Meet Deborah McGlawn: Creative & Founder of Ch8sing Waterfalls

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deborah McGlawn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deborah, what do you attribute your success to?
Purpose and passion are the most important factors behind my success and that of Ch8sing Waterfalls.  As the founder of Ch8sing Waterfalls, my purpose is to create a safe, healing space for black women as we forge diversity outdoors.  Changing the narrative is my passion.  Each adventure fosters a healing space for our community.  Every connection extends our reach to forging diversity outdoors.  We are healing and increasing the brown faces in green spaces, one adventure at a time.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a medical professional of over thirty years. I hold a degree in Healthcare Management and work at one of the top rehabilitation hospitals in the world. I have always been fascinated with the medical arena, respectfully behind the scenes, and not on the front line. My professionalism, dedication, and personality, has positioned me in a comfortable working space.

Though, like many, I have faced challenges; however, minimal at best. I am fortunate in that I find my fit and excel. My success was not easy, nor was it extremely difficult. For the most part, I would consider it all a part of positioning me for this space, for this time. I learned a long time ago, it truly is not always what you know; but really who you know. I respect this principle and use it as often as I can.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My best friend visits me in Atlanta for the week, we are heading to some of my favorite waterfalls.

We would visit Amicalola Falls first and we are packing a lunch. We would find a spot on the grass or at a pavilion to just sit and talk. For dinner, we would visit the new Vegan bar in town that I am anxious to check out.

We are likely to visit the National Center for Civil and Human Rights museum in Atlanta, and visit the Martin Luther King Museum as well. Visiting the Jackson Street Bridge in Atlanta for the best skyline photoshoot is a must. We would tour the beltline and hang out on The Roof at Ponce at Skyline Park.

Back to the woods, we would visit Minnehaha and Dukes Creek Falls and either pack a lunch or spontaneously grab a lunch spot nearby. Richie is an excellent cook. He would have the best salmon dinner waiting for us when we got home. He is the best.

I admire Little Five Points. We would definitely do some shopping and exploration there. We would hit up the coffee houses, and fun food spots. Oh, at some point, we would visit the Botanical Gardens and have a lunch on the lawn at Piedmont Park.

A short road trip to Tennessee is a must. I would take her to Twin Falls in Tennessee. It is one of my favorite waterfalls, and it is literally one where you can park and walk a few feet to simply enjoy its beauty. We could sit there for hours and just talk, and of course, pack a lunch.

I would bring her back to the city and introduce her to Slutty Vegan, and even visit The Highland Bakery. If there are any good concerts, I would take her out to The Fox, Wolfcreek Amphitheater, or any place there is a good show in Atlanta.

In my view, this is what I consider fun, exciting, and interesting. These are all great places to check out in and around Atlanta. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Ch8sing Waterfalls would not exist if it were not for the loss of our angel baby, D’Anika LaShay, the strength of my husband and best friend Richie McGlawn, and the phenomenal women of GirlTrek Atlanta.

Shoutout to my amazing husband Richie for introducing me to the therapeutic power of waterfalls. During a time of great depression, he took me to Amicalola Falls in North GA which is where my healing began.  This city girl had found a new love and has never looked back.  Thanks babe.

After several years of self-care and healing, discovering GirlTrek was the catalyst that changed the trajectory of our story. I shared my waterfall healing experience with my GirlTrek sisters, and they encouraged me to put together a waterfall hike. I did. I expected only a few ladies would show up that morning. In actuality, over fifteen ladies came out and hiked to the waterfall with me that day. This was September of 2017.  Thanks Dr. Andrea McEachron for encouraging me to “put it on the map.”  Shout out to my 4UsByUs SiStars for remaining a constant source of motivation and support.

D’Andrea LaShay, Richie Roddell, II, JoeAbel, Jaylen Mora, JoeAbel Jr., and my amazing mother Ms. Florestine Harden, my family, my legacy, shout out to you for being a constant reminder of the importance of healing and self-care.  You give me purpose and drive to continue my passion of healing and inclusion for myself and our community.

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