COMMUNITY LIFE COLLABORATIVE

2024 PROGRAMMING 1.CLIMATE FRESK: CLIMATE FRESK IS A GAMIFIED WORKSHOP ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED IN THE CLIMATE CRISIS. THE WORKSHOP EMPOWERED PARTICIPANTS WITH AN UNDERSTANDING AND LANGUAGE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO NUANCED ISSUES, AND EMPOWERED THEM TO BUILD A FOUNDATION TO MOVE A COMMUNITY TOWARDS ACTION. LED BY MEGAN YOUSEF, AN APTD-CERTIFIED FACILITATOR WITH A BACKGROUND ROOTED IN CHANGE MANAGEMENT. 2.OUR NATURE (PART 1): GETTING OUR HANDS DIRTY: PARTICIPANTS GOT THEIR HANDS DIRTY IN THE URBAN GARDENS OF EAST CLEVELAND AND WORKED SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH VOLUNTEERS WORKING AT THE FIRST SATURDAY VOLUNTEER CLEANUP. THIS IS THE FIRST OF THE TWO-PART WORKSHOP WITH SARA CONTINENZA AND BETH VILD TACKLING FOOD INJUSTICE AND HOW WE, AS A COMMUNITY, CAN ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY. 3.OUR NATURE (PART 2): THE SECOND PART OF THE SERIES HIGHLIGHTED TWO THRIVING VACANT-TO-VIBRANT MODELS FOR MOBILIZING LOCAL FOOD & GARDEN AMBASSADORS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCE IN CLEVELAND AND AKRON NEIGHBORHOODS. PRESENTED BY SARA CONTINENZA AND BETH VILD, THIS EVENT WRAPS UP OUR NATURE FORUM SERIES. 4.3RD ANNUAL GALA, DANCING ON DEW DROPS: OUR 3RD ANNUAL GARDEN GALA CELEBRATED WITH A SOLD OUT CROWD FEATURING SCRUMPTIOUS FOOD, HIGH ENERGY, LUCKY DRAW RAFFLE, DESSERT DASH, A SILENT AUCTION, A WINE PULL, LIVE MUSIC AND DANCING. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED AS PARTICIPANTS, VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, BIDDERS, AND MORE 5.AN EVENING WITH KRISTIN OHLSON, IS NATURE MORE COOPERATIVE THAN WE THINK: WE HAD AN INSPIRING EVENING WITH ACCLAIMED AUTHOR KRISTIN OHLSON, WHO SHARED INSIGHTS FROM HER BOOK SWEET IN TOOTH AND CLAW. ATTENDEES ENJOYED A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT THE SURPRISING AND BEAUTIFUL CONNECTIONS IN NATURE, ALL WITHIN AN INTIMATE SETTING. 6.MOVIE SCREENING, GOD AND COUNTRY: TOGETHER WITH SJAM AND RACIAL EQUITY BUDDIES, WE HOSTED A THOUGHT-PROVOKING SCREENING OF GOD & COUNTRY, A FILM THAT EXPLORES THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH & PATRIOTISM WHILE EXAMINING THE IMPLICATIONS OF CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM. ATTENDEES ENGAGED IN FACILITATED CONVERSATIONS AFTER THE SCREENING, DEEPENING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THESE ISSUES AFFECT BOTH OUR NATION AND FAITH COMMUNITIES. 7.SPROUT AND SHARE SERIES: THIS MONTH'S SPROUT & SHARE BROUGHT TOGETHER GARDENERS AND ADVOCATES TO EXCHANGE RESOURCES AND UPLIFT SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THROUGH SHARED KNOWLEDGE AND COLLABORATION, WE TOOK ANOTHER STEP TOWARD ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. 8.OAK-Y DOKIE 5K AND ABLE ACORN WALK: THE ANNUAL OAK-Y DOKIE 5K & ABLE ACORN WALK WAS A SUCCESS PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES CAME TOGETHER TO RUN, WALK, AND CELEBRATE INCLUSION IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED US-YOUR SUPPORT HELPS ADVANCE ACCESS TO NATURE FOR ALL.