Bal Harbour

44 BAL HARBOUR HOLIDAY 2023 SPECIAL EDITION P H OTO G R A P H Y: V I TA L E A M I (R E T E T I E L E P H A N T S A N C T UA RY ) ABOVE: An elephant keeper from the Sumburu community, caring for a calf at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. In the season of giving, we highlight three organizations that seek to create a better world for generations to come. BY TALI JAFFE MINOR BE THE CHANGE VITAL IMPACTS HOW IT BEGAN In 2021, photographer Ami Vitale and journalist and filmmaker Eileen Mignoni established Vital Impacts with a mission to support grassroots conservation e•orts around the world. The women-led nonprofit uses story telling—primarily photography—to support organizations that are working toward a sustainable future. This fall, Vital Impacts debuted the Supporting Tomorrow Collection. "We have iconic fine art prints from the most extraordinary photog- raphers in the world," says Vitale of the current online ar t sale, which benefits the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Northern Kenya. A WILD IDEA "I began working with Reteti when it was just a wild idea back in 2013," Vitale shares of the elephant sanctuary, owned and operated by members of the Sambur u communit y, who live w ithin the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy. Reteti is unique in many ways: It was the f irst sanct uar y in A frica to train and employ women elephant keepers, and provides jobs for those without formal edu- cation. Says Vitale: "I have been supporting and following along on their incredible journey for the last 7 years, since the first elephant arrived in 2016." GET LOUD Reteti is one of a half dozen or so organizations supported by Vital Impacts. " We maintain strong relationships with all of our par t- ners," says Vitale of a roster that includes Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots, Sea Legacy, Project Ranger, and more. The organization also provides mentorship and g rant prog rams led by renowned photographers and journalists, and recently launched a speaker series in par tnership w ith Changema ker Ta lent , presenting to young st udents across Nor th A merica . "Our hope is that these g rant s and mentoring prog rams w ill foster and suppor t other ways of seeing," Vitale says. "We want to create opportunities and space at this critical moment for the next generation of environ- mental story tellers to explore the most complex issues with origi- nality and nuance." For more ways to get involved, follow @vital.impacts and visit Vitalimpacts.org

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