Over the past 7 years , we have completed collaboration projects that we want to share as we build for the future of our home here on Edwards St., Africatown, AL 3/3/2018 A VET’S volunteer divine date set with Mr. Jones’ ACDC , same day as Ship Find Our story begins in Africatown on a random date chosen by VETS President and ACDC President (Mets Baseball Hall of Famer) Cleon Jones. From our first phone call with Eric Finley to his suggestion to reach directly to my grandfather's lifetime neighbor , Mr. Jones , to meeting MCTS HS Alumni President Anderson Flen, we have been divinely set up to connect with the elders and community leaders who've had the preservation and success of Africatown as their main priorities. After meeting with Uncle Omar, a retired law enforcement sheriff, and seeing him and my cousin, Ret. Major Jow Womack, in an interview , fighting against the continuous environmental encroachment, we knew our return home was more than just reconnecting with family; it was discovering our place in the community's fight for legacy. Naval Air Station Pensacola sent 4 classes from the Naval Recruiting Schoolhouse to volunteer for our yearly MLK service weekend. Our partnership with Keep Mobile Beautiful has blossomed in our organization , assisting with several de-littering projects throughout the City of Mobile, AL. The original VETS Board, consisting of Charles Williams, Rochel Crenshaw, and Jocelyn Davis, organized over 300 hours of community cleanups, 2k lbs. of trash pickup , and feeding sailors at the home of Charles and Rochel , all at the same time, giving community youth volunteer certificates and recognizing the community elders. September 3, 2018, God brought our team together with a minister from Benin on Mrs. Howell's mother's September 3 birthday. What happened on this day was prayer, a flight, and a vision. Following a prayer with JD (Joyclyn Davis) at our family church, my Madea received her lifetime usher award (Union Missionary Baptist Church), and we all had a chain of events that has led to today's present vision of Africa in America. 1. Someone received tickets for a flight to West Africa. 2. JD prayed about having a descendant festival. 3. Three months later, Mrs. Howell and I were on a flight to Benin to meet with an architect and eventually be inspired by the oral history that would lead to this vision. 1 of 2 The Vision Benin (Dahomey), Africa, with Vickii Howell “You are the strongest, you made it across the Atlantic, and though enslaved, you are an African. " These are the words of the Chief of Mayors to me as we discussed “The American Negro." He made it clear that I was an African and that my ancestors endured much for us to survive. With that motivation, we launch into our building project! 2 of 2 The Vision Africatown, Seattle, WA. Paid a visit to Africatown and shared an architectural presentation on West African architecture from a world-renowned archeologist and design architectural collection of data from the community and city leaders; we collected a global perspective on what the community could potentially become, minus the continued industrialization efforts. VETS President (Ret) US Navy Chief Lewis plays the role of the community. Chief Peter (Gumpa) Lee In another set of divine appointments, Chief Lewis auditioned and was selected to play the role of King Glele and the West African from Dahomey (a captive onboard the Clotilda) in the play An Ocean in My Bones, directed by Terrance Spivery. A former student of Mobile County Training School, Chief Lewis hadn’t acted in a play since his role on stage in the 7th grade on the same stage at the Historic Mobile County Training School. His role as a chief in the Navy and being the voice for the chief of Africatown had come full circle on stage in the famed community that has produced greats like Cleon Jones, Hank Aaron, Kern RJ Lewis, Major Dr. Joe Womack, and descendants of the West African youth Jones, who established Africatown. 1 of 3 Stage Play 2 of 3 Stage Play Chief Peter Lee 3 of 3 Stage Plays: King of Dahomey President of the Buffalo Soldier 92nd Infantry Division WWII Foundation, Mr. Eddie Irby, and VETS Compost Kids: Kennedi, Kyndall, Kensley, and Jabari Lewis at the future Mt. Vernon Veteran Memorial Park. For the last 7 years, our veteran-based organization has worked with Mr. Irby in the organization. The City of Mt. Vernon held its 1st Veterans Day parade in honor of its recent history and assisted its veterans board in organizing a memorial space for their local hero, Mr. Andre, a Purple Heart recipient who fought with the 761st Black Panther Tank Battalion in WWII. He was interviewed by the History Channel by Morgan Freeman. Our organization had the honor of being present at a private ceremony that awarded him a long-overdue military honor. The US Coast Guard and Navy, with Mrs. Hollaway's class, are collecting compost after volunteering in the Urban Garden. 