The Journey
Follow Wayfinders - Melodie Graves, Ramona Emerson, Ruth A. De Anda, and Dr. Shanna Peeples - as they explore and illuminate the intersections of race, culture, mobility, and energy along Route 66.
Stay tuned as their storymap develops.
The Wayfinders
Ramona Emerson
Ramona Emerson is a Diné writer and filmmaker originally from Tohatchi, New Mexico. She received her degree in Media Arts in 1997 from the University of New Mexico and her MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) in 2015 from the Institute of American Indian Arts. She has worked as a professional videographer, writer, and editor for over twenty years and is currently working on her 8th film project, Crossing the Line. She is an Emmy nominee, a Sundance Native Lab Fellow, a Time-Warner Storyteller Fellow, a Tribeca All-Access Grantee and a WGBH Producer Fellow. In 2020, Ramona was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries for the State of New Mexico. Ramona just finished her first novel, Shutter the first of a trilogy, which will be published with SOHO Books in 2022 as well as adapting the series into a screenplay. Through her storytelling, Emerson looks at contemporary stories about her people and aims to question and redefine the expectations of Native cultural identity, highlighting stories that are not a part of mainstream media. She currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she and her husband/producer, Kelly Byars run their production company Reel Indian Pictures.
Melodie Graves
Melodie Graves earned her Associate’s Degree from Amarillo College and her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from West Texas A&M University, both in Communication. Melodie has worked in higher education for more than 13 years because she truly feels that the only way to grow is to be educated. In 2010, Melodie started at Amarillo College, and over the years has gone from advising to, in August of 2019, being named the Associate Director of Academic Advising at Amarillo College.
At AC Melodie also serves as the Chair of the Diversity Team and is a member of the Anti-Racism Taskforce. Additionally, Melodie was selected to be part of the Presidential Leadership Institute 2017-2018, and she is a trained Donna Beegle Poverty Coach. Melodie is also the Foster Care Liaison and the Justice Involved Advocate for the College.
In the community, Melodie stays extremely busy serving on 9 different boards. She is the 2nd Vice President of the Amarillo Branch NAACP, the President of North Heights Advisory Association, and was selected to the Board of Directors for Opportunity School. Melodie also serves on the Advisory Board for the Leaders Readers Network and is a board member for the Friends of the Library. Melodie is the President of the Amarillo United Citizens Forum Board, serves on the Rezoning Committee for the North Heights Neighborhood Plan, and is a member of Junior League Amarillo/Canyon. Recently, Melodie traveled to Texas State University where she gave her first TedX Talk on the Power of the Amplified Voice.
Melodie Graves earned her Associate’s Degree from Amarillo College and her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from West Texas A&M University, both in Communication. Melodie has worked in higher education for more than 13 years because she truly feels that the only way to grow is to be educated. In 2010, Melodie started at Amarillo College, and over the years has gone from advising to, in August of 2019, being named the Associate Director of Academic Advising at Amarillo College.
At AC Melodie also serves as the Chair of the Diversity Team and is a member of the Anti-Racism Taskforce. Additionally, Melodie was selected to be part of the Presidential Leadership Institute 2017-2018, and she is a trained Donna Beegle Poverty Coach. Melodie is also the Foster Care Liaison and the Justice Involved Advocate for the College.
In the community, Melodie stays extremely busy serving on 9 different boards. She is the 2nd Vice President of the Amarillo Branch NAACP, the President of North Heights Advisory Association, and was selected to the Board of Directors for Opportunity School. Melodie also serves on the Advisory Board for the Leaders Readers Network and is a board member for the Friends of the Library. Melodie is the President of the Amarillo United Citizens Forum Board, serves on the Rezoning Committee for the North Heights Neighborhood Plan, and is a member of Junior League Amarillo/Canyon. Recently, Melodie traveled to Texas State University where she gave her first TedX Talk on the Power of the Amplified Voice.
Ruth A. De Anda
Ruth is currently an Instructor of Social Work at West Texas A&M University. She has worked in the field of social work for 15 years. Ruth is a passionate advocate for diversity and equity in education, and equality and justice for all. She has vast experience and skills in working with diverse populations, as well as knowledge of community resources and awareness of barriers to access services. Ruth has been involved in community organizations and organizations within higher education that strive to fight against injustice and to educate others about oppressed groups and populations. She has also proudly built relationships throughout the social work community and in the Amarillo area.
Dr. Shanna Peeples
Shanna Peeples, the 2015 National Teacher of the Year, took the road less traveled on the way to her classroom. She worked as a disc jockey, medical assistant, and journalist before teaching chose her. Shanna taught middle and high school English in low-income schools in Amarillo, Texas for fourteen years. She recently received her doctorate in education leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education and was the Educator in Residence at TED-Ed.
Beyond the Map
Explore additional stories by and about the Louisville Wayfinders and their journey.
Written by Dr. Shanna Peeples for National Geographic Education.