About Witness: Exploring African American Connections to the Land and Place

Since Houston’s founding, African Americans have had complex relationships to the land, some uplifting and celebratory, some rooted in oppression and injustice. The 4-part Witness Series will explore the many profound experiences African-Americans have to the Land of Southeast Texas and will incorporate dynamic, participatory talks, art, hikes, bird walks and other experiences. The Witness Series was created by Jaime Gonzalez, a Houston-based conservationist, environmental educator, network weaver, biologist, and storyteller, and Kristi Rangel, Houston-based Multi-disciplinary artist and Education Advocate. Each experience was designed to bring communities together through the power of nature and provide historically under-served communities with greater access to nature-based opportunities.

February-May 2022

• February 12, 2022, 10am to 12pm - The Long Arc @ Houston Botanic Garden

• March 12, 2022, 8:30am to 11am - Hiking through History @ The Hill at Sims

• April 23, 2022, 9am to 11am - Seeds of Hope @ A City of Houston Park

• May 7, 2022 - Arts by Nature @ E.R. & Ann Taylor Park

The experiences are in collaboration with Houston Audubon, Houston Coalition Against Hate, Houston Botanic Garden, Houston Health Department, National Wildlife Refuge System, Nature Heritage Society and The Nature Conversancy Texas. For more information about the series CONTACT US .

The Witness Series was inspired by Kristi Rangel’s series “Seven” that was created after she was selected the 2021 Houston Coalition Against Hate (HCAH) Emerging Artist of the Year. “Seven” is a curated collection of seven paintings featuring portraits of Black women and Funtumfrafu-Denkyemfrafu, an Adinkra symbol of unity in diversity giving a common destiny. Kristi’s work centers around her belief that environmental equity is a basic human right.