Greetings! We are Nik and Tommi, and almost 6 years ago, in our home state of North Carolina, we began nurturing what we now know will be a life partnership. We have since moved to Santa Cruz, California with hopes that it would be a radically progressive haven of sorts. It has not been that, though living in Santa Cruz for the past 2 years has allowed space for much growth and exploration in and for both Nik and Tommi. We have expanded in ways that neither of us can deny was made possible because of our location in the world. As a research scholar-activist currently pursuing her Ph.D.,Tommi has built wonderful relationships with scholar-activists and community members which has unlocked invaluable insights in her academic and spiritual work. Nik is taking a year from academic education to hone and expand the art she creates; she is also taking the time to grow spiritually and to strengthen her community-care and community-building praxis.

However, in Santa Cruz, we have also constantly been bombarded with blatant racism and sexism. We have experienced peoples hate and fear of our Blackness almost every day. We also both experience virulant assumptions of access to our bodies. Combine these violations with the all too real absence of Blackness in Santa Cruz, and the picture and reality of our lives becomes clearer. To add more stress and weight to our load, we have recently become houseless and our resources for retaining housing are coming to an end within a matter of days, and neither of us come from families with money to spare. Because of this, we are driving home to North Carolina to recieve healing from the presence, community, and love that Black Folks in the South offer us; to meet new family members that have just entered the world; and to recenter/reground ourselves. We are asking for your help to make it all the way home. Donations will go toward gas, food, and obtaining shelter. Thank you and Blessings in Advanced!