody has been there before and will hold your hand if you need. You don’t have to explain yourself, you just know someone’s been there, and that they can help you, and you’ll get the opportunity to give it back.

People were there for me when I needed it, so why wouldn’t I turn around and do the same?”

By providing fun experiences and beneficial resources in an emotionally safe and inclusive environment, the Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express serves the children and surviving spouses of fallen military heroes.

Throughout the year, community-focused programming and support make it possible for families to honor their fallen heroes while also helping create new memories as they move forward.

ADVERTORIAL

Forty Years of Changing Lives Through Quality Education Tri-County Scholarship Fund (TCSF) was founded in 1981 with the mission of improving the lives of New Jersey’s most financially vulnerable inner-city children by providing them access to the superior and safer option of values-based K-12th grade independent schools.

“Today, as the need has grown, TCSF’s founding principles remain unchanged,” says TCSF President, Prudence Pigott. “We believe that every child deserves access to a safe, quality education regardless of their family’s zip code or income level. In many poverty-stricken zip codes, the public schools are trying, but not able to deliver an environment that encourages success. There is little in the way of a positive peer group, of character development, or educational excellence. Our parents seek a better option for their children, and Tri-County makes this dream a reality by awarding partial scholarships to better, safer schools.”

TCSF addresses the striking education disparities and related

© CUPPEK PHOTOGRAPHY

racial inequalities experienced by inner-city New Jersey children. The majority of scholarship students come from inner-city, single parent homes with an average household income of $30,000. 85 percent of scholarship students are racial

and ethnic minorities. With a 40-year proven track record, Tri-County points to a winning formula of shared commitment: TCSF provides partial scholarships, the partner schools offer discounted tuition, and parents sacrifice to pay their share. All

are invested in the students’ success. As a result, the students feel cared for and believed in and make the most out of the educational opportunity.

“By awarding scholarships and educational opportunities, Tri-County breaks the cycle of generational poverty,” says Pigott. “Providing access to a quality education makes all the difference. 100 percent of our scholarship students graduate from high school. They go on to college, successful careers, and give back to their communities.

With this education, their lives are no longer pre-determined by zip code, poverty, family situation, or race.”

Tri-County scholarship recipients go on to college and productive careers, becoming success stories as they also give back to their own communities.

This year, scholarship alumna Ximena Cespedes addressed TCSF trustees and donors.

Ximena, a graduate of Mary Help of Christians Academy (North Haledon, NJ), went on to earn a degree in Political Economy from

Georgetown University. She was employed as a financial analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This past fall, Ximena began studies at Harvard Law School.

“None of my successes—past, present or future—would be possible without the donors of the Tri-County Scholarship Fund. An education is truly the single greatest gift a child can receive. Thank you for choosing to invest in mine. It has made all the difference.

I can’t wait to one day be in your seat so that I can change the lives of many students in the way you have changed mine.”—Ximena Cespedes, Tri-County scholarship recipient 2007-2015 The need is still great. There are 1800 children on the scholarship wait list. Please help one more child receive the life-changing gift of a quality, safe, values-based education. Learn how at www.tcsfund.org

January • 2022

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ADVERTORIAL

Protecting Our Children Through Research: The ‘Why’ Behind Birth Defects

BETTY MEKDECI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BIRTH DEFECT RESEARCH FOR CHILDREN

Why my child? This is the question every parent asks when their child has been born with a birth defect or developmental disability.

It is the question my family asked when our son, David, was born with a missing hand in 1975.

Birth Defect Research for Children (BDRC) was created to answer our questions and to help other families going through the same challenges. We started the organization in 1982 because we wanted BDRC to be everything we needed but could not find when David was born.

Through BDRC, we have created a variety of programs and services, including the National Birth Defect Registry and the Parent Matching Program.

Having a child who is born different can be challenging and lonely. Families want to meet others with children with similar birth defects, so we created a national parent matching program that links families with the same conditions. Parents have reported to us how much parent matching has helped.

“I met my best friend through

your parent matching project.

No one understands what it is like to have a child with a serious heart defect like another mother whose child has the same thing,” explained one of the mothers of the Parent Matching Program.

“When your child is born with a rare birth defect, you feel so alone. Through parent-matching, I was able to connect with other families and form a support network.”

“I wondered if other veteran’s children were having repeated ear infections,” recalls one of the parents. “Through the parent matching program, I found that the answer was ‘yes’.”

In the late 1980s, we researched how the major causes of ‘non-genetic’ birth defects had been discovered. Approximately 20 percent of birth defects are inherited through genetic mechanisms; the other 80 percent have some triggering event during or prior

BIRTH DEFECT

to the pregnancy.

Through further research and studies, we decided to create the National Birth Defect Registry in 1990 with a team of scientists with expertise in environmental toxins, genetics, epidemiology, and birth defects. We now have a registry with 10,000 cases. We collect data on both structural (spina bifida, oral clefts, etc.) and functional birth defects (autism, ADHD, intellectual impairment) as well as exposures of the mothers and the fathers.

We also collect data on all kinds of birth defects and exposures to identify patterns of birth defects emerging with certain exposures.

If we detect a pattern, it generates a hypothesis to test through other forms of research.

We are the only registry of its kind in the world, and we have been able to find associations between birth defects and exposures that have helped families across the U.S. When our son David was born missing his right hand, every time we went to a doctor, they would ask, “what drugs

did you take during pregnancy?” I had been prescribed a drug for morning sickness and had other medications for discomforts during pregnancy.

Because of these questions from my doctors, I reached out to the FDA and was told to utilize the recently enacted Freedom of Information Act to request documents on the medications I had taken.

Through this, we learned that one of these drugs was a commonly used morning sickness medication that was associated with birth defects in numerous “adverse reaction” reports. The majority of these reports were like David’s birth defects, partially missing limbs.

Because of our work linking this medication to birth defects, it was taken off the worldwide market.

We have also worked on a variety of other research projects linking birth defects to specific exposures, including in the children of Vietnam veterans and Gulf War veterans who had toxic exposures during military service.

The data we have collected helped support the passage of Public Law 114-315, which has provisions

to study the links between birth defects and veterans’ exposure to toxins during military service.

“I have known and worked with Betty and the Birth Defect Research for Children since the early 1990’s,” Bill Lewis explained. “In my role as Executive Director of the New Jersey Agent Orange Commission, a state agency, we worked with Betty and her group to establish a national registry of children of Vietnam Veterans. I was honored to be with her when we jointly presented our data to the National Academy of Sciences.”

We certainly didn’t do all of this alone. We have worked with scientists, state commissions, veterans’ groups, community advocacy groups, and concerned families.

There is no other project like the National Birth Defect Registry, and it is supported entirely by the public.

The registry works by numbers, and the more cases we have, the more we will learn and the more birth defects we can prevent. So fewer families will have to ask, “Why My Child?”

RESEARCH FOR CHILDREN

BECAUSE EVERY BIRTH DEFECT HAS A CAUSE

With your support we can investigate other causes of preventable birth defects through registry research.

DONATE TODAY AT BIRTHDEFECTS.ORG

January • 2022

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WASTE INTO WEALTH: Thunder Bay Sisters Use Fashion for Good “Every piece of clothing is touched by another life.” us bring our vision to life, but we always wanted to bring production Ungalli is on a mission to change to Canada,” Hailey recalls. “With the way people think about cloth- the help of a very generous grant ing. In today’s changing world, from Canadian Geographic the pressure to buy new clothes, Magazine, we were able to whether to be on-trend or for the finally bring the entirety of our thrill of owning something new, production home.” is underlined by a dark truth: the The sisters opened a retail store fashion industry is one of the most in their hometown of Thunder polluting industries in the world.

Bay and operated their business Based in Thunder Bay, online. But the impact Ungalli Ontario, sisters Hailey and Bree has made goes past just t-shirts. are fiercely committed to creating By choosing Ungalli, shoppers a new style standard, raising aware- are not just choosing to support ness about the negative impacts of a sustainable brand and ethically the mainstream clothing industry made clothing—they’re choosing while producing a superior, sustain- to support local charities and able alternative. Since its launch in programs that give back to 2013, Ungalli has made incredible the Thunder Bay community.

From The Mashkawi-Manidoo strides to create a community Bimaadiziwin Spirit to Soar of environmentally conscious consumers, received praise from Fund, which connects vulnerable Indigenous youth with community all over the country, and recycled programming, to Indigenous over one million bottles to make into clothing. The sisters champion Canadian artists like Emma Forbes, who designed Ungalli’s local in more ways than one: all of Ungalli’s products are ethically Orange Shirt Day collection, made in Canada from recycled and Ungalli places immense power in supporting local. organic materials, and the brand To celebrate Pride Month, makes giving back a priority.

In 2011, as the sisters became Ungalli launched the Love is Love collection in collaboration with more aware of the major flaws within the clothing industry, they Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay. Proceeds from the collection felt they had to do more to bring supported the organization’s it to people’s attention. At the time, sustainable materials were Community Micro-Grants, through which community not easy to find, nor was finding members will have the opportunity means of production. to apply for low barrier grants for “We did eventually find a supplies (gender-affirming gear), company in the USA who helped RAYE MOCIOIU

© PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNGALLI CLOTHING

projects (art, support groups), and basic needs (groceries, etc.).

The funding supports the GSD (Gender and Sexual Diversity) community in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. Through this initiative, Ungalli donated $1400 to Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay. “Ungalli is deeply rooted in community and believes in supporting and giving back to the community that supports us. We are also big supporters of the Wake the Giant movement and music festival that supports Indigenous youth that come to Thunder Bay from remote First Nation communities to attend school,” says Bree. “It’s important for us to provide a platform for artists to showcase their talents, work, and message.”

That belief is also the driving force behind the Ungalli Collective, a storefront featuring locally made wares and small businesses. The sisters share that the vendors they choose to feature in the collective are not only amazing at what they do, but they also represent a piece of the Thunder Bay community.

“When people visit Thunder Bay and come to Ungalli Collective, we want them to feel the love, warmth, and sense of community our small city has to offer. Ungalli started as a small kiosk in a mall, so as a company, we want to provide an opportunity

© JAMIE DAWN PHOTOGRAPHY

for other small businesses to grow and have their start.”

Throughout the pandemic, Ungalli expanded their impact, starting the “Support the Makers” grant to offer a helping hand to struggling small businesses and creatives.

“We wanted to make sure they felt some love from their community, and we wanted to make sure they knew they weren’t alone,” shares Bree.

One lucky recipient received the $500 grant, and three others were selected to be featured in The Ungalli Collective as local vendors.

Over the past two years, Ungalli has experienced a large increase in demand right across Canada for customized merchandise. The clothing company offers custom screenprinting on its sustainably and ethically made clothing products. The demand for their custom screen-printed tees, which they produce for businesses, charities, organizations, and more, has grown, and the brand is happy to accommodate it. As the sisters describe it, organizations order hundreds (or thousands!) of t-shirts at a time. By replacing traditionally manufactured t-shirts with sustainably and ethically produced shirts, the environmental impact is substantial. Ungalli is one of the only companies in Canada that

offers this kind of service on sustainable clothing.

This summer, Ungalli partnered with Superior Screen Printing to create an 8,000 square-foot warehouse, retail, and production space.

