Uphold Voices in Family is an archive honoring and preserving our stories, from this present moment with the aim for generations to come. It is an intentional passage through past-present stories of childhood and parental experiences.

 Welcoming Amani Reid to Episode 4 full of gratitude sharing reflections:

• How does she see reflections of herself through the people who are close in her life from career explorations and personal characteristics? How does the intimacy of finding oneself connected to knowing her family history?
• What are the narratives that she would tell herself as a child that held her back from expressing her voice in the ways that spoke to the freedom of her being?
• Instead of her own voice throughout the years, whose voice and which relationships had a deep influence as to how she navigated through the world? 
• When did she give herself permission to see her own voice and to express herself?
• What were her childhood hobbies and interests? How does she strive to reconnect with her inner child today and give her space to speak?
• What does it mean to have multiple passions at the same time, and how is she navigating the process of giving them all space to be free?
• What roles do her parents have in her life and what is she immensely grateful for?
• How does her grandmother impact her life? How does she channel their memory and how do they live through her each day?
• Where does her love of the environment root and flourish from? 
• How is the myriad of cultures in her lineage? What was her trip to Ghana like the first time she visited and what is she dedicated to upholding as part of her memorable legacy?

 Amani Reid is a wonderful and radiant human being who speaks about the influential power that we have by simply being who we are and expressing our voices! To love ourselves, to know that we are good enough by exploring what speaks deeply to our inner beings. Today, we honor the gift of listening to Amani sharing her being, her voice, her heart, her truth with us. It is this prayer of who she is and continuously growing into that we honor today. May we know through listening to her story that we too, can choose to do the same. To express ourselves whenever it aligns best with our journeys.

Amani has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with an Environmental Studies minor from Temple University and is a former U.S. Army Reservist. She is also a Temple University Diamond Award Recipient. She is currently serving as Policy Engagement Manager for Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light and Legislative Assistant with State Representative Donna Bullock. 

Amani is dedicated to stewardship and advocacy work including climate justice, environmental justice, and equality. She is a New Jersey native, however, she loves to travel and has been to London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Accra, Ghana. She is the founder of Black Butterly, an initiative rooted in environmental justice and creative expressions. She is a writer, musician, and environmental advocate guided by faith. 

This archival dialogue with Amani is an honor to having faith in ourselves and reconnecting with the passionate creative expressions of the inner child. As you listen in today, we invite you to reflect on your own childhood experiences and how you find your voice growing today.

Connect with Amani below:

LinkedIn: Amani Reid - Legislative Assistant - State Representative Donna Bullock | LinkedIn
Black Butterfly Instagram Page: Black Butterfly 🦋 (@black_buttterflyyy) • Instagram photos and videos
Amani's Personal Instagram Page:Amani Reid (@mani._.xoxo) • Instagram photos and videos