Bobbi Rathert set out to paddle the length of the Mississippi River last summer, both for personal reasons and as a fundraiser for Hope Restores, La Crosse’s Black Community Center. Hope Restores’ mission to is uplift, empower, and invigorate our local African American Community. Paddling for Hope as a fundraiser was promoted locally but reached far beyond the La Crosse area. People far across the country and beyond responded to the effort. Over 13,000 connected via Facebook, and many stories and interviews by those involved were seen on broadcast and print media. Bobbi will read about paddling through a pipeline operation area, how it has affected Indigenous communities, and where she observed differences in riverfront land usage occupied by Indigenous and other more prosperous landowners. She will also share her observations when paddling near a river diversion channel designed to reduce floods on the Mississippi as well as passing the riverbanks where a nuclear power plant is in operation.

Bobbi’s book, The Truth on Water, will be available by the end of the year and launched at Pearl Books in La Crosse.

Bobbi Rathert is a native of northeast Iowa. She was a psychotherapist for 25 years on the northside of Chicago and more recently part-time in La Crosse. Bobbi also raised meat sheep for 18 years at a farm in Vernon County and in retirement moved to La Crosse and became involved with Hope Restores. 

Click Here to learn more about Hope Restores!

 

For information about attending in person, links to Zoom login info, Sunday’s Order of Service, Online Giving and more click here –> linktr.ee/uulacrosse

Topics: Green Sanctuary