Empower with Nature

Happy to share that I graduated today with a Master's degree in Ecology and Spirituality from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, passing with distinction! I'm incredibly grateful that my thesis was awarded, on ecological conciousness and mixed methods of teaching. I look forward to using this education to help foster ecological consciousness. A special thanks to Dr. Jack Hunter for his exceptional supervision of my dissertation. Thanks to Prof. Dr. Nicholas Campion, Dr. Frances Clynes, Dr. Bernadette Brady, Dr. Darrelyn Gunzburg, Dr. Garry Phillipson, and Carole Taylor for their inspiring lectures and insightful writings, which have significantly contributed to the development of my research. It has been an amazing Masters program. Special recognition is due to Bronwen Blue Powell for her invaluable support in helping me overcome the challenges posed by my dyslexia. I would also like to acknowledge the immense contributions of Mine Küçük, an archaeologist and museologist, who collaborated with me in organizing the Ancient Seeds, Natural Farming, and Seedball workshops. Kalyon Cultural Center providing the venue and resources necessary to host the two workshops. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Mike Kaplin, Mark Naveh, and Alex Cicelsky from the Kibbutz Lotan Center for Creative Ecology. Their invaluable teachings in permaculture, blending hands-on learning with theoretical knowledge, have greatly enhanced my understanding of sustainable practices. Empower with Nature Alex Cicelsky, PhD Mike Kaplin Mark Naveh Kibbutz Lotan & Center for Creative Ecology Mine Küçük University of Wales Trinity Saint David Nicholas Campion Frances Clynes Bernadette Bradley Darrelyn Gunzburg Kalyon Kültür

During our Future of Education Tour in the USA this past May, Ashlei Laing, co-founder and director of Re: The Regenerative School, and I had the privilege of being featured on the podcast "Searching for Goodness" with award-winning film director Bessy Adut in LA. In the podcast, we discuss how the future of education is intertwined with goodness, climate action, and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals during these pivotal times. If you'd like to watch our conversation, here is the YouTube link: https://lnkd.in/d2psh5Mh Special thanks to Bessy Adut Lani Shumway Ashlei Laing Armin Naseri José Abel Salazar fatma denizci Marion Doumaney-Cipolle @Daniel Hull @Stephanie Colchado Kelle Growing Roots Felix Bivens Albert Bates Rob Wheeler Jane Stellmach Kibbutz Lotan & Center for Creative Ecology Alnoba - Daring Leaders to Change the World - Daring Leaders to Change the World @Searching for Goodness Rē: The Regenerative School Empower with Nature for this incredible opportunity!

I was doing my own thing when an old friend from Los Angeles approached me for an interview on Goodness. Many thanks to Bessy Adut an award-winning film director, writer, and producer. If you’d like to read the interview, here is the link https://lnkd.in/d8QDMUTr

Happy to graduate from the Council of Europe School on Participatory Democracy! This amazing journey from October 2023 to June 2024 has been truly enriching. We spent a week with NGOs from various sectors and municipalities in Turkey, starting in Istanbul, followed by gatherings in Ankara, Izmir, and Adana. Participating in the train-the-trainer courses and yesterday's closing meeting made me realize how deeply I've integrated open democracy into our education, research, and projects at Empower with Nature. It was inspiring to hear how each NGO and municipality attendee has begun to apply these principles in their work. A big thank you to the Council of Europe, Argüden Academy for hosting and training, Istanbul Kent Konseyi, and the Association of Civil Society Development Center. I'm looking forward to further strengthening participatory democracy! Council of Europe Argüden Governance Academy / Argüden Yönetişim Akademisi İstanbul Kent Konseyi Sivil Toplum Geliştirme Merkezi (STGM) - Civil Society Development Center

At Empower with Nature, our team of 20 exceptional leaders brings together a diverse array of expertise from various fields. Each member is a founder of their own institution, encompassing ecovillages, restoration camps, and organizations rooted in tribal indigenous knowledge. Our collective includes scholars, artists, architects, permaculturalists, chefs, water engineers, renewable energy experts, soil experts, biologist, museology, finance, leadership experts, sport education experts, archaeologists, and researchers. Together, we create cutting-edge education programs and transformative projects designed to inspire and empower communities. Join us on our mission to harness the power of nature and innovation for a sustainable future. Felix Bivens Mike Kaplin @Juliet Egesa @Salman Sdan Diana Renner Mine Küçük Alex Cicelsky, PhD Jeanette Hedwig Müller, Dr.phil. Mark Naveh Ashlei Laing Kenneth Chepkwony Maged El Said Pelin Öztürk Didem Gurcuoglu Tekay Lara Karaso Sibel Cuniman Pinto Nilgul Karadeniz Natalie Brassill Meltem Doğan Sam Bevans

