Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Wruble
Hi Vanessa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My partner and I never meant to be ranchers or live in the desert. But when the pandemic hit, the winds that blew people out of their normal lives sent us from Brooklyn, NY – where he had been city slickers, political activists, media execs, tech startup founders, journalists, travel writers, humanitarian aid workers, and artists – to the tiny California desert town of Morongo Valley.
The ranch grew entirely organically – first we started rescuing dogs, we had done extensive dog rescue in New York City – and along the way we found other animals in need of a safe place to live and be loved. It started to snowball: we now have over 100 rescued and rehomed animals. And then we invited other artists to come create spectacular works on the property, set in one of the most stunning valleys in America.
Our furry and feathered friends – including curious emus, persistent goats, meandering piggies, free-range mini horses, voracious mini-cows, ridiculous chickens, mouthy ducks and many more – welcome our visitors with open wings to their home amidst the breathtaking desert landscapes.
What we offer is true sanctuary, for both people and animals. The magic is in the mix of personal animal interactions and a truly sublime environment. While art connects us with others and our environment on a deeper level, profound, immersive experiences with animals and nature have a powerful impact on our ability to heal from trauma.
Kaleidoscope Desert is our garden of eden.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our biggest struggle is supporting the animals. Rescue is expensive, and as a nonprofit we always have to be raising money not only to care for the animals we do have, but to get more animals out of harm’s way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My bio is below.
I think that most people know me as one of the chief organizers of the Women’s March On Washington. I am proud of that, I am proud of my political work in general, and especially proud that I got to work with Martin Luther King III and his wife Arndrea King.
Kaleidoscope Desert is a different kind of animal, and I am equally proud of it.
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Vanessa Wruble is a founder and chief organizer of The Women’s March On Washington, the largest single-day protest in U.S. history, in which over 400 marches were held in the US alone. She then founded and became the executive director or March On, the organization that grew out of the women’s marches, that helped usher in the blue wave for the 2018 Midterms and helped elect President Biden in 2020. Vanessa grew up in Washington, D.C., where she attended Sidwell Friends School and graduated Cum Laude from Williams College and holds two Master’s Degrees in Psychology (The New School For Social Research) and Interactive Telecommunications (NYU/Tisch School of the Arts). Vanessa lives on their 5-acre art and animal sanctuary, Kaleidoscope Desert, with her partner Hunter and over 100 animals.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Most importantly, we need donations. We also welcome artists to create work at the sanctuary, and we can always use volunteers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kaleidoscopedesert.com
- Instagram: kaleidoscopedesert
Image Credits
Chris Daniele