1 of 3 MCTS Hollaway Class MCTS Principal with Mrs. Hollaway's Class and VETS President 2 of 3 MCTS Hollaway Class Mrs. Hollaway's class turns the compost in the class compost bins at the rear of the school. 3 of 3 MCTS Hollaway Class Matilda McCrear's descendant visits Africatown for the first time. College students in a medical program, the McCrear Descendants, take a walking tour with Chief Lewis and the Stemming-The-Tide team, learning the oral history of the ancestors who’d started an African-governed community just south of their ancestors' home in Selma. This was a very enriching day as we shared intimate moments of them hearing for the first time in their lives the story of their ancestors' shipmates and setting their feet on the same soil once shared by their family members. Navy Volunteers Partner with the MCTS Alumni Assn. for the yearly Kite Event The funniest time ever!!! Every sailor and kid who was trained by an elder on how to make a homemade kite had the best time of their life! Our team became kids again as we were educated on the wonderful history of kite making and the detail it takes in stringing it and launching it into the air. Kites and the beautiful designs made that day will be one of the cultural elements in our building designs. Scientists like the graduate of Williamson HS, Lonnie Johnson, and the head of Mary Valid Victorian (Ret.), Col. RJ Lewis, who flew Chief Anderson of the Tuskegee Airmen back to his historical flight of the Caribbean, are just some of the many scientific geniuses we will talk about on our story wall as you enter the property. See our family member RJ Lewis's story on this PBS link: https://florida.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/2f61c4f9-3a03-4c54-ac63-89ab2edd0dff/c Visit the MSTSAA website on upcoming community dates: http://www.mctswhippets.org/ anternwalk.mctswhippets.org Dr. Kern Jackson, a co-producer of the documentary with his son and descendant, at the premiere of the Netflix documentary. Dr. Kern and our team met early, Kern Jackson, early in our return home. Dr. Kern, a professor at USA College, has done extensive work researching and collecting the stories of the West African tribes that settled in AL. He and his family are a consistent presence in the community, attending ceremonies and, most notably for the kids, the yearly kite-making event. Having a bona fide historian and someone who’s spent intimate time with the community has been most valuable in our mission to create an authentic African space. 1 of 2 Descendant Premier Descendant Miss Joclyn Davis, MEJAC President Mr. Ramsey, and VETS President Walk the Prichard and Africatown communities, passing out flyers ahead of a premiere that would have the Obamas address the audience ahead of the first scene. Walking the community with Miss Davis and Mr. Ramsey was commonplace in our initial work as our team saw firsthand the hands and feet who’d truly had sweat equity, preserving both the oral history and environmental safety of the storied community. From passing out flyers at city council meetings to volunteering at the food pantry, the bar was set high for service and commitment to preserving the place we called home. This building project and community development are more than a goal; it’s a long time coming to see true investment after years of neglect 2 of 2 Descendant Premier VETS President: (Ret.) US Navy Chief Jason Lewis Following his retirement, Chief Lewis continued serving in his home community (Happy Hill and Plateau) Both maternal and paternal grandparents' homes remain in the community, making the veteran assistance and youth gardening programs a personal pursuit of excellence. 1 of 7 VETS President “Internationally, Africatown is a story for a global community, and connecting our youth with that community is one of our key missions." In 2018, taking a trip to West Africa sponsored by a former Birmingham reporter and president of M.O.V.E. Gulf Coast CDC, our vision took shape. After hearing the oral history from the elder in both Africa and Africatown and remembering the principles we were raised in, we set out to create a space that speaks not only to the ingenuity of our ancestors in Africatown but also to our global influence on architecture, technology, and culture. Note: Mrs. Howell ’s ideas for the future can be seen here: africatowndesign.com 2 of 7 VETS President On December 6th, 2019, Naval Air Station was attacked. VETS President Chief Lewis was one of the casualty assistance officers for the patients who were injured in the attack. If leadership is a determinant of successful missions, then the role of a chief who’s served 24 years should speak volumes about the work that has been done and continues to evolve as our organization's efforts take shape in the communities we serve. 