Shakira Franklin

Shakira is a leader at heart. She recognized the need for publicly accessible spaces for her community to cool down in the summertime. Shakira was instrumental in the design and community engagement process for Unity Park. At the time, she was an employee of Bon Secours Community Works, whose partnership with Nature Sacred has resulted in 4 Sacred Places, including Unity Park. Shakira is deeply embedded in the community. While she has left her position at Bon Secours, she remains deeply connected to the organization and members of the community and serves as an advocate, caretaker and steward of this Sacred Place, ensuring that community members, especially children, have the opportunity to gather, play and soak up the sun while combatting the urban heat that keeps so many indoors during the summer months.