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Ben Clarkson - Engineer ('07, '08)

A licensed Engineer aboard the Freedom Schooner Amistad served in the US Coast Guard for 7 years. Ben has over 12 years as a Maritime educator with The Tradewinds Education Network and has served as a Historical Interpreter for the Henry Ford Museum as well as the Old Sturbridge Village. Ben has dedicated over 10 years of independent study to enslaved Africans in rural Richland County, South Carolina and has done over 10 expeditions to the Richland County area to locate undocumented, unidentified/obscure slave cemeteries. Ben joined the Amistad crew to create a continual dialogue amongst people who have never discussed race relations or slavery. "Bengineer", as he is known aboard, sailed the first leg of the Atlantic Freedom Tour from New Have to England and joined the crew again in Freetown in January 2008.

 

Date Item Title Hits
Sunday, 30 March 2008 Let Me Introduce Myself 238
Monday, 24 March 2008 Give Me A Sound 141
Sunday, 23 March 2008 Another Rainy Day 154
Monday, 23 July 2007 A Better Day 2039
Monday, 23 July 2007 A Better Day 80
Friday, 20 July 2007 Busy, Busy, Busy!! 2054
 
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Results 1 - 6 of 6
  • Logan Johnsen - First Mate ('08)  ( 1 items )

    Logan Johnsen, Amistad's Chief Mate, was born in British Columbia, Canada, and grew up in Minnesota, where he took an interest in seafaring from his father and grandfather.  He took up the family trade and is a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, ME, where he studied Nautical Science. Between commercial work on oceanographic and cargo ships, he devotes time to traditional sailing and has been engaged in projects ranging from history and environmental education to film making and has made Atlantic and Pacific Ocean crossings on square-rigged vessels.  Logan worked with Amistad through a spring fit out two years ago in Mystic, CT where he was immediately drawn to the history and mission of Amistad.

  • Mickey (Odwin) Berkeley - Second Mate ('05, '08)  ( 1 items )

    Odwin "Mickey" Berkeley is a native from Bermuda and has been on the ocean since a young age. By the age of 12, he joined the sea cadets and at 19 was a petty officer. While a teenager, he sailed laser and sunfish in many international competitions representing Bermuda. He graduated a carpenter on Bermuda College and worked in that area for 12 years. After that, he became a seaman at marine ports and eventually got his captain's license. He is also a professional scuba diver. Mickey has one daughter: Juinita, 31 years old. He joined the Amistad on February 17th to cross the Atlantic Ocean the way other Bermuda boats have, like the HMS Driver.

     

  • Elaine Eno - Third Mate ('08)  ( 2 items )

    Elaine "Insane" Eno is a self-proclaimed privateer who carries her sailing resume with great pride (and if you ask her really nice she may even show it to you). The Atlantic Freedom Tour is her first schoonering outside the Pacific. She is proud to represent the Bear Flag Republic as part of Amistad's international crew.  She may be the first person to have been inspired to go sailing by the movie "Muppet Treasure Island". When she's not messing around on boats she might be found building stages or performing on them, preparing her move into rock-stardom, or continuing her study of why people smile when they say the word "underpants".

     

  • Dani Settle - Chef ('05, '06, '07, '08)  ( 19 items )

    Chef/ Moral Officer aboard the Amistad has been a chef for over 30 years, owning and operating her own restaurant. Dani is no stranger to sailing vessels and has worked aboard sailing school vessels in the South Pacific as well as Hawaii. Along with her duties as chef, Dani is Amistad America's Morale officer, Griot and caretaker! Dani's goal is to provide food that celebrates life, warmth and comfort as she strives to save the world one bite at a time. Already and Amistad veteran, Dani sailed the first Leg of the Tour from New Haven to UK and joined the crew again in Freetown in Sierra Leone in the end of January 2008.

     

  • Seco Camara - Deckhand ('08)  ( 2 items )

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  • Joy Collins - Deckhand ('05, '06, '07, '08)  ( 23 items )

    Joy Collins holds an AB and has been with Amistad America since 2001, working as a deck hand/ educator aboard the boat and as the Vessel Operations Coordinator on shore; seamlessly transitioning based on operational needs. Joy is a student of Tai Chi and Chi Kung and utilizes the philosophies of those disciplines in her everyday life; providing a life force of peace, patience and strength to the organization. Joy has lived and traveled throughout Europe and will finally be bringing the story of the Amistad and the mission to European shores. Joy sailed the first Leg of the Tour from New Haven to UK and joined the cre again in Freetown in Sierra Leone in the end of January 2008.
     

