Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Vance.
Jamie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Compton and have been outdoorsy since the time I can remember. My aunt always had horses out in riverside that we’d visit whenever she’d come to the city and haul us away, back when riverside was still somewhat rural and you could smell the beautiful scent of cows from miles away from Mira Loma. Not having much, my dad would take my siblings and I to the beach and parks like Kenneth Hahn which were free. He loves adventure as well, so that’s what always made it seem like a journey of discovery rather than missing out on Disney and cruise ships. To this day, I’d prefer a nice hike to a theme park!
So, as I got older, I kept my sense of adventure and uniqueness. Growing up in the hoof it was peculiar for a Black girl (or boy) to be interested in the outdoors and nature. This was only reserved for whites and evoked a lot of fear of being hunted down or assaulted in such spaces. It was systematically real fear from past experiences of ancestors of course, but an over-exerted fear that aids in continuing to keep us from these spaces. I owned my uniqueness and did what I loved. When I got to high school, I was chief editor of my school’s newspaper, El Espejo. We got a story about Compton Jr. Posse program recruiting students and I had to follow the story.
I quickly fell in love a d joined the program, going from student, to volunteer, to staff and ultimately director.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The trot is a medium-speed gate of a horse. It’s bumpy and you sometimes feel like you’ll fall right on off with just one more bump. That’s what it’s like in the nonprofit world, particularly in the lower-income, poverty-stricken city like ours. Bumps and unexpected slips. There’s no such thing as a smooth road when dealing with horses, youth, and the hood. Overall, the journey has been enlightening, empowering, and even beautiful! However, it took a lot of strategic planning, patience, and networking. It required so much sacrifice with sleep, time with family, income, and more. We have to be willing to pay that price for years to make it work, even just a little.
On top of this, we have to navigate a world in which we aren’t necessarily welcomed, and half the time when we are, it’s more of a token to avoid discrimination lawsuits. But truly feeling welcomed, embraced, and level is the tricky part. But, at the end of the day, we’re here to occupy these spaces as well so we bear the discomfort because we have our youth to consider and we will aboard the blow so they don’t have to feel the sting as much. It’s what our parents and ancestors did for us to make it just a little easier.
Those moments where it’s easier, that’s when we’re smooth sailing on the Tennessee walking horse, less bumpy but doesn’t mean you take a break because if you let your gated down too much, you’d fall off too.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work with youth and horses. I am the director and co-founder of the program. I’m proud of our success so far! We are a unique academic equestrian program in the inner city that focuses on the youth of color. Can’t too many organizations claim this!
How do you define success?
Success is not only making it to where I want to or am told I should be. It’s also finding time to bring myself and others joy, always reaching back and paving a way for those who come after me. What’s the point of success if it stops with one person?
Contact Info:
- Website: Comptonjrequestrians.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/comptonjrequestrians?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057444979034&view_public_for=535989033461945&_rdr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCfXPDIjE-4VjLAa3jAYoZ_A
