At the age of 11 my family left Cleveland, Ohio for the suburbs of Austin, Texas where massive culture shock awaited us. Because of the low population of Black residents, I saw very little around me that I felt connected to or valued as worth preserving. After graduating high school I left Austin for Houston and the noticeable shift in the number of Black folks around me drove me to anchor in place, eventually starting a career in hospitality. After some time, the travel industry moved me east to Washington D.C. where gorgeous, woody green spaces enticed me to be with nature more. I traveled around the country and abroad exposing myself to cultures different than what I knew, driving me to appreciate my own culture and ancestral ways that I had so easily taken for granted. Soon the call to come home to my family and the communities that raised me became so loud that I returned to Austin in 2018, this time with a much healthier appreciation for my own roots. With the onset of COVID-19 it became painfully obvious that I needed to leave corporate structure for the sake of my physical and mental health, so without a plan I quit my job and began volunteering at a non-profit farm in the heart of historically Black Austin. I worked at Urban Roots for several years, building a relationship with Farm Share Austin staff and building my knowledge and skills. I began the Farmer Starter program at Farm Share in the fall of 2024 and connected with my classmates so well that 5 of us decided to stay on for another season for the Cultivator program! My personal goals are to continue learning about farming in different ways, especially ancestral ways, and to continue providing food access to Austin residents with access barriers. I am super excited for the season and for everyone to watch our journey on Instagram at @shenani_gators!