*SojournsWithoutBorders

Here is a recap of 2025, it encompasses a small bit of our journey as we compile our content surrounding our conversations, conference experiences, and connections built. We'd like to share the journey 💜💟💜. 

 

Greetings from India, at 5 am. 😭💐. Wishing you all an early Happy New Year, wherever and whenever this message finds you. 🌞

 

Three years ago, what we are doing now was considered “impossible.” It seemed like too much, too costly, and not sustainable. Yet, we decided to launch anyway. From Sustainable Rootology to Loud Introductions and global collaborations this year, we have proven that vision, persistence, and community can achieve what doubt never could. We accomplished something significant. 💜🌱

 

2025 demanded a lot from us, and despite the challenges, we showed up. Across borders, time zones, and limited resources, we continued to choose community, learning, and each other. This year wasn’t perfect, but it was intentional. These are the moments that brought us together. 🌍✨

 

Thank you to everyone who collaborated, donated, supported, and prayed for us. Happy New Year! May this year reveal the power within you to sustain yourself alongside a liberating community. We look forward to sharing more of this journey with you. 🫱🏿‍🫲🏾💐✨

 

We are not looking to build a bigger or better organization, but a collective community towards solidarity, safety, and sustainability globally. 💜

 

#herpurplepower #sustainablerootology #EndGBV #Endviolence

 

What has Kay'te been doing ? Not sitting down, fortunately. Still more work to do. I'll share an update as many journeys have since passed.

 

Recap on South Africa with Dr. Iva Caruthers of Samuel Dewitt Proctors Conference, Rev Dr. Alan Boesak, and Alexandria Sanchez.. We are a mixture of old and young together, singing, acting, and uniting. There are more of us. We gathered at UNISA, the university of South Africa for a discussion on unity amongst the African diaspora in the face of genocide and fascism.

Young folks and professors organized a conversation. Mmabatho very wise woman, Karabo, Alex, and other students and professors.

I'd find a laundry mat for unity in Atlanta Georgia. People know the need for unity and community ... Their were Baha'i quotes on the wall.

 

I'd go home to learn how to grow a garden in my mom's back yard. I'd test my ability to grow things. My mom always says she doesn't have a green thumb, forgetting our roots. I had to test it for myself. I grew watermelon and flowers that attracted butterfly and hummingbirds.

In Atlanta I learned about bridging the gap between Africa, home, and the diaspora. I still have the amplify Africa conference wristband on.. For some reason it won't come off and I don't want to force it. It's been a month or two now. 

In California I'd travel mandatory for school, but I'd leave having witnessed the art, beauty, and ugliness of San Francisco.. I'd attend Conferences on sustainability and community. Me and a course mate would run our first group on crisis intervention and we'd have three people and a toddler who'd joined. I'd leave having witnessed a woman minister from Jamaica be ordained over a predominantly white church at UUDavis. Rev Angeline's ceremony was absolutely beautiful. I'd also have the ability to live with Dr. Barbara Cohen and explore the housing for retired southerns she'd help write the plans for ... She was a 80 year old fire ball full of love and wisdom 💗.

 

I'd attend a discernment festival in Atlanta once I returned. I'd be surrounded by religious scholars and young adults scholars striving for a transformational way to live through faith.. Rev. Shereetha, aka, "the church without walls" would mentor us for the few days. She creates hope for the unhoused and reminds them of their humanity through coffee, tea, hot cocoa, books, and noodles. ❤️‍🩹 I'd also meet Rev K Monet and another powerful woman Rev. The amount of power in a woman in the pulpit was inspiring. Rev. K Monet had me crying during guided meditation calling us to go speak life into those we love, those we struggle to love, and ourselves. Water works 😭😭💐. Power, we were called to question and discern things that oppressed us even within our own religious text. 

 

P.S you'll find me wearing the same outfits often. I haven't bought shoes since 2021 .. I will wear them until a hole finds the bottom. I haven't bought clothes aside a jacket since 2022. I can't have many things on this journey I am aware. I knew I'd had to lose things and I don't regret it truly. My shoes hold up until they don't .. I've vowed not to over indulge, but in Mexico I bought a jacket for when I return home I did not prepare for the winter return. 

Back home again to check on all the family pets I'd left behind. Check on my grandparents, my grand father is living with dementia. He doesn't remember me sometimes. He and my grandmother have cancer. Her spirits still so high and hopeful .. I'd talked to her about being in California, missing my flight, and an indigenous woman saying I was called to ministry.. Ah ah, I run faster than Noah, but the fear of it. What type of minster would I be as a omniost? They'd kill me I feared .. but my gma told me not to be afraid. She's not the same mean lady she used to be. This was the first time she called me beautiful. My heart needed those words from her that she accepts me and sees me even though in different.❤️‍🩹

 

I'd visit Mexico to learn of the 1% indigenous DNA, the culture, and people. My mom would join me in exploration as I was afraid to go outside. It is safe in some parts more than media would convince.