3 of 7 VETS President More Than Tour owner trains Oral history guides for the first time in preparation for Heritage House Opening. Since returning home, we’ve been more than just a nonprofit; we’ve been engaged in what matters most in the designs we have for the future, the oral history. With the Civil Rights Heritage Trail in northern Alabama and significant investment in the heritage trail in Mobile, it was important for us to do our due diligence ahead of taking on the design of a garden space and home that honors the legacy of the community. 4 of 7 VETS President Interview by Hiztorical Vision Productions The producer of Afrikan by way of American interviews, Chief Lewis, addresses the strength, faith, and resolve of the community. Ahead of the interviewing process, the producer brought his wife and then toddler to help VETS 501 (c)3 and ACDC Paint Mobile County Training School. The brown coat of paint on the west side of the school has paintbrush strokes from one of Alabama’s most notable historians and documentarians. 5 of 7 VETS President On March 3, 2018, the famed baseball bat was signed by many of the community leaders and sailors who were present during one of the first meetings to recognize the community and confirm the ship finding. A baseball bat was given as an award while working as a career counselor in the recruiting district of New Orleans; it was immediately repurposed to capture the historical moment and those present by having them sign their names on the bat. It will be in a case of glass and kept in the reconstructed home at 804 Edwards St. 6 of 7 VETS President The Heritage House Groundbreaking Being present is one thing; being active and present is the example that’s set by those who have come before us. The vision of the Mobile County Commissioner and the work of the leadership from MCTSAA and the HS graduates who continue to serve is most inspiring! It’s important to note that logistically the Heritage House is within steps of the 804 Edwards St. property and has drawn interest already from those who visit the community. 7 of 7 VETS President Devine Appointment: VETS President met the Stemming the Tide team with the Twin Descendant Matilda McCrear. Thanks to the Mobile County Training School Alumni Association. Our Compost Kids Urban Gardening team has secured key resources and partnered with schools, teachers, churches, and organizers for a yearly STEM training and funding event at Springhill College. US Coast Guard in Africatown’s Urban Garden, awarding MCTS students awards after a weekend of volunteering: landscaping, clearing bush, and gardening. Since 2018 , military service members from all branches of service have volunteered with VETS 501(C)3. The partnerships with our local military facilities have created a sustainable Coast Guard Photo: 1 of 2 Coast Guard 2 of 2 In-depth regional analysis from our participation in the National Parks and Recreation Blueway Committee. Over the past 7 years, we’ve been educated on and shared in the collaborative effort to preserve regional waterways and amplify the natural beauty of our local waterways through building projects that tell the story of Africatown and the Native landscapes that have existed for ages in Alabama. The Future is Bright Retired service members Major Joe Womack and Chief Jason Lewis 1 of 12 The future is bright (Ret.) Major Joe Womack (cousin) and Ret. (Sherief Dep.) Omar Smith Being interviewed in City Hall, Mobile, AL 2 of 12 The future is bright "Our family is strong," as the African chief noted. This is just a vision for the future, but a fight for the past. A fight to reclaim our narrative and tell our own story. Africatown Natives and MCTSAA Stand against a pipeline being built under the baseball field of the Historical School. 3 of 12 The future is bright A school frequented by Booker T. Washington and presided over by administrators who produced citizens of prestige, over 5 other schools, and some of the greatest thinkers and athletes of our time! Owner of Tour Motherland and Organizer of The Akwaaba Club 4 of 12 The Future is bright On the 27th of September, we made history by connecting our youth and VETS work in Africatown to the Grand Opening of The Akwaaba Club in West Africa. The Banana tree Merial painting by Jeki Gnammankou at Kidd Park in Africatown 5 of 12 The Future is bright The corner on Edwards St. is lined with banana trees that have their own story of origin. Given as a gift from the elder who lived next door to the owner of the property, we purchased the tree, which has been passed throughout the community: Mississippi, Crestview, Mobile, Daphne, Pensacola, and Spanish Fort, AL. It can be seen on several documentaries and has also found a home directly in the yard of the Heritage House directly across the street. In plain sight, the community is growing. From new homes produced by the Redevelopment Corporation to roofs and homes restored by ACDC to the MCTS Lantern Walk tree growing taller and the cultural festival put on by Mrs. Davis and the Heritage House, evidence of a bright future is in plain sight. It’s now up to the culture keepers and residents of Africa/Africatown to simply give another update on a potential addition to work we’ve already been doing in the region. It’s not the time for Africa in America VETS501(C)3 Visualize Everyone That Serves has been awarded the famed Akwaaba Award! Africa knows we are here! But do we know they’re there? 