Building Bridges Across Generations
People of African ancestry in the western hemisphere have a rich and dynamic history with the land. Black folx connect with and learn from the earth in ways that have proven to promote the well-being of our spirits, minds, and bodies. Black land-based education, then, is a vehicle towards fostering more connection and well-being for ourselves and our youth, tapping into ancestral African traditions, and moving in solidarity with other peoples in the Americas who embody and honor land-based sustenance, culture, and self-determination.
Our Programs
The Brotherhood of Elders Network launched its land-based education (LBE) work in the spring of 2024. Led by seasoned outdoor educator Brother Todd Cooley, activities have included a 2-day wilderness first aid certification training for BOEN leaders and community partners, and focused on a collaboration with The Brotherhood’s Ubuntu Leadership Institute (ULI). The 2024 cohort of ULI Fellows–a dozen brothers from Oakland aged 16 to 21–began their land-based education engagement with a day excursion to a 43-acre plot of land stewarded by BOEN partner Movement Generation, followed by an overnight camping trip to Briones Regional Park, and culminating in a 7-day backcountry trip to the Golden Trout Wilderness School in the Sierra Nevada mountains. In 2025, The Brotherhood aims to evolve and grow its LBE programming, both through deepening collaboration with ULI and expanded engagement with The Brotherhood of Elders Network at large.
