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Natural Awakenings Naples and Fort Myers

Reader Spotlight!

Work: I divide my time between teaching in-person art in after-school programs through the United Arts Council of Collier County and my freelance photography work, which I’ve been doing professionally since 2016, after surviving a life-threatening illness. Creating and teaching art is my calling, and in my photo projects I highlight stories about humanitarian, social and ecological issues. My most recent work is a participation in the public art exhibition #IAMWATER on billboards in Brooklyn, NYC, with a photo of Miccosukee grandmother Betty Osceola in the Everglades. 


Proudest Achievement: Without a doubt it is to see my children, who are now 20 and 24 years old, go into the world as young adults with aspirations. 


Expectations for the Future: I try my best to live fully in the present with the hope of positive outcomes as results of the actions and decisions we make individually and collectively.


Favorite websites: I often visit the cooking section of NYTimes.comAmyMyersMD.com for Autoimmune Protocol Diet (AIP) recipes, WGCU.orgVisionandJustice.orgVice.comGordonParksFoundation.org for inspiring essays and photos, NationalGeographic.com, and Instagram.com.


Local or global causes supported: Local causes are Cultivate Abundance and Misión Peniel Food Pantry, Shelter for Abused Women and Children, and Our Daily Bread Food Pantry. International causes are Doctors without Borders, UNICEF and Kiva.


Favorite thing about Natural Awakenings: The quality of the writing and the well-researched, trustworthy pieces of Linda Sechrist and Sandra Yeyati. 


Most frequented healthy food restaurant: My partner Sean McCabe and I love cooking at home. We occasionally indulge in delicious and healthy foods from Chef Brooke’s Natural Cafe and Green Cup Café, in Fort Myers, as well as Café Nutrients and other spots in Naples.


How I support my community: I purchase locally as much as I can. I shop at farmers' markets, alternating between Naples, Bonita and Fort Myers. I recently replenished my tea collection with new teas from Tigertoes Herbs and Teas.


What I am doing to be the change I want to see in the world: I listen and follow the lead of our Indigenous communities for wisdom on caring for our planet and ourselves.