“After a year of searching for the perfect space, Ungalli couldn’t be more excited about this new location. This is an amazing site, and we are inspired by the nostalgia of the old Port Arthur movie theater that we plan to keep alive as part of our design. We feel motivated to help grow and revitalize this downtown neighborhood with some new friends and continue to live up to our mission of sustainability,” says Hailey.

From a small kiosk in a mall to a new retail store and warehouse space, Ungalli’s growth has made an impressive impact.

To date, Ungalli is proud to have saved 5,076,312 days of drinking water, avoided 124,423 km of driving emissions, and recycled 1,169,242 PET bottles.

As Ungalli continues to grow and expand its product line, the sisters want to share that the smallest changes can have a big impact when it comes to building a sustainable wardrobe!

“It’s not about replacing your entire wardrobe with sustainable clothing and throwing everything else out. It’s about a shift in your mindset and buying only what you need.”

ADVERTORIAL

Watering the Seeds of Change in South Sudan “I was just 11 years old when I was forced to flee my village.

I became one of 17,000 “Lost Boys” of Sudan, who fled the country’s southern region during Sudan’s two-decade civil war,” says Water for South Sudan (WFSS) founder Salva Dut. At age 16, Salva led 1,500 Lost Boys from Ethiopia to the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, where they lived for several years. In 1996, Salva was given the opportunity to come to the U.S., arriving in Rochester, NY, with little grasp on the language, no formal education, but a determination to make a living for himself.

When he learned his father was gravely ill, he traveled back to southern Sudan to reunite with him.

“In 2002, I returned to Sudan to visit my father and learned he was suffering from a waterborne disease,” Salva recalls. “It gave me a goal. I came back to the U.S. and founded Water for South Sudan, Inc. in Rochester, NY.”

His immediate plan was to drill a well for his father’s village, so he began by mobilizing a committed group of Rochesterians and established a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2003. By 2005, they were able to drill the well in his father’s village—but they knew their work was far from done.

More than 5.1 million people in South Sudan live without clean water.

South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011 after fighting the longest and deadliest civil war in Africa. With firearms left in the hands of civilians, tribes fight over grazing lands, water points, and cattle-raiding adding to the country’s struggles.

Still the world’s youngest country, South Sudan lacks a stable government and basic infrastructure, preventing stable communities and economic growth. This leads to village residents being displaced and forced to live in poor conditions.

WFSS realized a desperate need for clean water in southern

Sudan and continued to raise money to grow the organization.

Since 2005, WFSS has drilled 505 wells, serving more than 350,000 people. Before WFSS drills a well, these isolated villages often only have access to contaminated water sources.

WFSS works with local governments and community leaders to determine the placement of wells. The goal is to create sustainable systems, incorporating well maintenance and training as part of the well installation so that when the time comes, the well can be turned over to the community upon completion.

Clean water saves lives, and access to it means communities can improve their overall health, education, and economy. Girls can go to school and women have more opportunities.

Through the support of donors worldwide, WFSS can continue to grow and save lives in vulnerable communities. Help water the seeds of change by sponsoring a well or donating to transform lives in South Sudan.

Clean Water Saves Lives!

Clean Water Isn’t Just a Lifesaver— It’s a Game-Changer.

Your gift will transform lives and build communities in South Sudan.

DONATE AT WATERFORSOUTHSUDAN.ORG

January • 2022

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Travel should be INCLUSIVE NOT EXCLUSIVE

Travel For All puts the access in accessible travel.

Plan the adventure of your dreams with our Accessibility Specialists at 1-888-993-9295 or travel-for-all.com

RESPONSIBLE TRAVELER © BRIAN LISCINSKY

© AMI VITALE

© EMAKOKO

© AMI VITALE

© DANA ALLEN

Behind the Lens: Ami Vitale on Capturing Beauty and Healing in Kenya without talking about nature.

Shaba was angry and aggressive when she arrived at the sanctuThere is a special kind of healing ary, neither ready nor willing that comes from fostering positive to accept the help of humans. relationships with nature.

It took a long time for Vitale For Ami Vitale, there is also im- and the women at Reteti to be accepted into Shaba’s herd and to mense beauty in capturing those relationships in photos and films. build a trusting relationship with her—but when they finally did, Healing and empowerment something amazing happened. can often go hand in hand. The Samburu women in Kenya are Shaba took on the role of the mother. When new orphans pulling inspiration from one would arrive, Shaba was drawn particularly powerful female: to their scent. She would be Shaba, a rescued elephant at there to welcome them, care for Reteti Elephant Rescue. At just a year old, Shaba witnessed her them, and teach them how to be wild elephants. At a young age, mother being shot by poachers. she became a supportive figure Traumatized and alone, Shaba for the newly rescued calves and was taken into the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, the first helped Reteti nurse more than 30 Indigenous-owned and run elephants back to life.

In partnership with Reteti conservation initiative, focusing on the rescue, rehabilitation, Elephant Sanctuary, Vitale and re-wilding of orphaned and released a short film titled Shaba, abandoned elephants. her second short film spotlighting For Vitale, Shaba’s story gave the incredible work done by her a refreshed look into the wild Reteti. The film became available animal. “I couldn’t tell Reteti’s for viewing online on July 2nd story without telling the story of and is still available for viewing Shaba. She taught them how to with a donation of $10 to Reteti do their work,” she explained. at: amivitale.com/product/shaba.

Vitale’s work as a photograIn celebration of World Elephant pher and filmmaker has taken Day, the TreadRight Foundation’s travel partners, African Travel, her to more than 100 countries where she witnessed firsthand Inc. (ATI) and Lion World Travel heartbreak, but also the resilience (LWT), both safari outfitters people have. She has documented who partner with the sanctuary, war zones, environmental stories, hosted a virtual screening and live and wildlife in hopes that her Q&A with Vitale. The funds from work will empower others to ticket sales went directly to Reteti, make a difference. helping to purchase food, beds, Her passion stems from namilk, medical supplies, and more ture—striving to tell stories about for the elephants in their care. the human condition and its con- ATI and LWT guests can visit the nection to the natural world. She sanctuary on their Captivating centers her work around the belief Kenya and Experience Kenya that you can’t talk about humanity safaris. They both offer a ALLIE MURRAY AND RAYE MOCIOIU

sustainable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, where travelers are given a behind-thescenes tour of the sanctuary and meet the women who are breaking barriers while taking care of these orphaned animals. Both brands will donate two bedtime blankets and three bottles of milk for every couple that books trips featuring Reteti in 2022.

women. The keepers shared that it was difficult to prove that they could rehabilitate these orphans and rewild them, and Shaba played a pivotal role in making that process a reality.

Through her work with the notfor-profit foundation, TreadRight, Vitale advocates for wildlife conservation and strives to tell stories of animals around the world through travel and photography.

The project is not just chang“The elephants are helping to ing attitudes about elephants; empower the women at Reteti. it is changing attitudes about Women are transforming how women too. they relate to the wild and the Tourism in Africa helps uplift connections the next generathe economy—now more than tion has with nature. It’s a ever amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has ultimatereciprocal relationship, they are all helping and teaching ly halted tourism worldwide. each other,” Vitale said.

Through assistance from African Travel, Inc. and sister brand Lion World Travel, TreadRight supports more than 60 projects worldwide.

Elephants have intricate They are also the architects behind social structures and are said to value their families more than MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences, which are conscious most animals, forming strong, intimate bonds that last a lifetime. travel experiences available on Kenyan safaris, South Africa’s natElephants are known to mourn the death of their loved ones, and ural wonders, deserts of Namibia, mothers have been seen grieving and so much more. Proceeds from ATI and LWT’s visits directly benfor stillborn calves.

They travel in herds composed efit Reteti and help them continue of females and led by an older, their work, empowering elephants experienced matriarch. and women alike.

Being the oldest, she has the For the Samburu women, knowledge that will ensure the Reteti became a place where they herd’s survival in times of hardship could show the power women and teach them how to protect hold. The sanctuary is run by themselves from danger. a team of women and men— At two years old, Shaba made up of the first-ever women became the first matriarch of the elephant keepers in Africa. Reteti’s Reteti herd. founder Katie Rowe explained In Shaba, Vitale shares that in a feature with Conservation watching Shaba step into the International that women in role of matriarch was a source of Africa didn’t think there was a empowerment for the Samburu place for them in animal care.

Reteti helped uplift them and make the space for them.

“Now, the success of these women elephant keepers is unlocking new possibilities, setting a powerful example for young girls hoping to pursue their dreams,” the article reads. “It’s also changing how the community relates to elephants. Schoolchildren who have never seen an elephant before or who were afraid of elephants visit Reteti and experience these elephants up close, and they realize they can grow up to be a veterinarian or elephant keeper.”

Empowerment also breeds innovation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the powdered milk used by the sanctuary became difficult to keep in supply. One of the keepers discovered that they could use goat’s milk instead, and source it from a local, woman-owned farm. This way, the money used to feed the elephants would stay local and, in turn, support more women.

Shaba and her herd have since safely connected with a herd of wild elephants, but her legacy lives on at Reteti. Vitale shares that through Shaba and the keepers at Reteti, women are transforming how they relate to the wild and the connections the next generation will have with animals.

As responsible travelers, we must respect the places we visit so that future generations can do the same. Like elephants, the connections we forge on our travels become the memories that stay with us long after the trip is over.

“Instead of checking a box off a bucket list, responsible travel is about the bonds we create,” says Vitale. © DANA ALLEN

CAPTIVATING KENYA— AFRICAN TRAVEL, INC. & EXPERIENCE KENYA— LION WORLD TRAVEL Guests craving a meaningful and enriching safari experience can soak up the best of East Africa with African Travel, Inc.’s nine-day “Captivating Kenya” journey or Lion World Travel’s nine-day “Experience Kenya” safari. Both safari outfitters are known for their expertise, esteemed service, and exceptional luxury safari experiences.

These itineraries begin in Nairobi, where guests are welcomed before arriving at their boutique lodge at the edge of Nairobi National Park. Following a day enjoying a morning game drive and afternoon touring the city, guests take flight as they head to the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya where they spend the next four days staying at the stunning Sarara Treehouses.

Travelers enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience

on a visit to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Kenya’s first community-owned and run elephant orphanage, where they partake in a behind-the-scenes tour with an elephant keeper and watch the elephants play in the mud.

Another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience awaits as guests are immersed in the culture of the Samburu people, where they discover their history and culture and how this semi-nomadic pastoralist tribe co-exists with wildlife.

Onwards, guests fly to the Maasai Mara where they stay at the Governors’ Il Moran Camp in a luxurious tented camp for the remainder of their journey.

Home to the most diverse concentration of wildlife in Africa today, guests embark on daily game drives accompanied by expert rangers in search of the Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and African buffalos).

The journey concludes with a final morning spent on safari before departing for Nairobi.

January • 2022

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ADVERTORIAL

Experience the wines of

SOUTHWEST ONTARIO O

NTARIO’S wine industry is growing and maturing with each passing year. This is especially true in Ontario’s Southwest, home to three wine regions, each with its own charms and unique experiences. Now is the perfect time to plan a wine-tasting adventure complete with local delicacies and breathtaking views of Ontario’s natural beauty. Leave behind the crowded and overbooked spaces and take in the scenic charms and

inviting warmth of the emerging wineries in Norfolk, Sarnia-Lambton, Essex County, and Pelee Island.

All the wineries in Southwestern Ontario take advantage of a temperate climate, enhanced by the diversity of glacial soils and the moderating effect of the Great Lakes, to produce their unique wines. Celebrate Ontario’s Southwest with awardwinning wines that truly reflect the history and character of their region.

