Kathalene Hughes Kilpatrick, a D.C. trailblazer

[Photos by Kristine Jones]

Kathalene was born in 1942, into a country that has done nothing to make her feel good about herself and everything to ensure she feels as bad as possible—which she has stubbornly refused to do, anytime she had any real choice in the matter. But after all she’s done in her long life, Kathalene expresses so much gratitude for her good fortunes that she is still too modest to take credit for much of anything, or ask for help directly.

So that's why we started a fundraiser on her behalf.

How and where anyone steers their own life should never be anyone’s business but their own—and in a just society, people as good as Kathalene would be driving policy decisions from inside the White House, not sleeping and marching on the ground outside of it.

Kathalene has worked for and served her communities for eight decades (and counting), as one of the first Black women bus drivers to operate public transit and tour vehicles in Florida, D.C., and across the country. She has had many other professional and skilled jobs, volunteer posts, and attended hundreds of social justice protests. You can read more about her illustrious life here, or just trust her: she says her current living situation is unsuitable for too much longer; she doesn't want to end up sleeping on the city streets again, and as a human, woman, activist, skilled bus operator, and kind friend, she's more than earned a break and a safe and stable environment.

So if you feel moved by her incredible story —and whether you’ve met her in person, just through this profile or Kristine’s photos, or feel connected in spirit, mission, philosophy, style, or otherwise—I hope you’ll consider donating what you can to help lighten her load and balance the scales of injustice, if only for a moment: 100% of the funds collected will go directly to Kathalene to use where needed, specifically in this instance, but dedicated to all of those committed to doing the same, or so much more, to drive all of us forward.

Thank you <3

Read more about Kathalene here