Fort Negrita Blog — Zero Waste

As cool, calming and tranquil as water can be, the universal solvent has been the hot subject of many discussions since the summer. Dakota Access Pipeline, that’s a water problem. The Southeast’s record breaking drought since the 1960s, that’s a water problem. Flint, Michigan’s water scandal, that’s a water problem. Even 2016 being the hottest year on record, that’s a water problem. SIDEBAR: I'm also sharing photos from my trip to Joshua Tree, with my beloved 'community.'OK Ree, why do you keep talking about water?We can thank our entire existence on two things: the water and the sun. Water is...

(Click here for photo album.) Traveling to Austin for SXSWEco was one of the highlights of my year. What I didn't realize until after attending the conference was that some of the biggest impressions on my life including: watching Bill Nye the Science Guy as a child, reading The Upcycle three years ago and my forever relationship with hip hop all shaped my role as an environmentalist. MEETING PEOPLE One of the best things about conferences is the people that you get to meet. In the average 27k days a human lives we only have a couple to meet with...

OK, I’m starting this post with a PSA to check out my Instagram stories within the next 10 hours. It has some snippets from probably one of the best presentations I’ve ever watched! One of the best parts of a rap concert is the energy. Hands waving in the air, people blurting out lyrics, hype men jumping around the stage, the boom bap, the screwed chops, the bounce beat; these things light up concerts, and if the rapper weren't a great performer it would be wack. As for Michael Ford's Hip Hop Architecture presentation at SXSWEco, his content was great,...

Monday, I spent the entire day volunteering at the registration desk at SXSWEco. Here’s why. I’m notorious for volunteering at festivals. It’s the best way to attend a conference your press to go to while saving hundreds of dollars. Sure, I have to pay for a plane ticket and lodging, but I also get access to the the same workshops and sessions that paid attendees have access to. Nonetheless, it was a long day, so not much outside of answering “there’s no such thing as stupid questions” questions. But I did get a chance to hangout at Congress Ave bridge...

When I made the decision to move to Atlanta it was because of all the nostalgia I had for places I had never been. Like seeing Spaceships on Bankhead, riding in East Point bumpin' Cool Breeze's Greatest Hits or starting something good on Headland and Delowe. But since living in Atlanta, the Atlanta I dreamt of  was buried under murals painted by artists that didn't understand, historical buildings smothered in franchise swag and irresponsibility for the people that stood for Atlanta, even when Atlanta didn't stand for them. Everyday, I ride my bike around the city and only see remnants...