South Coast Wine Region Norfolk County is situated along the North Shore of beautiful Lake Erie, just two hours from Downtown Toronto. With a landscape dominated by Carolinian forests, pristine farmlands, and some of Ontario’s best beaches and parks, Norfolk has become a favorite destination that is highly accessible.

The wineries of Norfolk County form part of the South Coast Wines region, a stunning area with ten celebrated wineries, all producing fabulous, award-winning wines that truly reflect the history and character of the region. Add to that Norfolk’s deeply rooted agricultural history, and visitors soon find that it’s not just local grapes that help Norfolk stand out. Fresh fermented hard ciders and exceptional craft-brewed beers and spirits result from an exquisite bounty of hops, apples, and other fresh ingredients.

SIP AND SAVOR AT FRONT ROAD CELLARS At Front Road Cellars, the insistence upon only the best for their wines begins in the field, where premium fruit and grapes of the highest quality are bathed in Southwestern Ontario sunshine.

With minimal intervention in the cellar, the winemaking process lets each fruit express its true character. Whether sipping a pint of cider while grilling dinner on the back deck or pouring your new favorite

a legacy of growing Ontario produce and estate grapes with passion and heart. With grape varieties including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, and Pinot Grigio, combined with a uniquely breathtaking view of Lake Erie, Inasaphere Winery is a must-see stop on your wine tasting adventure.

Between sips, explore beautiful beaches, meandering bike trails, fresh fruit and vegetable stands, and a vibrant culinary scene. All of the wineries in the area can be found on the © TRAVELING MITCH © ONTARIO’S SOUTHWEST Toast the Coast Trail, a self-guided red for friends, every sip is meant to glass walls. Inside, a wonderfully trail that spans three counties on the be savored and experienced. functional, modern, working win- north shores of Lake Erie. ery shares its winemaking secrets.

HISTORY AND CHARM AT Enjoy tasting award-winning VQA wines year-round in this unique and BURNING KILN WINERY Situated on a former tobacco tract picturesque location. and overlooking the UNESCO World Biosphere of Long Point, LEGACY AND HEART AT Burning Kiln Winery has been built INASAPHERE WINES to preserve its historic charm. Its At Inasphere Wines, on the shores original wooden structure is part of Lake Erie, you are guaranteed to of the experience, where visitors find quality home-grown flavors To learn more, visit can view much of the operation and experiences to remember. The ontariosouthcoastwine.com from behind giant, contemporary family-run winery is committed to

Blue Coast Wine Region Experience the perfect beach day along Ontario’s Blue Coast in Sarnia-Lambton, where breathtaking waterfront views and a bustling food scene await you, inspired by the laid-back coastal lifestyles in Lambton County.

The region is home to three emerging wineries, each of which boasts a unique adventure for every kind of getaway, from horseback riding to scenic walking trails, each made better with award-winning wines and a premium waterfront food scene. Lambton landscape, or enjoy a taste of adventure with a horseback FAMILY-FRIENDLY and wine tasting tour through the ADVENTURES AT SHALE rolling hills surrounding Shale RIDGE ESTATE WINERY Ridge Estate Winery.

Explore and indulge in all the wonders of the Sarnia-Lambton TRADITION, NATURE, wine region, starting with an AND INNOVATION AT unforgettable outing with family ALTON FARMS ESTATE and friends at Shale Ridge Estate WINERY Winery in Thedford, the region’s Get back to nature with a stroll newest winery. Sip wine while through Alton Farms, explorsitting back in suspended swing ing the walking trails that wind tables overlooking the rural Sarnia- through the vineyard. Excite your

© ONTARIO’S BLUE COAST

tastebuds as you sample wine and food pairings from local chefs and participate in vineyard events like the annual Fall Grape Stomp.

With over 17 wines, Alton Farms has something for those new to wine and those with the most discerning taste buds.

premium wines and breathtaking views—a perfect combination in a picturesque location. Cozy up around the fire on the 85-acre vineyard for an evening glass of wine with your significant other to commemorate a perfect getaway to Sarnia-Lambton, or watch the sunset along Ontario’s A COZY GETAWAY AT Blue Coast, just a short distance DARK HORSE ESTATE from Lake Huron. With VIP WINERY tasting tours, premium events Over in Grand Bend, Dark space, one-of-a-kind architecture, Horse Estate Winery is home to and a wide selection of perfectly

aged wines, Dark Horse Estate Winery is your perfectly curated getaway in Sarnia-Lambton.

Ontario’s Blue Coast-Lambton County is earning a name as the destination to visit and taste a variety of new drink creations, from award-winning wine to craft-brewed beer, hard cider, and mead. Experience every corner of the region with a trip down The Cheers to the Coast Drink Trail, which shines a spotlight on the many award-winning talents of Lambton County, with 14 locations to explore. Come and sip, savor, and let your taste buds decide on your favorite.

To learn more, visit: ontbluecoast.com

Essex Pelee Island Coast Wine Region Welcome to EPIC Wine Country.

With 18 waterfront wineries along Lake Erie North Shore, including Ontario’s only beachfront winery and the Pelee Island Winery & Pavillion, Essex Pelee Island Coast Wine Region has wine and food pairings for every set of tastebuds— and you can try them all.

With an EPIC Tasting Pass, you can experience tasting sessions at scenic and historic hamlet of Oxley eight participating wineries: on the north shore of Lake Erie.

COLIO ESTATE WINERY One of Ontario’s first wineries and DANCING a must-visit location for those who SWALLOWS want to experience a taste of history. VINEYARD Essex county’s newest and smallCOOPER’S HAWK est winery, lets nature take the VINEYARDS lead in guiding their wines, alThe perfect place to enjoy a glass of lowing each wine to be wholly award-winning wine, surrounded itself. On each year’s label, they by beautiful views of the vineyards, share original artwork depicting wildlife, and majestic sunsets. swallows in flight.

© TOURISM WINDSOR ESSEX PELEE ISLAND

dating back more than 150 years VIVACE ESTATE WINERY and is a founding member of Located in the historic town of Sustainable Winemaking Ontario. Amherstburg, Ontario, is a remarkable experience of vine-toSPRUCEWOOD wine excellence.

SHORES ESTATE WINERY To make the most of your Ontario’s only beachfront winery, adventure, plan a road trip uscomplete with warm hospitality, ing the Windsor Essex Digital expansive natural settings, and Itinerary Builder and create a picnic lunches. custom plan based on your interests, budget, travel dates, and VIEWPOINTE everything in between.

ESTATE WINERY With so much to see and explore, OXLEY ESTATE WINERY PELEE ISLAND WINERY An ideal place to gather with Windsor Essex is the perfect Known for its small lot, fruit-for- Home to a 700+ acre farm in family and friends and enjoy getaway. Plan your getaway by ward wines, and delicious locally Canada’s warmest grape-growing Essex County’s fine wines and booking a unique experience for sourced foods, is located in the region, has a winemaking history culinary diversity. your trip. Whether it’s a stay at one Plan a trip to Ontario’s Southwest for a perfect pairing— the seasons best flavors with the region’s best wines.

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of the B&B’s nestled along the wine route, a glamping experience–even a floating wine barrel!

Discover the home of Canadian whisky, the Southern mainland tip of Canada, the birthplace of the bubble in Canada, the start of the underground railroad, and more. End the evening by staying in a unique rental, like a floating wine barrel overlooking lush vineyards, or a floating geodesic dome. For cozy comforts reminiscent of home, visit one of the region’s top-rated hotels and B&Bs, including Magnolia House Ranch, Walnut Grove B&B, and the Grove Hotel.

To learn more, visit: visitwindsoressex.com/wine

RESPONSIBLE TRAVELER

ADVERTORIAL

Culture and Culinary Gems Await at This Iconic Getaway It’s no secret that Niagara Falls, Canada, is internationally renowned for its awe-inspiring natural wonders and world-class entertainment. What many have yet to truly experience is the locally inspired cuisine and hundreds of years of history and culture.

The parks and historic buildings in Niagara Falls all have a story to tell with new experiences created to immerse guests into the city. The Niagara Parks Power Station, built in 1905 to produce hydroelectricity by leveraging the power of the Niagara River, has been completely restored.

This marvel of engineering and architecture opened to the public in July 2021 with interactive exhibits and restored artifacts.

At night, the building comes to life with a breathtaking sound and light show. In July 2022, phase two of the attraction will give guests access to the tailrace tunnel leading to the thundering base of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

A visit to the Niagara Falls History Museum highlights the

impact the Indigenous and Black communities made to the Niagara Region through the War of 1812 and the Underground Railroad.

To discover the rich Indigenous history of Niagara Falls, guests can join an authentic guided tour with the Indigenous Niagara: Living Museum Tours.

After exploring the nature and historic attractions, guests will be delighted to savor some of the best dining experiences in the country.

The culinary scene in Niagara Falls offers critically acclaimed local cuisine and award-winning wines, craft brews, and spirits. At AG Inspired Cuisine, TripAdvisor’s 10 Best Restaurants in Canada, the Chef grows and harvests ingredients daily from the local farm, creating dishes authentic to the Niagara Falls terroir. A great place to “Blunch” is the Flour Mill Scratch Kitchen Restaurant, the most historic restaurant in Niagara Falls dating back to 1904 at the Old Stone Inn Boutique Hotel.

Pair farm-fresh cuisine with breathtaking views of the brink

January • 2022

of the Falls day or night at Niagara Parks’ Table Rock House Restaurant. At the Skylon Tower, guests are treated to continental cuisine in a revolving dining room 775 ft above the Falls for spectacular views all around. The Watermark, perched 33 stories above the Falls with floor to ceiling windows, is considered one of the city’s most romantic restaurants. Massimo’s Italian Fallsview Restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine by Massimo Capra, one of Canada’s most celebrated chefs.

As the Entertainment Capital of Canada, Niagara Falls boasts spectacular attractions, live music and theater venues, and the largest casino in Canada. The Fallsview Casino Resort is home to two state-of-the-art entertainment venues and 20 restaurants. For theater buffs, the famous Shaw Festival, one of North America’s finest cultural attractions, is only a short drive away in Niagara-on-the-Lake, also home to Niagara’s wine country.