I'd visit Washington for the first time and meet Abuela who would house me and make me eggs in the morning. Natalie her daughter a massage therapist would also train with me to be a Doula and helped me without knowing me. Catholic and Christian mom and daughter, both open ed the door for me. My reminder that this is bigger than religion and love lives within all of us. They guys. 💗

It's so coincidental the doula training was .. I'd applied a year ago, but I'd found out I'd got off the waiting list after making to Mexico and I had to return. Before I left I got to see the beginning of the day of the dead. Did you know there's a day the pets return and they dress them in costumes..puppy in box costume was very cute.. A ferret and two dogs came to give me hugs.. sweetest thing every to not have to whistle it's as though they knew my heart need reminders of love in the foreign place. 🥹 I also went to a Hacienda or plantation were religious trauma and generational trauma were implied consent. There are 100s of Haciendas on the peninsula. 🙏🏿❤️‍🩹

 

I'd begin to facilitate a group a Nigerian feminist form age 16-33. Many impacted by abuse, exploitation, and violence. Together we'd acknowledge the femicide in Africa and across the globe. Together we'd unite to do something. I'd learn about little Ochanya who's life was cut shirt because of sexual abuse . The women were standing against girl child marriage and fiery and still .. Her purple flower is what they are called 60 hoping that will become 600.  There has now been a national movement of purple profile pictures to stand in solidarity against gbv (Gender based violence). South Africa has very high numbers of femicide and even in Mexico, Los milagros discussed the femicide impacting women .. We are a collective struggle fighting for the liberation of our minds and bodies..

 

As I update you I ask you to stand with us. Stand with those impacted and please believe me I say this is a cause worth fighting for. This is not for my liberation but every person liberation not as charity but resource for survival and overcoming the tough and scary. With these funds I'll continue to organize, listen, fund their projects like pads for her, safe houses for women impacted, and self defense for women impacted by violence. Together we will stand and we will win. 

 

I'll leave you with this quote. May your hearts open to hear me and know me. May you learn to trust my intentions as I build teams if transformation from a few connections, and hope. May you believe in me enough to pray for my safety in any language or religion that finds you. I need you . The world needs you. 💜💐

 

Forgive my grammar, I graduated from a residential home and missed the pre-requisites still learning.

I thought I'd send an update on the work :

 

I've officially left Tennessee. Here are a few pictures. 

I often found others pets sitting at my feet or shoulder. They seem to see me and just chill and it's always so cute!! Always very welcoming. The one at the bottom is one of the community pets, that recently passed.. I use to check on him often before I'd left, I was told he died from neglect which is heart breaking a bit. So to Cashew rest in prosperity puppy. 🤍🐾

Here is some of my art I've been working on. I am not sure what BB means. I'm guessing beautiful beasts. I just so happened to find a canvas (poster board) on the floor and I'd asked to use it .. So this is recycling right ♻️?

 

Drawing upside down in the dark.

Attempted to teach gun safety to the kids who played Lazer tag. Chaperon auntie.

Started a garden... A woman of Muslim faith who'd helped with raising me in our little traditional church gave me a flower to practice with. Flowers, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes we tested the growth. The flower did very well attracted bees, humming birds, and butterflies. I was able to practice with watermelon seeds and bell pepper. The watermelon seeds did not grow watermelon, but they did grow an edible green leaf 😶‍🌫️.. 

Bonus clip: I recently went to the zoo. I don't know if anyone else has this experience it can never just be fun. My mind refuses to not think deeper. The zoo usually have species from all across the globe. What we noticed the last time we visited was that most of the animals were from Africa, South America, and Asia. Internally I felt uneasy as they too have been kidnapped from their land and their families. One monkey looked from the cage and I don't assume I'm Dr. Doolittle, but I truly felt he wanted to get out and he wanted to go home. The cage was not where he wasn't born to be.. It's troubling,  I also told him that one day I'd come back to free him.. Although there are many reasons for animal preservation exploitation of foreign animals for funds,$30 a person is wild is a great business deal. However, I hate it for the animals.. & I wonder how we got here.

 

So learning growing skills, engaging with youth and young adults, working on art of course, loving the community pets, grieving some lost, and being intentional in community and scholarly collaboration has been my goals in this last month. 

 

Over that time I was able to explore deeper roots of my own fight and struggle and what that looks like close to home. In this trip, I was able to soak in family history, circumstance, and community experience. Of course every where I land I make family to spend time with and learn from ...

