LOCALadk Magazine

What comes to your mind when you think of the Adirondack Mountains? If I were to ask you to describe some environmental characteristics, what would you say? When you immerse yourself in this wilderness, you will realize that you're surrounded by beautiful vegetation, untouched forest, sparkling anorthosite, and freshwater streams. Others might think about its history or the lives lived within its small hamlets. It most certainly is challenging to restrict the Adirondacks to a few descriptor words. Most of my upbringing took place within the Adirondacks. I can trace my family's history here back to 1920s, making me the fourth generation to walk these mountains. I want my kids, too, to establish roots within this soil. Over the last three years, I've walked approximately 3,500 miles of the Adirondack Park. I've seen and felt how special these mountains are; it is within my nature to explore them as deeply as possible. As wonderful as it is to commit myself to discovering such a beautiful place, it can also distract from the real world. Most people would agree that they hike here to get away from work and the busyness of life, to find a place of refuge for the soul. It is also a place to remember our blessings. However, for billions of people around the world, these blessings are something they will never know. Here in America, we have grown comfortable with our privileges. We take for granted the ease with which we access tap water, refrigeration, indoor plumbing, transportation, air conditioning. Yet, while we enjoy these conveniences, we forget that most of the world does not live as we do. Before moving from Ohio to Lake Placid in 2019, I was privileged to travel to dozens of countries around the globe as well as to every contiguous state within the United States. I believe that one of the most important things we can experience is another culture— not just the culture outside our state, but outside our country. Traveling builds a foundation for empathy for others as we learn about their culture—their foods, landscapes, and music—and by the ways they navigate their day-to-day lives. I met Andrew Toukatly shortly aer my move to the Adirondacks. He and his daughter Eleena are both 46'ers. Aer befriending Andrew, I discovered that he knew of my great passion for photography and videography, but little did I know that he was part of one of the most significant humanitarian organizations in this country: Hope Rising. Hope Rising is a nonprofit based in Buffalo, New York. ey exist to empower communities through holistic, sustainable development, meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. In the spring of 2021, Andrew and his team asked me to join them by going to Africa to help document what Hope Rising is doing there and increase awareness of what's happening in Sierra Leone. is past October, six volunteers and I hopped on a plane and flew there. Sierra Leone is plagued with chronic starvation, poverty, and sickness. Aer the devastation of Ebola, it was le with only 80 doctors. It currently has the world's highest maternal death rate and struggles to protect its children aged five and under from illness and death. is journey has changed is no longer enough. I need someone who impacts the LOCALadk 18

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