Fogo Island Inn, Where Luxury and Sustainability Meet The Inn is a community asset—all operating surpluses are reinvested to help secure a For Zita Cobb, Founder and sustainable and resilient future CEO of the Shorefast Foundation for Fogo Island and contribute and Innkeeper of Fogo Island Inn, to the local and global economy. genuine hospitality supports the Even during construction, the flow of its community. As she puts Inn worked from within the hyit, “Good businesses take care of people too.” per-local Fogo Island community, Zita’s work displays her comcreating jobs at every step of the mitment to the people of Fogo way, from handmade furniture Island—one of Canada’s oldest to hospitality staffing to locally ZITA COBB © DAVID HOWELLS 2018 FOGO ISLAND INN © ALEX FRADKIN ROOFTOP HOT TUBS © ALEX FRADKIN settlements and the place she grown ingredients, all while called home until age 16. striving to minimize the impact brings multi-year sparkling ice In 2021, the Newfoundland more necessary than ever. on the surrounding environment. floes to the shores, a pernative became the first social For Zita, whose passion SEVEN SEASONS The Inn also operates a zeOF LUXURY fect opportunity for nature ro-waste kitchen, using bottling, entrepreneur to be inducted into is to ensure place-based the Canadian Business Hall of communities can belong in our photography, and a hopeful pickling and fermentation to “Hospitality is a very simple thing: spring follows to thaw the ice preserve food surpluses, and uses Fame for her incredible work global economy, revitalizing a in developing the Shorefast community like Fogo Island was it’s the love of a stranger,” says Zita. before June’s Trap Berth Season, solar thermal panels on the roof Fogo Island Inn is a one-of-anamed for the traditional to supply hot water for heating, Foundation and its luxury not a small fix, but it was an easy property, the Fogo Island Inn. answer—working from within to kind award-winning luxury prop- staking out of fishing grounds, laundry, and kitchen equipment. often in between bobbing Visitors can even take their enable agency for Fogo Islanders erty with 29 unique rooms and icebergs. From spring through impact a step further by opting and a cycle of reinvestment. suites, each with floor-to-ceiling “One-third of the households SUPPORTING THE windows that open onto the ocean. summer, visitors can do marine to make their stay carbon on this island work directly with excursions and experience guided neutral by supporting a carbon FLOW OF LIFE Fogo Island is not limited to us, either at the inn or at the four seasons; instead, the islanders tours of Little Fogo Islands with offsetting project in Stephenville foundation,” Zita shares. and Appleton-Glenwood, Shorefast is a registered charity have seven seasons that reflect the a local captain and learn about All the surpluses from the Inn changes in their weather and life- this traditional inshore fishing Newfoundland, through the dedicated to securing cultural and economic resiliency for Fogo are returned to and reinvested in styles throughout the year. Each destination. Late Fall is the perfect Newfoundland Climate and the community through the proj- of the Island’s seven seasons is rife time to reflect, relax, and prepare Ecosystems Conservancy Project.

Island, Change Islands, and to with opportunities for adventure, for the winter to come, all while In partnership with Carinspiring similar rural communi- ects and programs of Shorefast. watching dramatic waves crash up bonzero, this sustainability ties worldwide.

It’s a mission that is part of what and most seasons invite the exZita calls “supporting the flow of ploration of Fogo Island on foot. against the Island’s 420-millionThe charitable entity and its initiative works to balance social businesses, the most inter- life”—it’s also a great source of greenhouse gas emissions with With over a dozen easily accessible year-old rocks. pride for the organization. nationally renowned of which is trails on the Island and guided avoidances or removals in equal The Economic Nutrition amounts, directly benefitting Fogo Island Inn, works with and hikes led by naturalists, geolowithin the community to revital- Certification Mark, developed gists-in-residence, and community ECO-TOURISM AT THE and protecting Fogo Island’s

by Shorefast, shows visitors CORNER OF THE EARTH sacred natural land. ize the local economy, preserve hosts, natural beauty awaits no matter when one visits.

Experiences like Fogo Island and evolve long-standing cultural exactly where their money goes and how the cost of each nightly Built on the principles of knowledge as well as strive to Snowy winters are filled with Inn are proof that it’s possible socializing in warm cabins, hearty sustainability and a true love to enjoy a beautiful and unique have a positive relationship with stay breaks down.

“How do we all fit together? It’s meals prepared on woodstoves and and respect for nature and nature and its resources. getaway that not only supports clioutdoor bonfires, and exuberant culture, Fogo Island Inn offers In the midst of a climate crisis a source of wonder, but it’s also a mate-friendly initiatives but that and at the tapering end of a realization that we can do things days spent snowmobiling, skating, a holistic immersion into immediately and directly contribcommunity development and global pandemic, enterprises like to fit together better—and that is snowshoeing, and tobogganing. utes to the cultural and economic cultural preservation.

Pack Ice season (March) Shorefast and Fogo Island Inn are what hospitality does,” Zita shares. future of a local community.

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Explore Georgia’s Natural Outdoor Playground Rolling mountains riddled with trails. Small towns with Southern charm. Lakeside views off the beaten path. An outdoor adventure is waiting for you in Harris County, Georgia.

From mountain top views to forest trails and an abundance of opportunities to observe wildlife on untouched land, Harris County is next door to nature. As you unplug, experience centuries of conservation and stewardship carved in American history.

For a unique trek like no other, explore the undiscovered Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park—Georgia’s largest state park, home to over 9,000 acres of preserved woodlands, wildlife, the infamous Pine Mountain Trail, and numerous waterfalls and overlooks.

A hiker’s and backpacker’s haven, this park boasts more than 40 miles of trails that wind through hardwood and pines, over creeks, and past small waterfalls. Head out for

a short hike, a day-long excursion, or gear up to take on the Pine Mountain Trail. Make your way up to Dowdell’s Knob, just above King’s Gap, where President Franklin D. Roosevelt sometimes picnicked and pondered world affairs. A favorite spot for picnicking and sight-seeing, visitors are welcomed by a life-size sculpture of the president. Locals share that the view from the overlook is one of the most incredible and peaceful sights throughout the entire state. Surprised to see mountains here? You’re not the only one, and you’ll soon find that Harris County is host to many charming surprises.

Food is tradition in Harris County, and they’re always happy to share it. Refuel after your adventure with a visit to one of many delicious restaurants, cafés, and bakeries! Whether you’re looking for a homestyle Southern dish or a fine dining experience, you’ll find it in Harris County.

© PHOTO COURTESY OF ATOMIC BRAND ENERGY

Next, unwind on the Chattahoochee River, with 48 miles of river trail available yearround for raft, canoe, kayak, and motorboat use. Challenge yourself to the Chattahoochee River Paddle Trail, a canoe and kayak trail running 36.2 miles, or conquer the Man O’ War Trail, a popular spot for hiking,

running, and cycling. Animal enthusiasts in the family? Take a Wild Animal Safari and get a close-up look at 70+ species of exotic animals, giraffes included!

When the sun sets, wind down under the stars with a backcountry tent site, lakeside in a cozy and quaint lodge, or in the comfort of your personal

RV. Harris County offers numerous options that are close to restaurants, attractions, and above all else, nature.

There are so many ways to explore Harris County.

Make outdoor adventures your new family tradition. exploreharriscountyga.com

January • 2022

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Have You Heard? Chenango County Has A Secret...

We all need something to look forward to, and there is nothing more motivating than planning your next getaway. In Chenango County, you will find the perfect blend of upstate countryside and exciting adventure to revel in, from well-known destinations to hidden gems. Enjoy classic cars, vibrant arts, and outdoor adventure within the Chenango County borders. Gear up for cross-country skiing, hiking, hunting, snowmobiling, fat biking, and ice fishing in this area we call home.

New York has some of the best hunting and trapping areas in the nation. The NYS Division of Fish and Wildlife manages about 187,000 acres of wildlife. These areas are located throughout the state, and you can immerse yourself in Chenango County’s rural paradise with 80,000-plus acres that make up the state lands.

Chenango County is home to the most public wilderness in New York outside of the Adirondacks.

Sixty percent of the county (which covers roughly 900 square miles) is forested and small game,

turkey, trophy white-tailed deer, and even the occasional black bear are found here. Although locals are quite familiar with all the greatest sites to hunt and fish in Chenango, many are hesitant to divulge their best spots, wishing to keep them ‘secret’ for their own special treasures.

One of the newest activities that has burst into the area is mountain biking. Not just for racing, riding the trails provides a great cardio workout for both the younger and older generations. The local mountain biking group has helped transform the area into a regional mountain biking destination that attracts hundreds of bikers and their families. It’s easy to connect with nature and find the terrain that suits your sense of adventure.

Chenango includes 78 miles of the Finger Lakes Trail System, a network of 1,000 hikeable miles that stretch from the Western NY border deep into the Catskill Mountains.

Well-maintained and clearly marked, this destination-

worthy trail accommodates hikers and backpackers of all skill levels. Lean-tos are available in various spots along the trails for nighttime rest and relaxation.

Snowmobilers rule this time of the year. Hop on your sled for 150 miles of State Corridor Trail spanning to the north and east parts of the county used exclusively for snowmobiling.

Dive back into the powder at Brookfield State Forest, where a highly acclaimed 130-mile horse and snowmobile trail system navigates across 13,000 acres of quiet, serene forests.

Find out what makes Chenago County a destination worthy of your consideration when you start planning your visit. Enjoy unique hidden gems and put a Chenango County twist on your next New York Road trip. No matter what time of year you visit, Chenango will always feel like ‘home.’

Download the visitor’s guide at www.visitchenango.com and plan your visit today.

Pandemic Hobby Grows into Plan for Africa’s Largest Photography Library He started the hobby shortly after arriving in New York on a photography scholarship in Since the pandemic forced 2019. The COVID-19 pandemmany U.S. bookshops to close ic encouraged the obsession as or slash prices, Ghanaian New struggling bookshops offloaded Yorker Paul Ninson has amassed their inventories at reduced rates.

30,000 African photo books for He acquired around 15,000 a library he hopes will inspire the next generation of photographers back home.

Ninson estimates that he now owns the world’s largest collection of books with images taken in Africa or by photographers of African descent. Thanks to a $1 million crowdfunding windfall, he has already started shipping the trove to West Africa.

“For so long we’ve let other people tell our stories and distribute our stories,” Ninson said in one of his 16 New York storage units, crammed with ceiling-high stacks of books.

“That is the space I want to fill, to be able to give the tools and resources to African photographers and to Black people to be able to tell our own stories,” Ninson said. © REUTERS/ANDREW HOFSTETTER ANGELA MOORE AND COOPER INVEEN

books that way, working odd jobs and taking out personal loans to cover costs. The collection now includes every issue of National Geographic from the last 40 years.

“Some of these pictures are incredible ... but sometimes I

wonder what people in those communities contributed to these stories,” Ninson said, flipping through the pages of one of the magazines.

“Do people in these communities accept how they are being depicted, especially the

Africans?” Ninson wondered.

His dream of using the books to set up Africa’s largest photography library in Ghana became a reality after popular blog “Humans of New York” promoted a crowdfunding campaign for his project that raised $1 million in a single day.

Ninson has doubled his collection since then, traveling up and down the east coast of the United States in search of new acquisitions. More than 18,000 books have already been shipped to Ghana.

The funds will help build the library in the capital Accra.

Named after the word for ‘Take the Lead’ in his local language, the Dikan Center will also offer workshops, equipment hire, and studio space to aspiring African photographers.

“There are a lot of people in Ghana who are desperate to be photographers, to tell the stories of Africa,” Ninson said. “These books are going to be the backbone.”

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Four Seasons of Trails, Charm, and Rural Culture on New York’s Northern Border On New York’s northern border, St. Lawrence County is a four-season destination, boasting miles of trail, over 200 lakes, rivers, streams, and a rich culture of farm-to-table dining. From the banks of the St. Lawrence River to the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, the valley allows for light adventure and accessible outdoor activities like snowshoeing to waterfalls, cross country skiing in state parks, snowmobiling to mountain overlooks, and ice fishing for dinner.

One of New York’s newest trail challenges, the Great 8 Waterfall Crawl, is a photographer’s dream in the winter. Family-friendly, easy access by snowshoes or microspikes, and beautiful year-round.

Whether you are just starting to explore trails or you have a love for new outdoor experiences, this challenge is a fun way to discover a part of New York State without a long-distance trip this winter.

The short excursions are still undiscovered, making trailheads and viewpoints in nature a more serene experience away from the crowds.

