Values:

A better city, state, region, country, and world looks like safer yards for our children to play in and safer sidewalks for our grandmothers to walk home on at night after visiting with their friends.

We are supporting the next generation with “feel it, trust it, say it” Southern Americana, confidence, and a better conversation for their journey as a person—through philanthropy, music, family treasure excavation, armchair inner work, healthy cultural dialogue, ethics, and advocacy.

Philanthropy:

To financially reinvest in The Mississippi John Hurt Foundation under the stewardship of Mary Frances Hurt and to document the relational folk witness and wisdom of special education teachers of the South. Financial reinvestment has the broader goal of helping to heal the generational wealth gap in the American South through clear and ethical agreements between communities. This work must be carried out in a way that models good-faith cross-cultural partnership—where the story and financial wealth of Black American families are listened to, respected, honored, and invested back into the communities they originate from.

Gabriel is also developing a long-term initiative to collect the stories, insights, and witness of special education teachers—beginning locally, then expanding statewide and throughout the Southeastern United States.

This offering is rooted in a deep respect for the often-unseen labor, relational wisdom, mental and emotional cost carried by special education professionals. Gabriel intends to create a space of dignified listening—honoring their lived experience across classrooms, communities, and systems where resilience is daily generational and multicultural work.

The goal is to build a Southern Americana witness archive of:

• Testimonies and turning points

• Folk systems of care and improvisation

• Reflections on burnout, beauty, and being misunderstood

• Vision for what could be if their insight were better supported by the culture and people they serve

Whether recorded through interviews, written reflections, or companion rituals, this offering will serve as both a public acknowledgment and private restoration, amplifying the voices of those who carry and shape our most tender educational spaces.

Below are some ways you can partner and support the next generation through “feel it, trust it, say it” Southern Americana:

• Journey with the Good Hand Legion: We Are Many! by becoming a patron.

• Follow Gabriel on social media:
  

• Instagram: @americanasgrandson + @armchairinnerwork

• YouTube: Americana’s Grandson

• TikTok: Americana’s Grandson

• Support the Mississippi John Hurt Documentary and Foundation. My friend Mary Frances Hurt is the Executive Producer of the Mississippi John Hurt documentary and steward of the foundation. Mama Mary’s voice is essential to the spirit of her grandfather’s legacy. Click ‘Contact’ to donate toward the documentary and foundation.

• Host a Southern Americana Conversation.
  Public or private speaking engagements are available where we can have a Southern Americana conversation through song—on generational legacy and story wealth.
  Contact: gabrielakins@gmail.com – Attn: Southern Americana Conversation

• Book a Family Treasure Excavation Session.
  Many people are earning a living while feeling distracted and disconnected from their family’s relational resources—whether it’s pain, trauma, the need for better options, or access to family stories and support.
  Gabriel offers guidance through deep listening, retelling family stories, and helping each household reconnect with its relational roots.

  
  To book a consultation or inquire about Organic Sessions: gabrielakins@gmail.com – Attn: Family Treasure Excavation

  
  Example Story: explore

  Testimonial

  
  “I can drive 6 hours, never talk to anyone and never turn on the radio; all the while, I do not get bored nor frustrated with time. I think I know why. I randomly excavate. I tried my mind at intentionally excavating today about something specific and I think you have given me a new skill to hone.”
  — Ross

• Contribute to the Southern Americana Initiative Resource Fund (One-time or monthly – Patreon)
  

• Venmo: @goodhandgabe

• Cash App: $goodhandgabe

• Memo: Southern Americana IRF

Your contributions support:

• A new computer with video + audio recording capabilities

• The Story Leaf Podcast – featuring interviews with musicians, craftspeople, and Southern Americana stories that have shaped the South and America

• The next physical album run for Thoughts of Home + upcoming projects

• Booking + travel for storytelling and performances

• Materials for Southern Americana brand dish towels

• Merch (t-shirts, buttons, stickers, posters, totes, etc.) – to sustain the work and build momentum toward reinvestment goals

Conversation as a guest:
Plain Ordinary Dragon: hosted by Elliot Clifton - October 28, 2019

and on Spotify here

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