HEALL Hub: training BIPOC land stewards on Lake Superior's North Shore

Why I Care: My Connection to This Land and This Work

Maji ya Chai—"water like tea"—is where my family has farmed for generations in Tanzania's Mt. Meru foothills. The name captures the reddish-brown water, stained by mineral-rich soil. This land isn't just where the Ndosis lived; it's who we are.

In 1960, my father left for Minnesota. I grew up between worlds—holding stories of a place I'd never touched, while a country debated whether people like us belonged outdoors.

In summer 2020, as Minneapolis erupted, my ancestors called me awake with a vision: Time for the Land. Time to act. I listened. That year, I founded Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary on 40 acres of Lake Superior's North Shore—boreal forest, meadow, and river's edge—dedicated to returning Black, Indigenous, and people of color to land's healing power.

The HEALL Hub (Home for Environment & Ancestral Learning and Leadership) brings this vision to life. When BIPOC people train as naturalists and land stewards, the land thrives. We're proving it, season by season.

What We're Building: The Challenge and Our Answer

Minnesota's North Shore is ecologically rich but historically exclusionary. Outdoor spaces and conservation careers have been built for white communities. Meanwhile, BIPOC people face documented barriers to safe access and meaningful participation—despite having the deepest ancestral ties to this land.

The HEALL Hub closes that gap. Over two years, we'll train 40 BIPOC adults as certified Master Naturalists, launch youth leadership pathways, and generate real conservation data through community science—all while proving that BIPOC land stewardship is essential conservation strategy.

Our nine partner organizations bring 3,500+ members ready to engage. Transportation and scholarships ensure access. We're ready to begin this work.