The interactive trails site STLCtrails.com allows you to plan, pull up trailhead directions, and log your trails to earn your Great 8 Challenge Badge. A long weekend is all you need for the Waterfall Crawl, with trails nearby for a multi-day adventure. You can also check out the other two challenges—the Riverside Run, fun for snowshoeing or Nordic skiing along five major rivers, and the Nature Nuts Challenge, where interpretive signs and lookouts bring you closer to nature.

If snowmobiling is more your speed, you will find over 700 miles of groomed snowmobile trails as the Adirondack Mountains lead into the St. Lawrence River Valley. Rolling hills and snow-covered pines, Adirondack overlooks, and pristine wilderness are what you will find as you ride on the St. Lawrence County trails. The warmth and hospitality you will find along the trail as you meet up with locals and other visitors, warm up in the trailside restaurants and end your days in a cabin with your

buddies are where memories are made and true vacation kicks in.

Choose your own way to get active, relax, unwind and experience a no-stress vacation. A home away from home in a cozy hotel, Bed and Breakfast or vacation rental adds to relaxation in St. Lawrence County. Evening entertainment such as college hockey, played at one of the five colleges, highlights Division 1 NCAA competitions at St. Lawrence University or Clarkson University with lively fanfare and top-level athletics. Enjoy live theater and music at the Ogdensburg Command Per formance, Community Performance Series, or Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam—bring big fun to a rural landscape retreat.

For a break from outdoor adventures, indoor museums are scattered throughout the County to spark your interest in art, play and nature. The Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg is the largest collection of Frederic Remington’s work, including famous western sculptures and paintings. The Nicandri Nature

New York’s Northern Border VisitSTLC.com

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located on the northwestern Adirondack border, two hours north of Syracuse and just over three hours north of Albany.

The new-to-you destination is perfect for a weekend away with plenty to explore or a hub of relaxation in the beauty and calm of a new locale.

Request a free visitors guide and plan your trip on New York’s Northern border at www.VisitSTLC.com or by calling toll-free 1-877-228-7810. ®NYSDED

Explore Four Seasons of Trails

© R. BLACKMER

Center in Massena and North Country Children’s Museum in Potsdam provide a warm and fun opportunity for the whole family, engaging hearts and minds in the wonders of true play. If your appreciation for local art is a feature of visiting a new destination, the TAUNY Center on Canton’s Main Street hosts exhibits, workshops, and a folkstore that embraces the talents and traditions of North Country artisans and musicians.

Traveling to St. Lawrence County is a beautiful road trip,

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Harriet Tubman’s Legacy Lives on in Auburn, NY History comes to life in Cayuga County in Auburn, NY. Pronounced ka-yu-ga, Cayuga County is known for its historical significance. Although the region has a population of just under 80,000, significant figures in history have called Cayuga County home.

Perhaps the best-known of these historical figures is Harriet Tubman, the brave abolitionist and Civil War hero who freed many enslaved individuals after escaping slavery herself.

While many people know Harriet Tubman as a conductor of the Underground Railroad, few know the rest of her story. In Cayuga County, you can follow in the footsteps of Harriet Tubman and experience her history in a whole new way.

Friends and relatives of Tubman describe her as an “ordinary woman who did extraordinary things.” She loved nature, she had a knack for business, and she was deeply spiritual. But one thing is for sure: her heart was extraordinary.

Tubman always cared for those in need, supplying shelter, food, clothing, and medical attention.

At a young age, Tubman was hired out to work as a field hand on the plantation. She tended crops and farm animals. Her father, an expert lumberjack

HARRIET TUBMAN'S HOME

named Ben Ross, taught her how to navigate through forests, fields, and waterways and find food and places to hide.

He taught Tubman to love and understand the natural world, and this knowledge would prove infinitely useful during Tubman’s journeys along the Underground Railroad.

A leading abolitionist, she embarked on approximately 13 dangerous journeys along the Underground Railroad to free enslaved individuals.

Although the exact number is unknown, she helped hundreds of people (including her family) escape slavery along the secret network to freedom known as the Underground Railroad. While there were other conductors, none were as successful as Harriet Tubman. There were multiple houses and people around

Cayuga County who sheltered her and her passengers, some of these houses still stand. At the Seward House Museum, you can see the actual room that was used to house those on their journey to freedom.

Tour the Seward House Museum to learn how William Henry Seward’s wife, Frances was the strength and inspiration for the abolition and Underground Railroad movements in the household.

After freeing herself and countless others, she settled in Auburn, NY, where she lived for over 50 years. It was here that she brought her family, owned property, married her second husband, fulfilled her philanthropic work, and was laid to rest.

Believing in the equality of all people made Tubman a strong supporter of the women’s rights

movement. As a woman who fought for her own freedom and that of others, she toured New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C., giving speeches on women’s suffrage. She spoke of her own experiences from slavery and the Civil War, proving that women were equal to men.

Tubman was close friends with suffragist Emily Howland, whose contributions to the women’s rights movement are displayed at the Howland Stone Store Museum. For even more inspirational learning, stop by the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center, a digitally interactive space celebrating the state’s history of civil, women’s, and LGBTQ+ rights movements.

Tubman owned and operated her own farm, where she raised pigs, grew vegetables, and tended to her apple orchards. Selling goods from her garden helped her raise money to support her humanitarian efforts.

She pledged $500 to help build the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church, where she attended services for 22 years.

Visitors can explore The Harriet Tubman Visitor Center, the Tubman Home for the Aged and Indigent Negroes, and the Harriet Tubman Residence.

The Home for Aged and Indigent Negroes (which she started on her property) is

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among the earliest nursing and assisted living facilities for aging Black individuals in the country. Tubman herself became a patient of the home for the last two years of her life.

Her final resting place is at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, NY, where she was buried with semi-military honors in 1913. Her brave and heroic efforts for freedom have never been forgotten. In 2021, the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Corps inducted Harriet Tubman into their Hall of Fame. Her legacy lives on in Auburn, NY and Cayuga County… in the historic sites, in the residents, in the small businesses, and the community itself.

March 2022 marks the 200th birthday of Harriet Tubman. In celebration, Auburn, NY and the surrounding communities are honoring Tubman’s life and legacy, now through summer 2022, with special programming, activities, and events.

Harriet Tubman Week will run March 10-15, 2022.

Walk in Harriet Tubman’s footsteps across the streets and the floors of the landmarks that welcomed her to live her life as a free woman.

Experience the history yourself. Book your trip at tourcayuga.com

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Your Guide to Visiting the Historic and Legendary Sullivan Catskills Since the 19th-century, people have flocked to the natural environment of New York’s Sullivan Catskills. Often called America’s first vacationland—visitors came first by train, then by car to escape the everyday stress of urban environments and recharge physically and emotionally. The landscape here is celebrated for its crystal-clear rivers and streams, wide open meadows, fresh mountain air, and rolling hills dotted with farmland.

Located just 90 miles from Manhattan, hundreds of hotels and resorts grew here beginning in 1846, forming a legendary reputation for hospitality and launching the careers of major entertainers like Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, and Joan Rivers, to name a few. In 1969, half a million visitors came to Bethel for three days of peace, love, and music at the Woodstock Music and Art Festival.

Today, those traditions continue anew. The environment is still pure; accessible and chic

destination resorts have been joined by charming inns, B&Bs, and vacation rentals. A new generation of city dwellers now makes the two-hour trek to unwind in the quaint small towns of Mountaindale, Livingston Manor, Callicoon, Narrowsburg, and others. Dotted with restaurants, bakeries, breweries, distilleries, and cocktail and wine bars and surrounded by a stunning rural landscape, travelers indulge in local cuisine dubbed “Catskill-icious.” The food is as sumptuous as it is inventive.

Try the Pecan-Encrusted Local Beaverkill Trout topped with a five-spice compound butter at the Eldred Preserve. Peconic Escargot is on the menu at The Debruce, and at BHR share the Chorizo Stuffed Artichoke.

The hand-crafted beverages on the Good Taste Beverage Trail are original and award-winning (Catskill Provisions, Pollinator Gin; Do Good Spirits, Bootlegger Vodka; Roscoe Beer Company, Trout Town Brown Ale).

© LWRNCBRN, LLC

© COURESTY OF SULLIVAN CATSKILLS

© LWRNCBRN, LLC

Sullivan Catskills did eco-tourism long before there was a name for it. American fly fishing was born in the waters of The Beaverkill and Willowemoc and drew anglers from all over the world.

Today, young anglers can learn to fly fish and learn about the sport’s storied history at the Catskills Fly Fishing Center and Museum. Camp along the shorelines of the Upper Delaware Scenic River after a day of tubing, rafting, canoeing, or kayaking. To the south, the 3,107-acre Bashakill Wildlife Management Area contains the largest freshwater wetland in southeastern New York and is a state-designated Bird Conservation Area. This is a birdwatcher’s dream, where, among others, birders delight in seeing the spring warbler migration and spring and fall waterfowl migrations. Both bald eagles and ospreys are common sights, too. Hiking, hunting, and fishing are also popular pastimes in the Bashakill area.

The area is home to some of the world’s most unique attractions. Topping the list is Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and the Museum at Bethel Woods.

Located in Bethel, at the site of the Woodstock festival, the center features an outdoor music pavilion with a seating and lawn capacity of 16,000. The Museum is dedicated to the ‘60s and the Woodstock festival, and the Education Program envelops families, children, and adults in programs that celebrate the past and help inspire positive impact for the future. Another local program that serves to educate children and feed local families is A Single Bite. The non-profit organization is a project of the co-founders of Foster Supply Hospitality (FSH)—operators of a small group of independent hotels and restaurants.

With a lofty, long-term vision to solve the food insecurity and hunger problem in this county of 75,000 residents, the group serves 500 meals a week and

runs an education program in local schools. Visitors to FSH properties can donate through purchases at each venue.

Accommodations here range from full-service resorts and vacation rentals to campgrounds, charming inns and B&Bs. Three recent additions include the Eldred Preserve, Callicoon Hills and Chatwal Lodge (opening next spring).

Mindful of visitor health, the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association spearheads Catskills Confidence, a county-wide pledge by tourism-related businesses to follow federal, state, and local mitigation measures and protocols for guest health and safety.

A good time, and a good night’s sleep, is waiting. The Sullivan Catskills is close, always open, and always ready to welcome you. To learn more and plan your close-to-home getaway call (800) 882-2287 or visit sullivancatskills.com

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January • 2022

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Foodie Heaven:

The Best of Farm-to-Table Dining in Hudson County RAZZA PIZZA ARTIGIANALE

LIBERTY HOUSE RESTAURANT

In culinary hub Jersey City, the farm-to-table movement extends to high-end handmade pizza. Razza Pizza Artigianale incorporates local ingredients at every level, from flour milled in Clifton, New Jersey, to their own homemade yeast culture—one of the many secrets behind their lauded artisanal pizza recipes. Chef and owner Dan Richer makes fresh, local ingredients a priority—and it pays off. He has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation as a rising star semi-finalist, and earned a spot on 50 Best’s “Best Pizza in North America” list in 2019.

The scenic Liberty House Restaurant is located in Jersey City’s Liberty State Park, with panoramas of the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan—not to mention some of Hudson County’s best farm-to-table meals.

Executive Chef Ken Trickilo is a leader in this farm-fresh movement. The Liberty House sources ingredients from establishments like Dancing Goat Farm of Warren, New Jersey, and uses a hydroponic farm to ensure fresh ingredients in the off-season.

