In our latest #TLTogether feature meet Adama Bryant. She is a Tenderloin resident and the founder of Weekend Adventures, focusing on giving ALL children the chance to experience arts, sciences, and the great outdoors—to inspire creativity, hope, and imagination. This program, which first started in the Tenderloin, focuses on supporting kids facing adversity by presenting them with a break from everyday life, and presenting them with new possibilities for brighter futures through outdoor adventures.
Adama is a single mother living in the Tenderloin for close to ten years. Her kids are now the ages of twenty-seven, fifteen, and thirteen years old; with her middle child at boarding school. Like most parents, she wants the best for her kids—a sense of safety, an environment that promotes emotional and intellectual growth, and some time for them to “just be kids”.
She wonders if it’s possible for children in the Tenderloin to have this worry-free childhood, “kids shouldn’t have to deal with hearing people cursing, seeing people smoking crack, or stepping over feces, or being exposed to homelessness and suffering.” These concerns are also the cornerstones of what led to the Weekend Adventures program.
“It is critical that kids get to see places outside of just their own neighborhoods. I believe that if you can see something different, and enjoy something different, then that often leads to a vision that something can be different.”
She looks at her own life experiences, and thinks about the family members who she’s lost to acts of addiction, and wonders, why she was able to break free from that spiral of negativity despite a tough home life. Her answer is one that’s found on her own version of weekend adventures:
“On weekends my sister and I would visit our grandmother in Vallejo. It wasn’t very far but it was very different. She grew up in the country. I was given a look into the mountains, peach trees, caring for chickens…it was so different from the city. It was quiet. We rode our bike in the streets.”
But it wasn’t until adulthood, that she realized the life-changing values these simple getaways had for her. “I believe these trips were the main reason why I didn’t go down a different path—why I’m not in the penitentiary, strung out on the streets, or even worse…possibly dead. I want to give that experience to every kid living in a similar environment that I grew up in.”
Instead, she went to California State University, East Bay and obtained a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and spent several years in the nonprofit field before deciding that this is where she wanted to be and went after a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from USF. She also has more than 10 years of HR operations experience in the private sector and 10 years in the Nonprofit sector. She’s volunteered in the public schools and in private schools, and loves working with youth and children.
These experiences are often missing for children in the Tenderloin. And for those who don’t have extra money, outside of the essentials like food, rent, clothing—getting to the great outdoors often seems like a luxury they can’t afford.
In the Tenderloin, Adama feels fortunate to have a place to live and enough space in her apartment for her and her kids. From experiencing homelessness to now having a window where she can see the TL Rec Center, she feels lucky. When overwhelmed by harsh city sounds and noises, she focuses on the trees and the sound of kids playing across the street. But still, the city can feel claustrophobic, especially as we continue to shelter-in-place with limited access to parks, taking a walk doesn’t always feel like a part of self-care, but instead, a walk four blocks in any direction can feel like it increases anxiety.
“Some days it’s hard to get up and walk out of the building. But I’m determined not to fall into depression. I want to live a life that’s healthy and vibrant. I know that I’m a role model for my kids and I owe it to them to provide that guidance. I don’t want my kids to choose darkness. I don’t want that to be their comfort space. It’s one thing to take some time to be alone but when you fall into a rut where you don’t go outside, you don’t see people…but I don’t want that to become the norm for myself or my children.”
When she sees other parents, and mothers in the community, she sees them going through a similar struggle. “We are all going through a shared experience.”
“Since starting Weekend Adventures, I’ve connected with a lot of people working with youth in the Tenderloin and see their commitment to children in this community. But there’s some real challenges here for them. I worry about the future of some of these programs for kids and don’t know if they are priorities for the City. But I am grateful for the passionate parents, and people who live and work here.
“I’m really grateful to be doing this work. This is my heart’s work. I’m totally committed to having this program be a thriving part of the city, and this community. This is what I know I want to leave to the kids…to future generations.”
In the past, Weekend Adventures has partnered with the Park Conservatory to take kids to Muir Woods, and plans to team up with other organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, to get more kids out on more adventures. Adama is also part of the newly-formed Tenderloin Park Network Resident Advisory which connects kids, families, and residents to neighborhood parks and open spaces.
Weekend Adventures is currently planning to lead some hikes in the fall. From one to three miles hikes, along with some picnics. If you’re interested in partnering, volunteering, donating to their organization, or just finding out more info, email Adama and check out their website for updates and opportunities.
All photos courtesy of Weekend Adventures
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