Stillness (noun): silence
Synonyms: calmness, serenity, tranquility
Ranger (noun): Keeper of a forest or park
Synonyms: wanderer, protector, guide, steward, guardian, healer
In 2020, I discovered the most beautiful and majestic part of Central Park after seven years of living at one of its entrances. Through it all, it was more than “a park” that guided me through my journey of reimagining and rebuilding my legacy.
It was the migrating birds and their vibrant colors that reignited my curiosity, the trees that whispered to me their wisdom, and the herons that taught me the importance of stillness to thriving. It also happened to be the year the world shut down and I decided to leave stability to build The Highland Project, a non-profit with an audacious vision to invest in seven generations forward of Black women leadership.
I’m Gabrielle Wyatt, Founder and CEO of The Highland Project, wife, daughter, granddaughter, auntie, and amateur birder. The Stillness Ranger is a series of vignettes on healing, resting, imagining, and legacy building through nature. My journey is rooted in three beliefs:
Stillness fuels vision, imagination and creativity.
Our roots hold the tears and possibilities of our ancestors.
Moving as a murmuration requires a beloved community.
I hope this is a place that sparks Black women and leaders of color reimagining worlds to explore their relationship to stillness, nourishment, vision, and joy. I hope this is a place where we can collectively be in still of legacy.