Kemba Shakur Named 2013 Barefoot Sole of the Year
For Immediate Release – February 1, 2013
(Oakland CA) Urban Releaf founder and Executive Director Kemba Shakur was named as one of 2013 Barefoot “Soles of the Year” by Barefoot Wine. Shakur’s face and story will be featured on limited edition bottles of Barefoot Impression Red Blend, a newly-launched wine which upholds Barefoot’s commitment to supporting community organizations making a difference.
“I am excited to be selected Sole of the Year,” Shakur says. “This opportunity will help Urban Releaf spread our message throughout the world, that urban communities can be transformed, one tree at a time. Being a Sole of the Year gives our organization greater visibility and will also allow us to plant more trees and hire more youth to create a healthy, sustainable future.”
“We are proud to celebrate Kemba as one of our ‘Soles of the Year’ for her efforts to address a gaping need for a forestry movement in urban communities,” said Elizabeth Windram of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly. “She has put her heart and ‘sole’ into her work and has certainly made a lasting impression on us.”
Founded by Shakur in 1998, Urban Releaf has been a pioneer of the Bay Area’s burgeoning ‘green’ movement for 15 years, helping to create a healthier environment and providing green jobs long before the concept became a national buzzword. Over the years, Urban Releaf has planted or distributed more than 15,000 trees, primarily in low- and moderate-income urban communities which have little or no tree canopy cover throughout Oakland, Richmond and the Bay Area. Urban Releaf’s tree planting efforts improve air quality in urban communities, contribute to a sense of psychological well-being and positive mental health, while also providing environmental awareness education and job training for at-risk youth. For more information about Urban Releaf’s history and current projects, visit: www.urbanreleaf.org
To learn more about the Soles of the Year program, please visit BarefootWine.com. While there, anyone feeling inspired by Kemba’s story can take the Impression Pledge to commit to making a positive impression of their own. Fans can also join the conversation on Facebook (Facebook.com/barefootwine) and Twitter (@BarefootWine) by using #Impression.
Media Contact: Joann Do, oaklandreleaf@yahoo.com or (510) 601-9062
###