Exciting News from @Erasmus Plus Sports project Closer to Nature! I'm thrilled to share highlights from the kick-off meeting of the Closer to Nature project, coordinated by Valentino Di Lauro and Francesco Adriani from KRAP ASD in Italy. This initiative focuses on teaching forestry and ecosystems to high school students through hiking, with activities planned in Italy, Austria, Serbia, and Romania. Our journey began in the stunning Tretto de Schio, surrounded by mountains and forests, setting the perfect scene for our training preparation. * Team-building and workshops on methodologies for engaging teenagers and effective pedagogic approaches led by Krap ASD. * A compelling presentation by Giammarco Dadà from Compagnia delle Foreste Italy, on forest perspectives and ecosystem services. It engaged us in discussions on forestry issues across our countries and their cultural contexts. Followed by hands-on field activities around the agriturismo, focusing on forest pedagogy. We were inspired by the creative activity ideas shared by Nenad Lečić Ranko Milanovic and Petar Neskovic from @MA Tara, Serbia. Partners from Romania, Andrei-Adrian Domocoș and Florin Miron from Scout Society enriched our understanding with their scouting experiences. Pelin Öztürk from Innovative Education Center Austria shared invaluable insights on projects and education, and I'm delighted to collaborate with her on this initiative. The final day included a visit to the @LifeSPAN project areas, where we learned about the crucial role of dead wood in forests and its impact on biodiversity. We are excited for the implementation of the project in each partner country! #ErasmusPlusSports #CloserToNature #ForestryEducation #Hiking #Sustainability #Collaboration #YouthEngagement #Biodiversity #TeamBuilding #GreenEducationAgenda

Happy to partner at the initiative Seeds of Wisdom Life to Land and Peace to People encapsulates key value chains that foster community development across vital sectors: Children’s Regenerative Neuroeducation, Commercial-scale Sustainable Farm Training, and Women’s Empowerment through Agribusiness. We are eager to share how these sectors are driving transformative changes, from integrating children's education with the metaverse to enhancing Nigeria's energy grids through the sustainable cultivation of sweet potatoes and innovative recycling practices. Looking forward to our pre launching event with our partners @Aorkwagh The Tiffany Project @Ppuri Power to People Empower with Nature Elisa Jacobs Donald Akule Sam Bevans Rei Yoon

As with every road trip, our journey ended with hugs and expressions of gratitude. We traversed countless landscapes, roads, and skies, meeting people from various backgrounds: different communities, Native American tribes, universities, women’s associations, youth groups, alternative education centers, farms, and renewable energy companies. I made new friends and reconnected with old ones. The conversations, circles, and ceremonies, along with the hospitality of those who opened their homes to us, defined our trip. We encountered numerous animals along the way—deer, robins, hummingbirds, owls, vultures, hawks, turtles, rabbits, spiders, ticks, dogs, and even fire ants—that added to the richness of our journey, despite some of them giving us a bite. The stories, memories, and ideas we shared with Ashlei, and the incredible, genuine people we met, turned our experiences into wisdom. As Chicky from the Native American Mi’kmaq tribe said on our last day, "Look, the wind makes the trees wave back, so let’s wave back." We wave back to everything with gratitude. Thank you. Rē: The Regenerative School Empower with Nature Highlander Research and Education Center @Heaven Earth The Community Farm Growing Roots Pig & Leaf Henry's Farm Thistle Farms Nourishing the North Shore @The PEG Center Art & Activism @Energy Community Amesbury Amesbury Chamber of Commerce & Industrial Foundation Kassandra Gove ReVision Energy Alex Cicelsky, PhD Felix Bivens LaGuardia Community College University of New Hampshire The Food Project @Stawberry Bank Museum Isabel Cole @Christine Amor Alnoba - Daring Leaders to Change the World Denise Pouliot @ Paul Pouliot

Our last day on Future of Education tour with Ashlei Laing Co-founder and Director of The Regenerative School (Re) commenced with a meeting with Ryan Mann Hamilton, Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at LaGuardia Community College. Our discussion revolved around Latin American studies, drawing insights from these cultures, and the transformative potential of educational trips to Puerto Rico for community learning. We explored the integration of community gardens within university settings, emphasizing experiential learning and participatory research as avenues to address gaps in educational systems and community needs. Later, we convened at Camp Kent's garden project with Rē. Project expert Isabel Cole, is stewarding the land, eduction and community outreach of the gardens. A recent graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Isabel shared her perspectives on education, community engagement, service, and indigenous land stewardship. Her dedication to regenerative gardening and composting left a profound impression, inspiring hope for the future of all life forms. Our day culminated in a heartfelt conversation with Denise and Paul Pouliot: Denise, the Sag8moskwa (head female speaker), and Paul, the Sag8mo (head male speaker/grand chief) of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People headquartered in Alton, NH. They generously shared insights into their ongoing projects, which sparked discussions on higher education, participatory research, and the vital role of eco-history in shaping humanity's future. We delved into the intersection of science and traditional Indigenous knowledge, recognizing the potential for farming practices rooted in generational wisdom to drive positive change. Their emphasis on intergenerational knowledge transmission and the imperative of continual observation and re-learning resonated deeply, offering a vision for a more sustainable and interconnected future. Ashlei Laing Rē: The Regenerative School University of New Hampshire Empower with Nature LaGuardia Community College Ryan Mann-Hamilton Isabel Cole @Denise Pouliot @Paul Pouliot