‘Asase Ye Duru: Honoring African American Environmental Pioneers’
Photo by Yvonne Kemp
On Monday, February 17, 2020, Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum hosted a Black History Month celebration honoring local African American Environmental Pioneers at the museum, 2620 W. Center St. The event was called “Asase Ye Duru,” which is an African saying for “The Earth Has Weight,” and is a symbol of providence and the divinity of Mother Earth.
Among those honored were Adams Garden Park co-founders Sharon and Larry Adams; urban farmer Will Allen; Walnut Way Conservation Corp. executive director Antonio Butts; Milwaukee Water Commons co-executive Director Brenda Coley; We Got This, Inc.’s founder Andre Lee Ellis; Cream City Farms founder David Johnson; Wisconsin Peace Actions’ George Martin; Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin founder Dr. Patricia McManus; Groundworks Milwaukee executive director Deneine Powell; and Alice’s Garden founder Venice Williams.