HALIFAX RESTAURANT

FORK HILL KITCHEN

With a focus on northeastern farm and coastal cuisine, Halifax doesn’t just offer farmfresh meals—they’re part of its DNA. Halifax, located on the waterfront in Hoboken, sources its food from local farmers and fishermen, with Chef Seadon Shouse serving up everything from house-smoked meats to sea salt made straight out of Montauk. Just like its bites, the Halifax drink menu offers a variety of local spirits, ensuring patrons get the ultimate local dining experience.

Union City’s casual new Fork Hill Kitchen restaurant is a small, intimate dining spot with fresh ingredients harvested as locally as possible.

It’s renowned for high-quality American fare with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere—not to mention a stellar wine selection. Fork Hill Executive Chef Eric Clemente’s modern menu spans brunch to dinner, with a roster of dishes that changes by the season, ensuring the ultimate in fresh, farm-to-table fare, any time of year.

After your meal, walk off the delicious bites with the wide variety of self-guided walking tours. Craft your own tour through Hudson County’s history, culture, and dining scenes straight from your smartphone. With easy-to-follow walking route maps that wind you through some of the best Hudson County sights, and added interesting background information, flashback photographs, and fun facts that showcase the region’s rich history, you can take in every inch of Hudson County.

Whether you’re looking for fresh fare after a holiday season packed with sweets or you just love knowing where your food comes from, you’re in luck. As the Garden State, New Jersey brims with local farms—and few places serve Jersey-fresh fare as creatively and deliciously as foodie capital Hudson County. Farm-to-table dining experiences don’t just abound here; they come with extra perks, such as skyline views and world-class chefs.

If you’re ready to enjoy Jersey-fresh food straight from the source, look no further. Here are six of the best restaurants to enjoy a farm-to-table meal in Hudson County.

JERSEY CITY

MARCUS AT NOHU ROOFTOP

THE KITCHEN STEP

The Marcus at NoHu Rooftop, located atop the new EnVue Hotel in Weehawken, pairs gorgeous Big Apple views with mouthwatering farm-to-table fare—all under the leadership of Chef Marcus Samuelsson.

The menu includes a variety of locally sourced and seasonally inspired bites; Samuelsson packs the menu with as much produce from area farms as possible, ensuring a delectable fresh meal with equally top-notch scenery.

Known for modern-American cuisine in downtown Jersey City’s trendy Van Vorst area, The Kitchen Step is a can’tbeat stop for those seeking farm-to-table cuisine. Executive Chef Ryan DePersio carefully crafted a menu spotlighting the best fresh and seasonal ingredients—all inspired by local markets. Don’t miss the creative craft cocktails from The Kitchen Step mixologist Ray Keane, too.

WEEHAWKEN

HOBOKEN

JERSEY CITY

JERSEY CITY

UNION CITY

Discover more restaurants and plan your trip at visithudson.org/things-todo/restaurants © PHOTOS COURTESY OF HUDSON COUNTY

Only in Hudson County

VISITHUDSON.ORG Supported in part by a grant from the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism

January • 2022

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Getting Sick and Injured Travelers Home A medical transport membership like Medjet makes sure you get home for treatment and recovery, rather than being “stuck” in a hospital far away. © PHOTOS COURTESY OF MEDJET

No one thinks it will happen to them, but one in 30 trips end in a medical emergency or safety concern. Whether it’s an unexpected medical issue like a stroke, an unfortunate slip-and-fall while exploring or, now, COVID, having travel coverage is a priceless tool to get you home safely. A medical transport membership like Medjet makes sure you get home for treatment and recovery, rather than being “stuck” in a hospital far away. It provides hospitalto-hospital, bedside-to-bedside transport to a hospital of your choice at home, regardless of medical necessity.

A CATASTROPHE IN CAIRO For Tom and Jeannie, Medjet made all the difference in getting the proper care after an unfortunate accident overseas...

The program I was involved in for evacuation told me, ‘we don’t know where we would take you, but we know we’re not going to pay for it.’ That was the first thing I heard, and I knew I had the wrong coverage. I did some research after my accident and I found Medjet, and I was so grateful that we had it in Cairo.”

Unlike health or travel insurance, which typically only medically evacuates to the “nearest acceptable facility,” (“acceptable” as deemed by the insurance company, not you), Medjet Members are transported to their home hospital of choice, regardless of medical necessity, for the cost of the membership and nothing more. It covers both domestic and international travel.

While exploring the pyramids, A BROKEN HIP ON Jeannie slipped on the granite and VACATION broke her hip and her wrist. At the hospital (“it was filled with cats!” said Tom), Tom and Jeannie decided to call Medjet.

“We joined Medjet after a bad experience woke me up to the fact that things can happen on trips. On a trip to Vietnam, I took an excursion in the sidecar of a motorcycle. The motorcycle and the sidecar went off the road that’s about 7 ft above the rice paddy, and I flipped over and plunged headfirst into 2-3 feet of water.

“They said they would call us back in an hour and tell us when the jet could come for us. So I’m in the hospital bed, and in come the paramedic and Registered Nurse from Florida. They came right over to the side of the bed, and the paramedic put her hand on my shoulder and said, ‘We’re going to get you out of here.’ I was so relieved.

The biggest blessing of being a Medjet member was that I got home, and everything was taken care of. I can’t imagine going on a trip without that coverage ever again.”

materials for the required surgery, California. As a Medjet member, and he had deep concerns he knew what to do: “Immediately, about the facility’s capabilities. I telephoned Medjet.”

The Frumins had been Medjet Members for years, so he knew “I felt so helpless. I was who to call. immediately so comforted “The medical transport team and reassured that Medjet was on its way to get me,” Medjet sent was incredible,” Marshall said. “As soon as they said Annie. “Their rescue was arrived at her bedside, they did world class, and I will not all the things I’d been begging the travel far without Medjet the hospital staff to do for my wife, rest of my life.” and got her prepped for her flight.

They whisked her out, and when she arrived at our home hospital, I could see the stress had just melted from her. She was home, with doctors we knew at a hospital we trust. We were both so grateful.’

“Charlett’s fully recovered now. But as a doctor, I can honestly say that I just don’t think the outcome would’ve been nearly as good had we not had Medjet. I recommend it to everyone.”

When Orthopedic Surgeon Marshall Frumin’s wife slipped and fell on greasy cobblestones, he knew she had broken her hip. A trip to the local hospital in Cartagena, Colombia, confirmed it, but the hospital did not have the necessary

DOCTORS NEED HELP, TOO When doctor Annie Wong fell ill in the Galapagos during a humanitarian medical mission, she found herself in a small, remote hospital in pain and in need of higher levels of care. Her husband Ron, also a doctor, was desperate to get her to their hospital at home in

“We help people when they’re at their most vulnerable, and are often alone,” said Medjet CEO, Mike Hallman.

“Accidents, illness, and safety concerns can happen anywhere, we’re here to help our members get home.”

Medjet now transports for Covid-19 GLOBALLY

Air Medical Transport + Travel Security Memberships Travel insurance gets you to the “nearest acceptable facility.”

Medjet gets you moved to your hospital at HOME.

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International + Domestic Travel Protection Including COVID-19 Transport (with some limitations) LEARN MORE

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800.527.7478

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RESPONSIBLE TRAVELER

January • 2022

Eco-Friendly Luxury Resort Unveils First Fine Dining Zipline Experience On the picturesque waters of the Maldives lies a luxurious hideaway like no other. Soneva Fushi, the original desert island hideaway in the Maldives, inspires the imagination with a waterfront retreat that encourages the slow life, infused with unique bucket list experiences.

Founded with a passion for culture and a love of the environment, Soneva is a thriving community working to craft beautiful, beyond bespoke experiences where discovery is a way of life.

With unique experiences centered around learning and delving deeper into Soneva’s philosophy and sustainable practices and with expert hosts to guide your journey, Soneva invites you to lose yourself in experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime.

One such experience is the newly unveiled and exhilarating dining adventure high among the treetops: Flying Sauces, the world’s first fine-dining zipline experience.

Destined to become a once-ina-lifetime, ‘bucket list’ experience, Flying Sauces combines world-class gastronomy with the thrill and excitement of a 200-meter zipline—all set against Soneva Fushi’s magnificent vistas over the lush jungle and sparkling ocean beyond.

After being securely strapped into safety harnesses, diners soar along a scenic 200-meter zipline

route to reach an elevated dining platform, enjoying an amusebouche, refreshing shooters, and other gastronomic surprises along the way. Upon arriving at the platform, Chef Rasal prepares a delectable seasonal menu in the open kitchen, high above the ground, paired with a selection of over 9,000 fine wines from Soneva Fushi’s extensive cellar.

A long-time Sonevian, Chef Rasal Jayawardene has trained with some of the world’s best chefs, including Chef Benoit en Bernard Dewitt at his Michelin-starred restaurant near Ghent, Belgium. Since working with Soneva, Chef Rasal has worked alongside more than 50 Michelin-starred visiting chefs, including Tom Aikens, Tim Raue, Alberto Faccani, Rafael Gomez, and Vicky Ratnani.

His menu for Flying Sauces is a six-course, specially crafted menu, utilizing the finest seasonal ingredients like Hokkaido scallops carpaccio with crispy wild rice, celeriac two ways with a raisin salsa, marinated prawns with avocado puree, chorizo oil and rocket, baby leeks with brie cheese cream sauce and rosemary crumble, black cod with artichoke puree and teriyaki truffle sauce and, to finish, a plantbased cheesecake with mango salsa and mixed berry compote.

The zipline experience is suitable for adults and children aged

eight and above, with a minimum weight requirement of 25 kilos.

Up to a maximum of 12 guests can join each Flying Sauces experience, divided into two groups of six diners, and only one guest is permitted to use the zipline at any time. To ensure safety at all times, harnesses are compulsory along all sections of the zipline route and must be fitted and verified by a trained Soneva Host—these can be removed when diners reach the elevated dining platform.

“At Soneva, we are passionate about elevating the guest experience to something that is unique and rare, and our new Flying Sauces does just that— creating an experiential dining moment to create long term memories for our guests. This gives our guests a new perspective of our unique island eco-system, allowing them to reconnect with the sights and sounds of nature while enjoying fine dining hospitality at the same time.”

—Sonu Shivdasani, CEO and Founder, Soneva With unique experiences centered around learning and delving deeper into Soneva’s philosophy and sustainable practices and with expert hosts to guide your journey, Soneva invites you to lose yourself in experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime.

© SONEVA FUSHI

BAREFOOT LUXURY Founded in 1995, as the first barefoot luxury resort, Soneva has always been ahead of the curve, inspiring a standard of sustainability and luxury—proving that the two can co-exist to create a unique experience that lasts long after the trip is over.

Sustainability has always been at the heart of Soneva, from sourcing sustainable materials and pioneering ‘waste-to-wealth’ practices to working with local communities and maintaining carbon neutrality.

A mandatory two percent environmental levy is added to every Soneva stay, with proceeds going towards the not-for-profit Soneva Foundation to offset both direct and indirect carbon emissions from resort activities and guest flights. The Foundation funds a range of global projects that have a positive environmental, social, and economic impact.