6 of 12 The future is bright VETS gives a community banana tree to Mother Land Tours 7 of 12 The future is bright Akawaaba means Welcome! 8 of 12 The future is bright In a speaking event set in Ghana, the spirit of Quami EnChroma was evoked as we bridged continental divides reminiscent of MLK’s trip to Ghana’s independence celebrations. The time for connection is now; the desire to share ideas and commune is evident, and the equity we seek in this present social structure can be sped along with partnerships like the one made in September of 2025. Africatown is an international story with partners who seek local solutions from communities that share in the same vision for cultural excellence amongst the youth. 9 of 12 The future is bright We have a chance to be the spearheads of a global outcry for architecture that speaks to our souls and oral history that aligns with platforms that can communicate to the next generation. “It’s not about me” is a term learned early on as a sailor in the US NAVY. 10 of 12 The learner is bright I’ve been fortunate to meet people as a civilian whose character traits align with those I’ve learned over the years. I’ve formulated a team of professionals from the following: retired physicians, engineers, professors, ministers, architects, and authors. The one consistent theme is that we’ve all returned to the south with skill and life experience that will carry this project to the finish line and beyond. It is with great confidence that we present this vision to the public now, after 7 years of research and strategy. From the site visit by our Visit Mobile tourism to Montgomery that revealed an over 2 billion dollar increase in revenue to the selection of a celebration on Fat Tuesday a few years ago by the World Monuments Fund, we’ve been primed to produce a world-class cultural experience. We can’t stop tourism or change a blighted path, but we can take control of what’s left of a wonderful place our team still calls home! Event Flyer Ghana 11 of 12 The future is bright Event Flyer Ghana 12 of 12 Dr. Katina Walton serves as the Educational Consultant for Visualies Everyone Serving (VETS), where she provides strategic leadership, instructional guidance, and transformative support designed to strengthen educational outcomes and community impact. Through her expertise in literacy, instructional coaching, leadership development, and school improvement, Dr. Walton partners with educators, veterans, families, and community stakeholders to create innovative learning opportunities that empower individuals and promote lifelong success. Committed to excellence, equity, and student achievement, Dr. Walton helps VETS develop research-based educational initiatives, professional learning experiences, and community-centered programs that inspire growth, build capacity, and transform vision into measurable results. https://www.katinawalton.com The Future is Bright Our Long-Range Plan and Vision Architects and Jameca Kamau Kambui, RA, NCARB, MJIA. Architect Kambui is registered to practice in Jamaica, USA, and has done work in Guyana and Kenya. He is a former chief architect at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) in Jamaica and has competed in many international design competitions. Mr. Kambui has been an architect for over 36 years , and some of his most notable projects are Emancipation Park, Kingston; Harmony Beach Park, Montego Bay; the award-winning Simon Bolivar Cultural Centre, Kingston; National Heroes Park, Re-Development Plan 2016, Kingston; Downtown Kingston Re-Visioning Plan; Jamaica Defense Force Lathbury Barracks, Up Park Camp, Kingston, to name a few. He hopes to continue to expand his portfolio of architectural works internationally. Member, Kingston UNESCO Creative Music City Committee, 2014 Dr. Jenna Blackwood, Landscape Architect Dr. Jenna Blackwood is a practicing landscape architect and environmental consultant with approximately 30 years of experience in the landscape industry. She has worked in the public and private sectors on a range of projects such as new hotels, residential and commercial developments, tourism attractions, and regional development plans. Her PhD research focused on household stormwater management and the structure of stormwater governance in Barbados, Jamaica, and St. Lucia.  