York's Story Expedition

Bringing Black History Outdoors

This upcoming project, organized by Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, brings Black educators and activists together to paddle, hike, and camp along the same rivers where the Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled 200 years ago.

This rich, place-based interpretive experience will use York’s story to explore the legacy and future of Black Americans in the outdoors. We invite you to join us as we get ready to embark on this historic trip.

First, let’s meet the crew!

Hasan Davis – Living History Educator

Starting as a counselor and a teaching artist, and through his years as a youth development specialist, Hasan has transformed the attitudes and strategies of school and facility staff, parents, and members of the community to help hundreds of children graduate from high school and go on to earn degrees from colleges and universities.

In addition to his work at schools, Hasan has been Commissioner of Juvenile Justice for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Vice Chair of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice, and an organizational consultant. With this experience, he has transformed organizations and public systems to ensure they have the capacity to not only meet the needs of the children and families they serve but also to be transparent and set metrics and methods of accountability.

Malcolm Davis - Participant

Malcolm Davis is an Affrilachian from Berea, KY. He is an educator and leader, founder of the Affrilachian Arts Institute, and writer and star of The Slave, Monk Estill, an original living history piece. He seeks to spread the importance of Art, and Security/Safety across educational and organizational spaces through the institute, and considers himself an adventurer excited to be supporting his father, Hasan Davis, performing as York.

Carolyn Finney - Participant

Carolyn Finney, Ph.D. is a storyteller, author and cultural geographer. The aim of her work is to develop greater cultural competency within environmental organizations and institutions, challenge media outlets on their representation of difference, and increase awareness of how privilege determines policy and action. Carolyn is grounded in the artistic and intellectual– she pursued an acting career for eleven years, but five years in Africa and Asia changed the course of her life.

Carolyn holds a B.A. and a M.A. on gender and environmental issues in Kenya and Nepal and a Ph.D. on African Americans and environmental issues in the U.S. Along with public speaking, writing, consulting and teaching (Wellesley College, UC Berkeley and University of Kentucky), she served on the U.S. National Parks Advisory Board for eight years. Her first book, Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors was released in 2014.

CJ Goulding - Participant

CJ Goulding shows up as a weaver, a facilitator, a community builder, an organizer, and a storyteller who invests in the growth of people, the growth of connection between people, and the growth of communities. He is committed to organizing and redistributing power and resources to achieve equity and justice. His work involves supporting leaders who are creating that change in their communities and shaping new narratives about our connection to community and the outdoors, like "Why I Wear Jordans in the Great Outdoors."

CJ has worked as a backcountry crew leader with the National Park Service, with various conservation nonprofits and is currently the co-founder and Executive Director of Boyz N The Wood, an organization that uses the outdoors to help Black men restore and reignite the best versions of themselves.

James Edward Mills – Participant Coordinator

As a freelance journalist and an independent media producer, James specializes in sharing stories about outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving and practices of sustainable living. He has worked in the outdoor industry since 1989 as a guide, outfitter, independent sales representative, writer, and photographer. He is the author of the book “The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors” and the co-writer/co-producer of the documentary film “An American Ascent”.

James is a National Geographic Explorer and a contributor to National Geographic Magazine, a Fellow of the Mountain & Wilderness Writing Program of the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada and a recipient of the Paul K. Petzoldt Award for Environmental Education. As a current faculty assistant at the University of

Wisconsin Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, James teaches a summer course called Outdoors for All on diversity, equity and inclusion in outdoor recreation and public land management.

Zachary Stocks - Participant

Zachary Stocks is a public historian, interpreter, and the Executive Director of Oregon Black Pioneers. Zachary previously served as Program Director of Historical Seaport and Visitor Services Manager of Northwest African American Museum. He is a former intern of Colonial Williamsburg and Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, and a former seasonal Park Ranger at Lewis & Clark National Historical Park.

Zachary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the College of William & Mary, a certificate in public history from the National Institute for American History and Democracy and a Master of Arts degree in museology from the University of Washington. Zachary lives in Astoria, Oregon.

Kassey Trahanas - Participant

Kassey is a National Park Service Park Ranger and a Chicago native whose passion for wildlife and outdoor experiences developed at a young age. She holds an Associate of Science degree, a Bachelor of Zoology degree, and a Master of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration degree. She’s currently the Supervisory Park Ranger at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and previously worked at Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota.

Before she became a ranger, Kassey held leadership roles as an outdoor environmental field instructor, a wildlife eco-tour guide, plus as a lifeguard and swim instructor. From conducting marine research in the Puget Sound, to taking people on alligator and dolphin sighting tours along the Gulf coast, Kassey’s ambition to professionally occupy the outdoors has taken her all over the United States.

In her free time, Kassey loves hiking with her dog and recreating on the water.

Amber Wendler – Participant

Amber Wendler has demonstrated a strong commitment to and passion for community engagement, inclusivity in STEM and the outdoors, and dynamic forms of storytelling all grounded in her love of nature. Amber is the co-editor of “Been Outside: Adventures of Black Women, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming People in Nature.” As a committee member for Humble Hikes, she supports programs to empower and engage Black youth in Roanoke, VA in outdoor activities. Amber co-organized the inaugural 2020 Black Birders Week. Additionally Amber’s work embraces narrative approaches, where she has documented oral histories that highlighted Black scientists and she has aided the creation of monuments through community led efforts that amplify the untold histories and experiences in Appalachian Virginia.

Amber is an interdisciplinary biologist who has spent a decade conducting research on a wide range of organisms from birds to fishes to plants across the United States, the Caribbean, and South America. She received her B.A. in biology from Boston University in 2018 and is currently completing her Ph.D. in biological sciences at Virginia Tech.

Andre Lamberston – Director

Andre Lambertson is an Emmy nominated award-winning photojournalist and filmmaker documenting the inspirational lives of resilient people around the globe. He is committed to telling their stories of hope, healing and transformation. Andre brings more than 25 years of visual storytelling, a highly developed artistic style, and a deep understanding of criminal justice issues and the unique rhythms of urban America.

Andre co-directed and shot a documentary titled “The Whole Gritty City” about marching bands that help combat teen street violence in New Orleans, which aired on CBS, won a Christopher Award. His last film project - which he shot and produced - is “Charm City.” The film documented three years of unparalleled violence in Baltimore and the people on the frontlines. The film was shortlisted for an Oscar in 2019 and aired on PBS. He also recently won The Film Independent Amplifier Fellowship sponsored by Netflix.