BaeNaChi is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
words from the founder
by Jeong Hyun An, Ph. D.
What does BaeNachi Mean?
BaeNaChi is an acronym of three Korean words (Bae-oom 배움, Na-noom 나눔, Chi-yu 치유) meaning respectively learning, sharing, and healing.
What’s the BNC mission?
BNC is committed to creatively connecting all tangible and intangible values and resources from rural communities, agriculture (forestry and fishery included), and ecosystem: nature, food, language, culture, arts, history, tradition, people, community, etc. BNC’s mission is to provide both travelers and rural communities with the opportunities to connect, grow, and heal culturally, socially, economically, and spiritually. Global and cross-cultural urban-rural connection and regenerative community development through this connection take priority.
As the name suggests, BNC is all about learning, sharing, and healing. Learning entails seeking wisdom and spiritual intelligence beyond knowledge and information. Sharing is deeply connecting and sharing life with all beings on this earth through genuine appreciation, respect, and love for one another. Healing (mind-body-spirit) emphasizes the compassionate inner connection with self, which will empower us to truly heal and love others.
What are the key features of the BNC programs?
All BNC programs are glocal and cross-cultural in nature. "Glocal" refers to our basic approach to BNC programs and life in general with both global perspective and local connection. We also make all our programs "cross-cultural" by facilitating sharing and exchange of different cultures both locally and globally.
1) Edu-Voluntourism Traveling with a main purpose of volunteering and education. Through a variety of innovative community partnerships and collaborations, we offer travelers opportunities to share their hearts, knowledge, talents, and skills in return for invaluable life experiences and learning along with precious memories, friendship, and spiritual growth.
BNC edu-voluntourism programs are cross-cultural and interdisciplinary, creatively connecting and combining the participants’ diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives as well as work and life experiences. BNC will match these valuable resources with the needs of the destination communities. It will be an exciting travelling school of life, an earth village school without borders, in which travelers become both teachers and students at the same time.
2) Social Agri-Eco-Rural Tourism Agritourism, ecotourism, and rural tourism from social perspectives. Travel themes are various social issues related with agriculture, eco-system, and rural communities, such as climate change, rural regeneration, and food equity, BNC programs are designed to help travelers learn about these social issues from diverse perspectives and empower them to take practical actions to bring positive changes to the world.
3) Urban-Rural Heritage Exchange We are committed to building deeper and stronger urban-rural connections by bringing together the best of both urban heritage and rural heritage. We create and nurture environments where these unique social, cultural, and spiritual connections could grow and flourish. The ultimate goal will be oneness, understanding of the interconnectedness we all share with one another in this universe.
What was the inspiration for the BNC vision?
BNC is more than a new project for me. It is a new lifestyle and a healing path I want to create and enjoy for the rest of my time as a planet earth citizen. It is an invitation from my soul to your beautiful soul for an exciting and rewarding life adventure together on an untraveled road.
BNC vision has been crafted from my heart, soul, and all the life experiences and lessons I have learned, especially from many failures. The main direction may not change (the why question), but the details (what & how) will continue to grow and transform as I grow stronger and taller through my spiritual journey, along with like-minded fellow soul travelers.
BNC vision is based on my deep passion for nature, agriculture and food related topics as well as my quest for an area where these topics meet with spirituality. It is also an expansion of “Namul Trail”, a project vision I was working on previously, with a focus on wild plants (including invasive species) and cross-cultural foraging. All concepts developed through Namul Trail are included in the BNC vision and programs.
BNC vision is an expression of my love and appreciation for both Kentucky (my home for the past 26 years) and South Korea (my home country). The initial BNC focus will be on creating cultural and spiritual connections between the two as well as sharing with the world the beauty of both cultures, especially hidden gems in their rural communities.
BNC spirit represents diversity, equity, peace, freedom, compassion, and love, which I firmly believe should be valued and realized internally first. You can’t share what you don’t have. Unconditional self-love is the foundation of the BNC spirit. Being you by meeting your true self here and now is the ultimate goal for all BNC travelers including myself.
our supporters
Rick Montgomery
Rick Montgomery
Rick Montgomery
Rick is the backbone of BaeNaChi. From technology director to bus project manager and co-administrator, he wears many hats for BaeNaChi as our biggest supporter. Rick works for the City of Lexington as the radio system administrator. He is a native Lexingtonian with deep roots in the state of Kentucky as well as strong affection for Korea. Along with his wife Ann (Jeong Hyun) and other Kentuckians, Rick has visited Korea multiple times, building global connections for Kentucky agriculture. Rick has been indispensable to all of Ann's previous projects and will remain more so than ever to BaeNaChi.
Barnabas Choi
Rick Montgomery
Rick Montgomery
Barnabas is a Korean Canadian who lives in Vancouver. He is a registered Social Worker in BC, Canada. working at a government agency as a youth mental health specialist. He is a co-author of a book "The history of Korean Canadian" (2012) and a part-time professor at Shin Heung University and a lecturer at Vision College. Barnabas is an avid cyclist and hiker who loves nature and outdoor activities. He has been on a healing path and a spiritual journey to find himself, which led him to BaeNaChi. With his extensive experience and knowledge in global and cross-cultutral topics, Barnabas has a lot to offer to BaeNaChi and will help us grow and spread our wings in Canada in the future.
Angela Henson
Angela Henson
Angela Henson
Angela has always been interested in various cultures and traditions around the world and in the US. She grew up near the southern end of the Appalachian Trail in the US state of Georgia, and studied many of the traditional folkways from that region. Her formal training is in design in both the fields of Landscape Architecture and Theatrical Technology, which stem from Angela's lifelong interest and involvement in the arts and the natural world. In 2021, she met Ann (Jeonghyun) through an online neighborhood network. They met and recognized not only kindred interests but that they were kindred souls. Both women focus on a path of healing and bringing wholeness to their worlds. In determining that she wanted to be more involved in what has become BaeNaChi, Angela began studying Hanguel (Korean) in 2022. She is excited about the possibilities of travel and of bringing Korean and Kentucky cultures together for learning and expanded cultural and spiritual growth for all involved.
Dave Close
Angela Henson
Angela Henson
Dave has served as the Specialist for Volunteer Engagement for Virginia Cooperative Extension for more than a year. Prior to his current role, he served as the State Extension Specialist for Consumer Horticulture. He was also the State Program Director for the Extension Master Gardener Program. Dave learned to love nature and being outdoors as a young boy growing up surrounded by his papaw’s farm in southcentral Kentucky. He spent time in the woods, roaming fields, and playing in the local creek for as far back as he can remember. With frequent family camping trips nearby and short family vacations to the Smoky Mountains he has always felt at home in rolling hills and mountains. He even still has a few rocks he collected from all his childhood adventures in KY, TN, and NC. Dave has been married to his wife Constance for more than twenty-nine years and they have four daughters, one granddaughter, one grandson, a rescue dog named Phoebe, a ‘granddog’ named Denali and reside in Christiansburg, VA.