 

There has been a lot of global collaboration from my end. We have began working with new collaborators from different parts of the world including South Africa and Nigeria on conscious conversations for women. One of our collaborators are Mmabatho Momtse, a PhD student from South Africa, so focus on conscious conversations in podcast . This is Mmabatho who can be found having courageous conversations a practitioner, shaman, and student. She creates spaces where academics and community members can have spiritual conversations.. I'll add her platform below. 

 

 

 

The journey continues as we travel and continue to find scholars, crafts women and men, and leaders who not only are ready to share their stories but embody action surrounding their circumstances. 

 

Ofc the journey isn't easy. It's returning back to our churches of birth. It's being frustrated and walking out of Sunday school due to the presence of harmful traditions. It's communicating with family and community surrounding areas of impact. 

 

I imagined it was only right if I could work for predominantly white church, space, and communities of culture where I know no one. I can definitely come home and listen to my own people even if it doesn't always go well. During the journey it has been tears, sleepless night, long fasting, and even joy as I see growth sprouting..

 

Something troubling my gma mentions when asked about politics. She mentions she doesn't know anything about it politics, she closes the sentence with love you. I wondered how many of us don't know anything about what is going on right now. I even struggle with the political education myself. I believe deeply we are missing pieces of the puzzle to provide a clear picture .

 

Right now there are just scattered puzzle pieces everywhere. And I am working with my community to put the peices together and find the missing pieces that might be under the couch and in the kitchen. Collective action is a necessity. Again I'll no longer share travel details in advance for future trips for safety purposes..

 

However, I will update afterwards on the work that was done. Please continue to donate and share as we are bringing more global collaborators to the table for conversations.. We will continue to do work within the continent and outside of it .. Out hopes are that we become the safe zones of dialogue and sustainability and inspire others to do similar things.  

 

As the younger generation we do recognize we have the energy, time, and drive to do this work. However, we need you to believe in us, to encourage us, and uplift us along the journey of uplifting our young voices across identifies and traditions.

 

Join us, if you'd like to share you story please reach out. Continue to donate and share with others who might like to donate. If you know resources of people we should connect with let us know. If there are books we should read let us know. We are growing students, recent graduates, and scholars who are here to put action behind our research. Your donations are needed. Please don't give up. 

 

If you have questions or concerns please reach out to Fola one of our collaborators. She can also help with facilitating meetings and discussions.

E: fola.rootability@gmail.com

It's 3:20 a.m. as I write this. Pre disclosure I am not a grammar fanatic or politically correct, Public relations trained, and I usually allow the truth to flow out as it does. I don't want to sensor or shrink for consumption. I won't,  I don't think you should either.  However,  I do want to make sense. 

Today was dark and light and all things in between. It wasn't just black or white, but gray areas. No expectation for tears but the tears came even when unexpected. I'll walk you through the journey of today from waking to now. The morning began around 7, glancing at my phone, resenting pulling myself up from the bed to try again. The work required would take more effort than my bed had could offer, but my body was fatigue, low energy, with low food intake and even water. All things present were not meshing well together, but then like other days I was called to get up from the bed. 

The room was too dark, cozy, and although there was a window there was not enough light inside to peak in through my darkness. So I made a decision, take action. "Free events in my area," and Facebook events are life savers. Before I'd left home I'd believed there was nothing here for us, but I recognized there is more than I know.. Gary, reminded me of that before my departue, look and you will find. I suppose the church too as a kid, seek and you will find. I just had to find it (typing like a talk, is that okay? You'd be surprised about how much i miss my own dialect after code switching and assimilalting)..

The events of the day were at the library, the library has some great programming. I'd invited others to join, no one showed but I chose that even if no one shows up I must. The first course was ASL lessons. I was so happy about it learning ways of communicating with more diverse populations. My mom has worked with people with disabilities including the deaf community since I was in pampers. We'd go to all of their events special Olympics, picnics, etc. This is probably where my mind opened to accept and love people of all backgrounds and traditions. My mom did. There was this one guy who was deaf who chased me around signing, what I now know to be, you crybaby. I was so scared and upset at him as I hid behind my mom. She eventually would teach me to sign no and I'd do it non stop cause I didn’t understand. I was kid and then I was afraid 😭.

So to be in that room recalled old memories and lessons. It gave me hope thay one day I could understand and also communicate back to learn more and respond with more than no.. I have officially learned how to say yes along with many others words, numbers, and days of the week. I met others who are learning and they were excited to meet me and recieved me well.

Before I'd attended the event I explored the library. I have been away from 3 years so the city has grown in both positive and negative ways ofc. I've seen more positive than negative or maybe that's what I chose to see. Who'd ever known Tennessee had pride walks.. I'd learned there was a genealogy room upstairs called the Tennesse room. Although they mentioned it was mostly Eurocentric information they had old books on slavery and its maintenance,  surnames, and one book that called to me "The Negroes of Tennessee." It's important for me to know who we were and even who they said we were even if they lied, for in lies we can almost always see what was trying to be hidden. 