  • Vincent Saruwa Conteh - Deckhand - Sierra Leone ('08)  ( 2 items )

    Vincent Saruwa Conteh was born in Kamankay Bombali Dist, Sierra Leone, in 1967. He finished High School in Freetown and went to Ghana to do a course on Boatswains mate. Back in Freetown, in 1991, he joined the military at the Sierra Leone Naval Wing (RSLAF). He started at the Infantry and became a deckman boatswains mate in the navy. Vincent joined the Amistad in Freetown to gain more skills and experience on seamanship. He wants to extend sincere greetings to all Amistad personnel as well as commanders of entire unit in RSLAF - Naval Wing - and family back in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

     

  • Sia Fillie ('08) - Deckhand - Sierra Leone  ( 1 items )

    Sia Fillie was born in Kono, Sierra Leone, in 1969. She went to college in Freetown, Ghana and South Africa, to study Marine Engineering. Then she worked at Sierra Fishing Company as the 2nd engineer for six years. In 1991, Sia became the first female chief marine engineer in Sierra Leone Port Authority, where she works until today. She has sailed on board cargo vessels, oil tankers and ro-ro vessels, but it is her first time on a sailing vessel. That is why she joined Amistad: to gain wide experience on navigation. In her own words: "There is a big difference between merchant vessel and sailing vessel. On board a merchant vessel, as an engineer, you work only as an engineer. But on board a sailing vessel, it's all hands on deck".

  • John Kamara - Deckhand ('03, '04, '07, '08)  ( 3 items )

    A native of Freetown, Sierra Leone. John has been in and around the water all of his life and captained a 20ft speed boat for the Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown. John currently resides in Ohio with his wife and children and has dedicated his life to spreading love, unity, hope, harmony, peace and reconciliation to all races throughout the world taking the legacy of the Amistad and Sengbe Pieh to the world. Johnny is an Amistad veteran - sailing as a crew on and off since 2003. Lately he sailed across Atlantic from New Haven to  Falmouth in UK.  "Johnny Be Good", as he is known in Freetown joined the crew back when the schooner sailed  into his  home-waters around Freetown.

     

  • Samuel Yokie - Deckhand - Sierra Leone ('08)  ( 1 items )

    Samuel Benson Yokie is a Sierra Leonean born in 1972. He studied agriculture general at the Institute of Agriculture and then worked in that institution as a tutor. During the war in Sierra Leone, he spent 18 months on a church mission as a Nursing Aid. Afterwards, he worked for a security company and as an assistance contractor that supplied local materials for the construction of the United States embassy in Freetown. Sam has two children: Alice, 8, and Eddie, 3. He joined the Amistad to study sea life and to learn about seamanship.

     

  • Thomas "Toby" Clarkson - Student ('08)  ( 9 items )

    Thomas "Toby" Clarkson, 22 years old, was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, United States. He was raised in Southeastern, Connecticut, and for the last three years has attended the University of South Carolina, studying history. He enjoys challenges such as shipboard life. He also enjoys music and outdoor activities, including sports and exploring nature. Following his Amistad experience, he is going to enjoy the small task of figuring out what to do with the rest of his life.

  • Nina Cox - Student ('08)  ( 8 items )

    Nina Cox, 19, was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and grew up in Shelburne, NS.  She is currently enrolled at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, NS, where she is enrolled in a bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management program.  She enjoys sports such as basketball, soccer and softball, the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Being a descendant of the Black Loyalists who settled Freetown, Sierra Leone, she feels strongly about the mission of the Amistad and enjoys the challenges this trip has to offer.

     

  • Michael Simon - Student ('07, '08)  ( 25 items )

    Michael Simon was born and raised in Liverpool, England.  He comes from a family that has been actively engaged in improving the lives and social conditions of Black people living in Liverpool.  He is currently a student at Liverpool Community College. In the future, he envisions himself working for an organization that takes an ethical approach to addressing the needs of people living in different parts of the African diaspora. Michael sailed on Amistad during first transatlantic leg of the Tour , from New Haven to England. He joined the ship again in Barbados.

     

     
     

  • Haley Cox - Student ('07, '08)  ( 14 items )

    Haley Cox is 19 years old.  She was born and raised in Shelburne, Nova Scotia.  Haley loves reading, traveling and playing sports including soccer, basketball, and softball. After graduating from high school, she moved to St.Johns, New Foundland to attend Memorial University.  Recently she completed a Flight Attendant Program and plans on applying for a job with an airline and traveling the world.

     



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