Soneva Fushi re-uses or recycles 90 percent of its waste, and was one of the world’s first hospitality groups to ban plastic straws back in 1998, produces and bottles its own water, and has been fully carbon neutral for both direct and indirect emissions since 2012. This year, Soneva Fushi revealed the fully carbon-neutral Maker’s Place, a ground-breaking new addition to its portfolio of sustainable innovations.

Each Soneva resort also has its own organic gardens, allowing

© JULIA NEESON

© ALICIA WARNER

access to fresh, delicious, and locally grown fruit, vegetables, and herbs and reducing their reliance on imported produce.

Soneva acts as the guardians of the luxurious hideaways, taking care to preserve local culture and the mystery, magnitude, and enchanting beauty of nature.

“The first thing we do is ask our guests if they would like to remove their shoes,” says Soneva Founder Sonu Shivdasani. “Our fondly observed ‘No News, No Shoes’ mantra grounds our guests both to nature and socially. At Soneva, we encourage our guests to go bare when it comes to their feet.”

With this in mind, Soneva works to redefine luxury. Day-today city life makes it hard to find a genuine connection with nature and with oneself. At Soneva, real luxury is about finding that connection while feeling the sand between your toes and enjoying dinner under a canopy of a billion stars. Soneva works to provide natural experiences as far removed from the urban environment as possible.

Today, Soneva resorts continue to innovate and are world leaders for guest experiences and sustainability. Soneva Fushi is one of three luxury Soneva resorts in the Maldives, focused on fostering an appreciation for wildlife and the natural beauty of the environment.

ADVERTORIAL

Experience the True Nature of DownEast Acadia A vast and beautiful wonderland of natural areas stretches from an inland network of grand lakes to a dramatic bold coast in DownEast Acadia. In between, colorful wild blueberry barrens stretch as far as the eye can see. Amongst all of this natural abundance, hundreds of thousands of acres of preserved lands provide public access to hundreds of miles of hiking trails and paddling routes. Over 100 years ago, Acadia National Park was created (and continues to expand) through the largest conservation easement program in the National Park System to protect the Acadia archipelago’s scenic beauty and ecological integrity.

With some of the cleanest water and least developed natural areas on the East Coast of the United States, including forests that harbor rare and unusual plant communities, DownEast Acadia is ideal for wildlife watching, birding, fishing, stargazing—or simply soaking in the quiet beauty. All across the region, mossy forests embrace the hiker, and sparkling lakes beckon swimmers and campers. Crystal-clear rivers and streams

© JAROD FARN-GUILLETTE

flow into the ocean, where rugged coastal cliffs are dotted with lighthouses and seabirds.

“Downeasters” are historically avid outdoorsmen—it’s hard not to be when the beauty of the outdoors calls from every direction.

Hunting, fishing, hiking, paddling, beach-combing, and soaking in the sun are simply a part of the way of life here. DownEast Acadia has a long-standing tradition of sporting camps and guiding services. The Acadia area was the destination of choice for the “Rusticators” of the 19th century—wealthy travelers seeking reprieve from city life through a rustic, rejuvenating

“holiday.” Today, wilderness lodges, cabins, and campsites provide an unplugged getaway, and Registered Maine Guides offer personalized outdoor adventures.

Harvesting the bounty of both land and sea, DownEast Acadia boasts the largest hauls of American lobster in New England and provides most of the world’s wild blueberry supply. From Lobster rolls eaten harborside to clam-bakes on the beach, wild blueberry pie, farmfresh gourmet cheeses, and craft wines made with local ingredients, there are endless ways to enjoy the taste of nature in DownEast

Acadia. You’ll discover the region’s centuries-old industrial maritime heritage through the lobster boat and lighthouse tours, windjammer cruises, trails through granite quarries, museums, and scenic byways that wind through historic villages displaying exemplary 19thcentury architecture.

The recreation areas and intact wildlife habitats that provide all of these experiences are here for us to enjoy thanks to our incredible network of National and State Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, State Public Reserve Lands, Wabanaki Tribal Reservations, our many land trust preserves, and private landowners who generously provide public access.

From the St. Croix River to the Penobscot River, from the Bold Coast to the Grand Lakes, DownEast Acadia is rich in unspoiled landscapes and strong natural heritage traditions. We welcome you to immerse yourself in this magical landscape where people still work and play in harmony with nature’s rhythms and live attuned to the shifting tides and the changing seasons.

IT’S IN OUR NATURE… DOWNEAST ACADIA CONTAINS:

• 200,000+ acres of ponds and lakes • 3,300+ miles of streams • 1,000+ miles of rivers • 2,700 square miles of forest lands • 54 of Maine’s 87 globally significant seabird nesting islands • 9 watersheds that still sustain wild Atlantic salmon • 700,000+ acres of conserved land—over 20 percent of the total land area • 7 units of State Public Land • 12 Wildlife Management Areas • 5 State Parks • 1 National Park spanning 3 distinct areas of the region • 2 National Wildlife Refuges Visit DownEastAcadia.com to plan your getaway and learn more about the organizations and people behind them who help keep True Maine “True to Nature.”

January • 2022

RESPONSIBLE TRAVELER

When COVID Flattened Tourism, Carbon Credits Kept These African Hills ‘Green’ The pandemic took lives.

In many places, it also took livelihoods.

COVID-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions cratered ecotourism in Africa in 2020, depriving local communities of life-sustaining revenues. As a result, poaching surged across the continent—driven by desperation for food and income, or by profit, and exacerbated by weakened enforcement efforts, experts have said.

However, the people of Chyulu Hills in southeast

Kenya—said to be the inspiration for Ernest Hemingway’s “Green Hills of Africa”—were able to tell a different story.

Even as the pandemic spread across Africa last year, local governments and communities in this region generated enough revenue to hire additional rangers to crack down on poaching—and made a number of other investments in their own long-term food security, health and well-being.

How? By protecting and restoring forests.

The Chyulu Hills region, which provides water for nearby communities, livestock and wildlife, has seen deforestation driven largely by slash-and-burn

JOBS ARE ‘BUZZING’ Many people living in Chyulu Hills historically turned to destructive practices like slash-andburn farming and poaching to provide for their families.

Luckily, the Chyulu Hills REDD+ project offered a “sweet” alternative: Beekeeping for honey.

“We have worked with communities in both the eastern and western regions of Chyulu Hills to help them set up their own beekeeping farms,” said Wilbur Mutua, who runs the beekeeping program for MWCT. “These farms produce honey that people can either sell, apply for medicinal purposes, or use to put food on the table for their families.

Around here, with honey available, you know you are not going

to sleep on an empty stomach.”

So far, the Chyulu Hills REDD+ project has helped establish more than 630 beehives across the region. Along with providing jobs for community members— particularly women, who have historically lacked job opportunities in this region—the increase in pollinators has also helped boost crop growth in farms and support restoration in the surrounding savannas and forests.

An added bonus? The bees help reduce conflicts between humans and elephants across Chyulu Hills.

“Elephants aren’t big fans of bees, so setting up beehives along fences around a farm or house keeps elephants away without harming them,” Mutua said.

KILEY PRICE , CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL STAFF WRITER AND NEWS EDITOR

agriculture and charcoal burning for fuelwood. For the past seven years, local communities, the Maasai Wilderness ConservationTrust (MWCT), the private sector and other partners have teamed up with Conservation International to protect and restore the forests and grasslands of this critical landscape.

In 2017, the Chyulu Hills region became verified as a REDD+ project—a United Nations-backed initiative that provides financial incentives for communities, regions, and countries to keep forests intact, thereby preventing carbon emissions caused by deforestation. Revenues for the project come from the sale

of carbon credits, which represent a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that countries, companies, or individuals can purchase to compensate for emissions made somewhere else.

Since its creation, the Chyulu Hills REDD+ project has helped conserve and restore 404,000 hectares (one million acres) of land, protecting iconic species such as elephants and rhinos and preventing the release of around 37 million metric tons of carbon emissions. It has also helped stimulate local economies; the sale of carbon credits generated more than US$ 3 million in 2020 alone.

According to Andrey

Arutyunyan, a REDD+ manager for MWCT, this steady stream of income from the sale of carbon credits—both before and during the pandemic—has been “transformational” for local communities, including Indigenous Maasai pastoralists and Kamba agriculturalists.

“In the past, NGOs or other organizations have often come in and tried to tell communities what they need,” he said.

“The Chyulu Hills REDD+ project is different. The communities are making the final decisions on how profits from carbon credits are used based on their priorities. The impacts have been life-changing.”

GETTING ‘SCHOOLED’ ON CONSERVATION Crowded classrooms. Dilapidated bathrooms. Run-down facilities.

Before the REDD+ project began, these were the conditions many children in Chyulu Hills endured if they wanted an education, explained Charity Lanoi Meitekini, the team leader of the livelihoods program at MWCT, which helps women in the region find jobs and gain financial independence.

“Most of the schools were densely overpopulated, with students outnumbering teachers by 50 to one,” she added. “Without enough funding, schools were simply not able to support the number of children who were eager to learn.”

To address these gaps, part of the revenue generated from the

sale of REDD+ carbon credits has been funneled directly into improving education for the children of Chyulu Hills. Over the past two years, the program has funded the salaries of seven new teachers—along with a new cook, community health worker, and four new cleaners.

Additionally, funding has helped to renovate multiple schools and build new latrines.

For the families who could not afford school fees, the program has supported full or partial scholarships for more than 400 children across the region.

“All of these efforts were high priorities for the communities,” Meitekini explained. “With access to education, students are more likely to achieve their goals.”

And learning hasn’t been limited to schools. Community outreach programs and radio broadcasts funded by the REDD+ program have helped educate local communities on the importance of protecting nature—for people and the climate.

“REDD+ has helped equip local communities with the tools they need to protect nature. It offers alternative livelihoods that do not involve the destruction of forests and helps prepare our youth for the future,” Arutyunyan said.

“The benefits of this project—particularly during the pandemic—show that if you take care of nature, then nature will take care of you.”

© MAASAI WILDERNESS CONSERVATION TRUST

© MAASAI WILDERNESS CONSERVATION TRUST

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON CONSERVATION.ORG

© CHARLIE SHOEMAKER

ADVERTORIAL

An Insider’s Guide to

Planning the Ultimate Vacation in Martha’s Vineyard ​While many scramble to visit Martha’s Vineyard in the summer, anxious to soak up all the action, there’s a quiet calm that comes over the Island in winter and spring. Secretly, it’s the best time to be here—a sentiment with which many locals agree.

On Martha’s Vineyard, winter and spring bring a slower pace, cooler (but still beautiful!) weather, great deals, and hidden gems to explore.

The crowds have lessened, making it easier to get around and easing the demand for accommodations.

The double benefit for you: lower rates at local hotels and more of the Island to enjoy all to yourself! Here are some insider tips for making the most out of your time possible to explore most Island during this very special season on beaches, free of charge and without Martha’s Vineyard. any special access pass. Dogs are also allowed back on many beach​EXPLORE PRIVATE es, meaning you can bring Fido for BEACHES WITHOUT a romp on the sand (leashes are RESTRICTION still encouraged). Be sure to check During the summer, many of the out Lambert’s Cove Beach in West Island’s most coveted beaches are Tisbury and Lucy Vincent Beach off-limits, being open to residents in Chilmark, two of the Island’s only. But after summer, these re- most beloved beaches where you’re strictions are lifted, making it free to roam this time of year. Our

the most expensive. Winter and spring bring discounted stays at local hotels, inns, and B&Bs. If you’re traveling across the water with the Steamship Authority and you’re hoping to bring your car across, you’re in luck! This time of year it’s easier to get a reservation, and the fares are cheaper too.

