Presentation: My 2500 Mile Solo Paddle with Grandmother, Deb Walters

You won’t want to miss this presentation on Wednesday May 4 from 6:30-8:00PM! After over 30 years as a cognitive scientist, administrator and then as university vice president at Unity College, Deb decided to retire early and live simply, freeing up time and resources to follow her passion, to give back. In her leadership role with the Rotary Club, Deb learned about Safe Passage, an organization that assists the children of the families who live in the Guatemala City garbage dump community. After volunteering there she was asked to join the Safe Passage Board of Directors, and served as President from 2009-2012. She now travels regularly to the garbage dump community and leads service groups. In July 2014, Deb began a journey which would combine her passion for the children and families at Safe Passage with her passion for long distance paddling, by kayaking from her home in Maine to their home in Guatemala. The goal has been to raise awareness and funds for education for the children at Safe Passage. For this expedition, she paddled alone more than 2,500 miles over the course of a year and a half. She had to stop in the middle of her journey to undergo emergency surgery and rehabilitation. Determined as ever, she resumed her voyage which she just completed this February of 2016. Along the route Deb stopped and shared the stories of the grit and perseverance of the children and families living in the Guatemala City garbage dump community. Deborah Walters lives in Troy, Maine with her husband. She has two children and four grandchildren. Presentation is from 6:30 to 8PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bangor (120 Park St, Bangor, ME 04401). For more information, please contact Nancy Jacobson.