She is also an adjunct lecturer at the Caribbean School of Architecture, teaching introductory courses in landscape architecture and environmental management. She is a member of several professional organizations and is currently the president of the Central American and Caribbean Association of Landscape Architects. Himoany Grant, Intern Architect A hardworking and enthusiastic intern architect working towards my goal of becoming a registered architect and project manager soon . I am highly proficient in 3D drafting, presentation drawings, and video editing, among other things. I began my work experience as an assistant to architect Kamau Kambui over 4 years ago , and the crowning jewel has been my participation in the Africatown International Design Idea Competition. architect https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/408ee8b998a340a488de511f76fc6eef https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a00fc46c96fe4791b1d6886d1b456e57 visualizeeveryonethatserves.com stemmingthetide.weebly.com/blog VETS (Visualize Everyone That Serves) 501(c) (3) EIN # 85-4273153 SAMS 080573230 UEI w5f8v2kf9FL5 STAARS VS000080415 FEDERAL CAGE CODE: 90NH8 Cell: 251-497-0962 Email: visualizeservice18@gmail.com Website: visualizeeveryonethatserves.com Documentary: https://youtu.be/pGeoFbTr3k0 Board members: President: (Active Duty USN) Jason Lewis How will this be accomplished? By revitalizing communities one person, home, school, and blighted area at a time Memorializing our fallen heroes and uplifting communities by recognizing the best of that community. Examples: Beautifying and restoring old landmark locations. Recognizing exemplary citizens. Reclaiming lost history through memorial services and ceremonies. 2. Community clean-ups, home revitalization, landscaping, gardening, and recycling a. These events will be planned with the community/community leaders. b. Mentors shall bring protégés out to display work ethic and teach them in the process (OJT) c. Locally/nationally known sponsors will be identified to bring water, Gatorade, and supplies. d. Plaques, certificates, and other tangible awards will be given to youth and adults for outstanding service. 2. Mentoring Youth a. Mentors will maintain a 3-tier accountability with protégés. és: school, home, and morale. Leadership will be expected from both the mentor and protégé. Contracts and ceremonies will be held to commemorate the achievements and milestones of the mentor-protégé relationship. The family’s role in the process must be proactive. (A strong emphasis on rites of passage) b. This will be a Segway into our training programs, education initiatives, and private partnerships. These partnerships will provide sponsors that will offer financial and tangible resources that will give the mentoring process hope and success. Governmental leaders will be expected to attend yearly ceremonies to commemorate milestones and successes. c. A rite of passage ceremony will celebrate milestone achievements of the youth through age 21. A compost gardening program will train the college grad or highly skilled adult to return to the community and give back what was given to them. 3. Training and Education Partnerships and established mentoring programs with local schools and colleges will be used b. Certified professionals will train and prepare presentations for the community c. Health fairs and blood drives will be conducted (calendar events) for mental health for military and first responders d. Brick-and-mortar facilities will be identified to sustain a place for conducting different forms of training. e. Partnerships with local vendors will be key in giving (OJT) opportunities. f. Community farmers' markets and fishing/hunting will be a key component of training and economic development for both the individual and community. Military history from all branches of service will be taught. This will include first responders, and the community history will be taught. Interviews with elders, alumni, athletes, and parents will be led by the youth of the community , with hopes of getting a pass down of their history (our youth and young adults must take the lead). We hope that you are interested in helping us continue serving our country in this new capacity and uniting talented community leaders to produce real change. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions at Jason Lewis, 251-497-0962 Sincerely, Proud to serve with you VETS J. J. LEWIS Serve Through Giving Individual Giver 50 Silver—Chiefs Coin 100 Gold: T-Shirt and Coin 200 Platinum—Name engraved on the wall of the 1st building Business or Organization $1,000 Silver-Banner and Chiefs Coin $2,000 Gold-Banner Lifetime Family Return Tour Experience in Africatown $3,000 Platinum-Plaque on Wall on VETS building Lifetime Family Access to Return Tour Corporate $5,000 Gold—Tree planted, Plague, 2 Family Tour Access for life $10,000 Silver- Tree planted, Plaque, 3 Family Tour Access for life $15,000 and above Platinum – Tree Planted, Plaque, Tour access for life, 2 imported works of art from Benin Serve through giving CashAPP: $Vets3  VENMO: @vetserve Zelle: visuralizeservice18@gmail.com  PayPal: 2730569@gmail.com Website: visualizeeveryonethatserves.com Documentary Prepared for website development and digital presentation.