Our Someone 2 Know this week is a Nevada native, a graduate of Wooster, UNR and Lesley College. And despite many opportunities to move elsewhere, Verita Prothro has always loved living right here, where her roots are deep.
Now, she is working on a new project to elevate the voices of African Americans, here in the Silver State.
Verita Prothro and a team of community leaders are working together with purpose. The group, Adrienne Feemster, Jessica Vann, and Oliver X, have joined with Verita to launch a new website and online channel;
“The project is called High Sierra Soul,” explains Prothro.
High Sierra Soul is set to launch in August. Verita was approached about five weeks ago to create a new resource.
"An online publication that talks about African American voices in northern Nevada."
From protests and seminars, to fundraisers and more, the founding members of High Sierra Soul want to provide a single place where information is available and writers can contribute.
"Serious articles and thought pieces on what was going on in the country with police brutality, with white supremacy."
Verita was born and raised in Reno and remembers sharp words from a teacher when she was just a little girl.
“It was second or third grade. We were doing a classroom play and I asked the teacher if I could be the princess. She said; 'You could never be the princess, because princesses are blonde. Don't forget that!' "
She didn't forget.
Nor, did Prothro let it deter her from becoming a thriving member of society.
Verita has been a business owner, a resource manager, a decades-long volunteer for the annual MLK day celebration - even a contender for local office.
And now Verita - along with the other founding members of High Sierra Soul - is devoting herself to making the region she loves even better.
"We saw this one area, where there's a gap, and so, we're trying to fill that in."
If you would like to support High Sierra Soul or submit articles for consideration, email the team at highsierrasoulreno@gmail.com