© MICHAEL BLANCHARD

temperate climate makes beach ever to get a table—maybe even combing possible year-round. sneak a hello to the chef. Whether it’s seafood, Mexican, Thai, or DINE AROUND TOWN Italian, there’s a restaurant waiting WITH EASE for you to explore. Check out the Throughout the busy summers, new Dining Source Book and be getting reservations at some of sure to call ahead, as off-season Martha’s Vineyard’s most popu- hours may be in effect. lar restaurants can be a challenge.

Take advantage of this time when DEALS, DEALS, DEALS many of the local restaurants are Summer is the most popular time open and where it’s easier than to visit, which also means it’s also

THERE’S STILL A LOT GOING ON, INCLUDING A BIT OF ROMANCE Winter and spring invite visitors to explore the romance of the Island. That is, if your idea of romance includes long, meandering hikes through pristine forests, collecting sea glass along a stretch of stunning coastline, traveling through time with glaciers and architecture, enjoying the freshest world-class dining, and then cozying up to the gentle sounds of the ocean rhythm.

Any day, any season, your Martha’s Vineyard experience awaits.

Visit us online at mvy.com, on FB at VisitMV and Instagram at VisitMarthasVineyard.

508.693.0085

January • 2022

globalheroes.com

ADVERTORIAL

Experience the Other Side of Massachusetts

IN

the western part of Massachusetts, where rural and cosmopolitan coexist, lies the dreamy and sophisticated Hampshire County. City living meets homesteading in this charming slice of New England, where you can sip a cosmo, dine on creative cuisine, and pick your own organic peaches. In a couple of days, you can explore world-class museums, rocking music scenes, bustling downtowns, and hike to the peak of a mountain. With so much to do and see, Hampshire County has everything you could want from a getaway.

A WINTRY ADVENTURE There’s no one perfect time to visit!

Whether sun or snow, Hampshire County has a host of family-friendly experiences for any and every time of year. Take in the snowy sights while cozying up with a mug of coffee or a spiked cider at any one of the area’s many eclectic cafés. Or, hit the snow—you can cross-country ski or snowshoe over our rail trails, sled down hills, or drive north for fresh powder and downhill skiing.

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, what better way to say ‘I Love You’ than with romance and relaxation? Hampshire County is the perfect location for a romantic rendezvous that is sure to melt any heart, complete with fireside dining, fine wine, and handmade chocolate. Date night calls for a mouth-watering farm-to-table meal from one of Hampshire County’s restaurants, some of which have been around for decades, and food tours that source their ingredients

locally from nearly 250 farms.

Follow up the meal with a stroll through one of the area’s vineyards, or settle in for a craft beer.

For a dreamy outdoor experience, enjoy cross-country skiing at Cherry Hill Golf Course, followed by a relaxing evening in the snug warmth of Inn on Boltwood—the perfect apres-ski destination, made even better with 30Boltwood’s farm fresh fare and craft cocktails.

5 WINTER BUCKET LIST IDEAS: 1 Book a horse-drawn sleigh ride 2 Soak in outdoor hot tubs during a snowy night 3 Visit winter festivals like Easthampton Winterfest 4 Shop local stores and studios for unique handmade goods 5 Café hop for fresh, fair-trade coffee and scones

ESCAPE TO THE CITY The cities of Hampshire County boast vibrant, intellectual hubs full of things to do, see, and learn.

Home to five colleges (UMass Amherst – the Commonwealth’s flagship campus, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Smith College, Mt. Holyoke College), Hampshire County is a must-visit destination for those planning their post-secondary education or considering graduate school.

Take in the youthful and lively downtown core of Amherst by stopping by the independent movie theater, bookstores set against the backdrop of historical architecture and blooming flower gardens, and diverse restaurants, cafés, art galleries, and more.

It’s a cultural college town that should be on any student’s (or professor’s!) wish-list.

For those past schooling, the city side of Hampshire County is also home to hedonistic pleasures reminiscent of youth. Late-night pizza, ramen, fancy cocktails, and music await in the hidden gems of

Northampton, known for being exceptionally LGBTQ-friendly and welcoming. Let the rainbows be your guide—painted crosswalks in rainbow colors and tourist attractions with rainbow cues signal Northampton’s boutique shops and 100+ locally-owned restaurants and food and beverage establishments.

Over in trendy Easthampton, farmer’s markets brim with local bounty year-round, and there are always new coffee shops, art galleries, bookstores, and local markets to explore.

Art lovers will be inspired by the many museums, theaters, and galleries, like the Academy of Music Theater and Bombyx Center for the Arts in Northampton, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, and the Smith College Museum of Art. Amherst College is home to the Beneski Museum of Natural History and the Mead Art Museum, both of which boast must-see collections for art and history lovers alike.

SPRING IS AROUND THE CORNER Spring in Hampshire County is filled with natural wonders. Whether taking in the sights of nature in bloom or expanding your understanding of the world around you, the turn of the season boasts exciting adventures around every corner.

As the valleys bloom, bringing warm days and cool nights, make the most of the warmer weather with an outdoor adventure. Experience the wonders of nature at the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge and the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, both of which offer an extraordinary variety of wildlife, up-close and personal.

Spring is the perfect time to take a hike or bike ride through one of Hampshire County’s family-friendly, paved and unpaved trails, mountains, and state parks, like Mount Tom, Skinner State Park, the Holyoke Range, or the rail trails. For those who prefer a slower-paced trail, the David Ruggles Center reopens for the season on May 8th, and is the perfect blend of exercise and learning. Walk the African-

American history trail in Florence and see Sojourner Truth’s house, abolitionist sites, and the site of the 19th-century utopian community in Florence.

Reward yourself with a relaxing picnic—spring calls for freshpicked asparagus, or “Hadley Grass,” as locals call it. As May turns to June, the hops ripen in time for Western Mass Beer Week, a must-visit for beer-lovers.

Got a sweet tooth? Head to the North Hadley Market & Sugar Shack to watch and learn how they make their delicious syrups. Taste tests are encouraged, especially on a stack of pancakes!

5 SPRING BUCKET LIST IDEAS: 1 Smother pancakes with maple syrup at a sugar shack 2 Kickstart Spring at the Smith and Mount Holyoke Spring Bulb shows 3 Bike across the rail trails 4 Taste Hadley Grass—asparagus!

5 Visit the newly renovated Emily Dickinson Museum

Find your best side on the other side of Massachusetts.

PLAN YOUR ADVENTURE AT VISITHAMPSHIRECOUNTY.COM

ALL PHOTOS © LYNNE GRAVES PHOTOGRAPHY

January • 2022

globalheroes.com

ADVERTORIAL

The Future of Accessible, Compassionate Health Care While the world makes strides to recover from the pandemic, the impact of COVID-19 isn’t over yet.

Around the world, accessible health care is needed now more than ever.

Ongoing restrictions and lockdowns have been tough on our health care professionals, families, and local leaders. This means that the ways care is provided have changed—especially for organizations like Medical Ministry International, which brings health care services to developing nations through one and two-week Project Teams and works to establish and support Health Care Centers, increasing access to quality care.

Medical Ministry International provides spiritual and compassionate health care to

countries around the world.

Their work brings together traditional faith and cutting-edge technology to make health care more accessible everywhere.

Stories like Claudia’s and Maria’s show the incredible value of compassionate support and spiritual care—both of which are made stronger through donor support.

The work of Medical Ministry International is only possible thanks to the generosity of donors worldwide and the incredible commitment of international leaders.

Every day, these outstanding leaders assess their communities’ needs, establish trusting relationships with local health care providers, and shape programs based on the unique needs of the population they

serve. The impact is overwhelmingly positive.

In 2021, international leaders supervised the care of over 41,000 patients on project teams and local initiatives, and an additional 86,000 patients were cared for at partnering Health Care Centers.

That means over 405,000 life-changing health services were affordable and accessible for vulnerable people worldwide in need, from vision care to general surgery, to education, and so much more.

In Azerbaijan, MMI has provided 10,000 vision services each year through the Caspian Compassion Project, a Vision Care Center in Baku. MMI also works with the UNHCR to provide glasses to internally displaced people currently settled in Baku.

This year, you can help provide health care to even more people across the world.

Donations to MMI make it possible to provide vulnerable people in remote regions of the world dental care that reduces pain and revives smiles, vision care that restores the priceless gift of sight, and life-changing surgeries that give people the ability to live the lives they deserve.

As Health Care Centers grow, they become largely self-supporting, in which case the organization assists with specific needs for land, buildings, renovations, and equipment. While donor support makes an incredible impact in all areas of MMI’s work, there are many more ways to support accessible health care worldwide. By joining a one

or two-week Project Team as an international volunteer participant, you can put your skills to use and make a difference, building medical capacity for the long term.

With your help, MMI gives isolated communities a chance to fight back against extreme poverty, creating lasting change through compassionate, holistic care.

TURNING SHATTERED DREAMS AROUND

family, or serving her community.

But her life came to an abrupt halt in her late 20’s, when she developed non-cancerous growths called fibroids in her uterus.

Each day, she woke up weakened by pain and fatigued by a steady loss of blood. Unable to

work, Claudia had to take leave from her job several times. “My life was at a standstill as I was always in and out of hospitals.

My finances went down the drain, my dream for further studies shattered,” Claudia says.

It became clear that a myomectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the growth, was her only option. Not only was Claudia’s anemia impacting her quality of life, but the fibroids in her uterus could also destroy her chance of having children.

Fortunately, your compassion allowed MMI to be there! Despite a long and difficult surgery, the growth was removed, and Claudia began her journey to recovery.

With your help, Claudia received financial support and personalized care. “MMI was very caring,” says Claudia. “They called me, prayed with me and even visited me at home when I was discharged. The surgeons also made time to follow up with my doctors in Ghana.”

Today, Claudia says her life has all but returned to normal “by the grace of God.” And it’s also thanks to donors like you!

While she continues to focus on living a healthy life, she believes the future will only get better with God on her side.

SEE LIFE-CHANGING MOMENTS

husband had recently passed. With no one else to rely on, how would she feed or clothe herself if her body stopped cooperating?

After a short assessment, Medical Ministry International provided pain medication and physiotherapy exercises to significantly improve her condition and reading glasses.

She was given a needle and thread, familiar tools to put her new glasses to the test. After a few moments, a huge smile broke out across her face. For the first time in months, she was able to pass the thread through the eye of the needle!

Claudia is an enthusiastic teacher from Ghana who has many ambitions for her future. Her story is yet to be written, whether it’s pursuing higher education, starting a

BELOW: © JORDAN STOTHERS | ABOVE: CLAUDIA AND MMI GHANA DIRECTOR, SETH TETTEH-QUAYE © MEDICAL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

Last March, a Medical Ministry International team traveled to Chuspiyacu, a small village in a remote region of Ecuador, to set up a mobile clinic. At noon that day, the team met Maria. Her reason for visiting the clinic was immediately clear: she had trouble seeing and was experiencing pain in her legs.

As a rural farmer, Maria sews her own clothes and makes a modest living, growing beans, potatoes, and corn. But she was concerned—tasks that were once easy had become much more complex, and her

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MARIA AND MMI ECUADOR DIRECTOR, DR. SUSANA LOGACHO © MEDICAL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL