Black Her Stories Nourish

Take a walk with me and Halima Afi Cassells through her garden. Listen as we chat about her artistic journey, sustainability practices, and the Black women in her life that inspire her.
An award-winning, interdisciplinary, community-engaged artist, and mother of three, Halima is an avid gardener whose roots are deeply woven into the soil of Detroit, Michigan.
Halima’s deep connection to nature and how gardening has influenced her art practice resonated with me on a soul level and sparked new pathways in my brain; How can I reduce the harm being done to the planet? What habits do I need to shift to be in right relationship with nature?
An activist just as much as she is an artist, Halima demonstrates her commitment to environmental justice by using non-toxic materials, found objects, and advocating for a share economy. This discipline to reuse rather than consume is woven into Free Market of Detroit, a fashion exchange and upcycling swap lead by Halima, and her upcoming project at Eliza Howell Park, in collaboration with Sidewalk Detroit, which showcases her ability to transform trash into meaningful art.
Resources & Special Mentions:  Halima Afi Cassels -
Website: https://www.halimacassells.com/
IG: halima_afi
Referenced Works
Swan Song
Eco-Art Residency
Sidewalk Detroit
Sydney James
Shanna Merola
 
Detroit References
Belle Isle
 ◉ Newsletter: https://blackherstories.substack.com/
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Tune in to hear an interview with Gwendolyn Wallace. Together we dive into nuances of navigating strong emotions, the insightful moment that motivated her to write the book, and how Wallace’s early childhood experience informed the Light that She Feels Inside. 
👀 Wanna see pictures of our in-person event at the Bronx Children’s Museum? Take a peek at our Instagram to see the magic for yourself. 
📖 To purchase a copy of the Light She Feels Inside from a Black-owned bookstore, stop by Bronx Bound Books. You can also purchase the book from the woman-owned publisher, Sourcebooks. 
🍭 Interested in collaborating with Black Her Stories? Follow us on Instagram and slide into our DMs. 
🎶 Listen to my BHS S3 playlist. There’s no wrong way to listen, but shuffle is the most fun. 
 

In this episode, we dip our baby toes into a conversation with Gwendolyn Wallace. Gwendolyn Wallace is a New York City-based researcher, storyteller, and children’s literature author. Her work for both children and adults centers Afrodiasporic voices to explore the unfolding relationship between the spatial logics of colonialism and our body-minds. 

In this episode, we talk about: 
The emotional complexity of Black Childhood
Nina Simone 
The Light That She Feels Inside   
Ways to get in touch with King Sophia: 
Website: https://kingsophiamusic.com/
IG: kingsophiamusic


Ways to get in touch with Gwendolyn Wallace
Website: https://www.gwendolynwallace.com/
IG: g.m.wallace
 
Ways to get in touch with Black Her Stories
https://nourish.community/contact
 IG: @blackherstories
 
 

In this episode, we explore the lessons of leadership Jahmad Canley. Jahmad is a husband, father, community member, and the president of Potential Unleashed, business coaching company specializing in providing solutions to companies, teams, and individuals of every description through improved performance and increased human effectiveness. Together, we elevate the impact of his Grandma, Betty Jo Davis, and discuss her unique expressions of leadership.

In this episode, we explore the possibilities of the Black imagination with architect Donna Carter. A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Donna D. Carter is the President of Carter Design Associates, an architectural, planning, and restoration firm in Austin, Texas. Her practice is focused on projects that combine revitalization, historic preservation, and new construction within a community context.
 
A shaper of physical spaces, Donna and her firm have received numerous awards including the Texas Society of Architecture’s Design Award and the Preservation Texas Award for the Restoration of the Texas and Pacific Terminal Waiting Room, which is Fort Worth’s largest and most extravagant example of Art Deco architecture. 
 
As a civic leader, Donna has held many volunteer and board positions that keep her active in her community. From participating in numerous Austin planning and development task force committees to being a Fellow of the Center for Heritage Conservation at Texas A&M University, Donna has dedicated her life to being of service. 
 
In this episode, we talk about: 
Thinking creatively about spaces 
How to nourish a creative spirit



Resources: 
Donna Carter
Carter Design Associates
AIA Profiles - Donna Carter



Places of Interest
Austin Public Library Architecture
Pruitt-Igoe Housing Project (VIDEO)



◉ Website: https://nourish.community/podcast
◉ Substack: https://blackherstories.substack.com/
 ◉ IG: @blackherstories
 ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org 
 

In this episode, we explore the possibilities of the Black imagination with architect Donna Carter. A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Donna D. Carter is the President of Carter Design Associates, an architectural, planning, and restoration firm in Austin, Texas. Her practice is focused on projects that combine revitalization, historic preservation, and new construction within a community context.
A shaper of physical spaces, Donna and her firm have received numerous awards including the Texas Society of Architecture’s Design Award and the Preservation Texas Award for the Restoration of the Texas and Pacific Terminal Waiting Room, which is Fort Worth’s largest and most extravagant example of Art Deco architecture. 
As a civic leader, Donna has held many volunteer and board positions that keep her active in her community. From participating in numerous Austin planning and development task force committees to being a Fellow of the Center for Heritage Conservation at Texas A&M University, Donna has dedicated her life to being of service. 
 
In this episode, we talk about: 
Preservation Architecture in the context of the Black community 
Reimagining Black History and reclaiming the Black Imagination
Resources: 
Donna Carter
Carter Design Associates
AIA Profiles - Donna Carter
 
Places of Interest
Austin Public Library
Texas and Pacific Terminal Waiting Room



 ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community/podcast
 ◉ IG: @blackherstories
 ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org