When I got closer the index box, that lead to the newspapers over the years, my ears began to ring. Tinnitus, it could be right ? Well I tried to test it as the library consultant talked, my ears rung so loud it became difficult to hear him. He was telling me that there was once a black owned newspaper. I'd never heard of it in my 26 years of life there. It took going to library and my ears ringing to the point of the inability to hear to gain knowledge hidden and not taught. I stopped the consultant and said, "can I step out of the door really quick?" I thought if I stepped out I could tell if the ear ringing was attached to that place, box, and newspapers. When I left the room my ear stopped ringing, but as I returned so did the ringing. Gratefully,  it was time for the time for sign language class so I left to return another day. But the class remained on my mind. Although most of the information was Eurocentric as the consultant said there was hope. & he was open to the library gaining more diverse information just with that conversation. 

Just imagine had I not left that bed huh. Next, I'd recognized on my way in I'd missed a turn and just so happened to run into the NAACP. I'd always seen it but never been in and had an hour and a half before I'd pick up my nephew from preschool. I'd decided after all of these meetings to walk up there. It was monumental for this because in Jackson its frowned upon to walk. Not like Chicago where walking can be a vital necessity off some to get around. Even down town people who walk or ride the bus are seen as lower. Did that negative trope stop me, nope. My body was called me to move.

When I walked in a former police officer sat in the seat and welcomed me. I'd asked him how I can help and contribute to the mission. I'd only leanred more about NAACP outside the civil rights movement in Illinois. There in Springfield they'd come together after the Springfield race riots. They held importance in our communities for decades.although systems were now outdated, memberships were inactive, and they were mostly ran by the older generation. In that space then all I saw were older men.

Once the director showed up he taught about the history of town, of NAACP, and the lack of education on political issues. There was also lack of a foot in the ground for black people generally. So many things and just like the church said when I returned to the choir, they need help with the youth.. This has been a calling I have ran away from hard conversations in the church and trying to lead the younger generation.

I've always been an old soul and struggled with people my age, so its difficult.  Seeing the shift on Sunday in the youth choir in one week gave me hope that with love, encouragement, and healthy development they can do and be so much more.. Someone just had to have time. So.. I accepted writing for a UU blog as a guest writer. & they asked me how I felt about reporting. I enjoyed writing and being honest. I'd love to support in my capacity. 

Picking up my nephew was next after having this conversation. I wanted next to take him to the library so he can experience what I had when I was a kid. I want to take him to a NAACP meeting. He loves to sing so much. He knows as much as he's been taught about God, but loves rhythm. When I was away more progressive spaces used religious trauma to teach separation from where we come from. In many ways, it was easy to agree because I didn't understand the history of the Black church in progressive movements and escaping slavery. We'd taken religion and it'd became our own to use for our liberation. Although the religion has become more fundamentalist, there were times its was driven by something else, love, and justice. Jesus wouldn't have never been okay with this. He was killed by church and bad government..

Is that not a word in and of itself even the guy seen to be the most biblically perfect was treated like any other BIPOC poor person in the community. Still he chose to love them and didn't give up on them even on the cross.. I found out I am an Omniest. I'll let you all look into that, I can find truth in any book and occasion just like darkness can be found so can light.. 

The last meeting was a geneology meeting a part of it was about Georgia Tanner, a white woman raised in Mississippi born to a prominent judge. She ran a adoption scandal trafficking kids for decades. Once she was fired she moved to Tennessee to do the same thing gaining the support of prominent political powers, judges, politicians, and other donors. She continued her work dying at 59 never prosecuted but died with millions. It made me wonder where the money went, what happened to all of those children, and who picked up the business. The darkness that lives here is real. History is being forgotten even in my own family. It's added to my tears in the morning and in the day reminding us we are deeper than the narratives we've been given. 

I thought I'd be here for a short period of time, but I can't leave for good until my work is done. Although I have school and conferences for the next few months. Home, needs healing not just for my family, but the city is crying for love and truth.. I know I wont be the only person a part of this movement but if I was able to in Illinois. I should be able to where I first started..

 

Misrepresented history.. We have progression, the Shirley Mercer walking trail, monumental growth in that it shines light on prominent black figures for activism and civil rights in Jackson. However, it only shares that in the context of religious leaders and reflects political systems.. To us these have just become names we forget the history behind it.. Certain parties in those times roles were reversed on democrats and Republicans. Those places show that without reflecting the shift.

If I was a new reader I could believe the Republican party had our best intrest and the democratic party hung and beat us which is true. However, roles have a reversed with neither completely ever having our best intrest same motives different time periods. I'll continue to learn, and allow myself to be stretched to the extent needed. I ask for your prayers throughout that journey... 5 am I probably should go back to sleep thanks for reading.