Archives: Firesouls


Joby Taylor

Joby Taylor co-leads the Shriver Center at UMBC. For 25 years, “I’ve loved visiting this special space to reflect and renew myself and share time and conversation with others.”…

Susan Bonneau

Susan Bonneau is the grounds manager at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Susan is dedicated to the experiential wellness of all who visit the cemetery. She works hard to maintain the health and beauty of the historic cemetery grounds for all, particularly those who come to bury or visit a loved one….

Susie Bruninga

Susie is a mostly retired editor, who spent most of her career covering environmental policy issues. She has lived in D.C. for 35 years and in the Rock Creek neighborhood for 14. When Susie learned of plans to build townhouses on the green space behind her block, she helped organize the neighbors to stop it….

Alex Bull

Alex is a Baltimore local and works with a variety of organizations in various communities in Baltimore City. Alex feels fortunate to hav e grown up with plenty of access to nature experiences. He is now dedicated to affording others in his community that same opportunity as a Firesoul and community steward….

Johnny Martin Jr.

Johnny Martin, Jr. is a passionate advocate for empowering this generation and the next, which led to the founding of Cooperative Community Development Inc. in 2020. His humility allows him to connect with children, young adults, and seniors of all cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. Johnny knows that places for residents to feel safe and…

Ann Marie Lawler

Ann Marie was born and raised in Baltimore with multi-generational ties to Baltimore and central Virginia where her relatives farm property that has been in the family since the late 1700s. Ann Marie worked at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine for more than 30 years in various laboratory positions. As a volunteer at…

Yumna Valiulla

Yumna serves on the Executive Team at Muslim Family Center. She primarily works with the youth, focusing on building their relationships with each other and strengthening their Muslim identity. She and her team strive to provide purposeful and inclusive Islamic programs for their community. Glorifying God through His creations is rooted in our belief. Having…

Shazia Yousuf

Shazia is a stay-at-home home mom to her three children. She enjoys landscape design work and worked closely with her landscape architect to design her backyard and patio. With her love of design and landscape, Shazia is excited to assist and learn from the Sacred Place design process. Shazia is a collaborator and is eager…

Ayman Rahman

Ayman serves on the Board and Executive Team at the Muslim Family Center. Nature and the Sacred Place is a vital part of Ayman’s community’s values.  …

Antoine Nash

For Antoine, the opportunity to have the history of his community represented in a design specified for healing, peace, positivity, unity, inclusion, and ownership, brings an extreme honor. Representation means everything and even though it comes with huge responsibilities, as a Firesoul, Antoine intends to fulfill his community’s expectations in perpetuity.    …

"A quiet place. My soul grows still. This, indeed, is a balm for the weary, a shelter for the beaten. I am so grateful for this sacred space. I am now renewed."

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