UPG E-Update 2/11
This is a reprint of the latest UPG E-Update, our newsletter.
Dear Friends of Urban Paradise-
As always, please forward widely.
This Saturday, 2/13 is our regular Oleta 2nd Saturday. Our schedule is at the end. Please save the dates.
I tell folks who give us their e-mail addresses that we won't abuse them, and rarely send out more than two e-updates per month. Its been four weeks since the last one - I've been under-achieving. Thanks for being patient. There has been a lot going on, so this e-update will be longer than some. Exciting Projects and Partnerships are in development - Stay tuned!
Spotlight on: Seeds of Change is going into PRODUCTION for HAITI & South Florida!
Most people think of Urban Paradise Guild as an Environmental organization. Some consider us an Arts organization. Did you know that to others we are a Humanitarian organization? UPG has sent Seeds to Haiti since October 2008. Seeds for Habitat and anti-erosion, Seeds for Food Production and Seeds for Economic Development have been sent by the kilo.
I've been deeply concerned about Haiti for over 30 years. It was a site of suffering, a source of desperate immigrants who risked their lives for a hard-working shot at the American Dream. Not having any personal resources to make an impact on the country's problems, it remained distant.
Then I learned that many of their Native Trees are are also our Native Trees. I knew that many of our Natives are edible, like the Sea Grape, which has thousands of berries with a little fruit on each. UPG had already started collecting seeds for our Native Community Nurseries in Miami-Dade.
Seeds of Change was born. With enough public support, we could expand seed-gathering operations and create a flow to Haiti. We already collected seeds from Natives and from non-invasive fruit-trees. Soon we added Cacao (the source of chocolate) for Economic Development. More recently, tools and a wider range of seeds of all kinds have been collected.
Each Seed and Item carries a message: Have hope, better times are coming. You have Friends who care, Brothers and Sisters who are working for you far away. Every man, woman and child can be a part of healing the environmental wounds people have created. Everyone benefits from anti-erosion measures that protect farmland and fisheries at the same time.
When work and love are invested by each person, it brings a green future of prosperity for the community, with food to eat and a job for every family.
Economically, each Seed is a path toward personal prosperity. Any person or village with soil and irrigation can potentially earn a living working for themselves. Cottage industries are possible. We are starting with Cacao and Cotton, traditional crops in Haiti.
The most important Seeds are of personal empowerment, of hope, of a future that heals the past. These are our Seeds of Change, and we offer them to Haiti.
In the past three weeks, Seeds of Change has reached critical mass.
UPG has been Recruiting heavily, especially at MDC Service-Learning Expos, and 10 Interns have made major commitments (please see Announcements section below), and many are already serving roles in Seeds. HDC, a Haitian student organization at MDC Wolfson (Downtown Campus) joined UPG. They are led by President Jeff Julien, who also began with UPG in October 2009 and has signed up as a UPG Service-Learning Intern. Other UPG Partners, new and old, are getting involved.
The future is beautiful.
Help us build it!
UPG Needs YOU!
Your work will be save lives.
We have many Volunteer jobs to fill and geographical areas to cover, with commitments that range from occasional to constant.
Please see http://www.urban-paradise.org/initiatives/seeds-change-haiti for a list of Volunteer and Organizational opportunities.
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News
Here's some of what's been going on in Urban Paradise...
1/9: We were rained out, the weather was cold, wet, and maybe the nastiest day we'll see in 2010. Paspallum planting was was rescheduled to 1/30. This was the first activity we had to reschedule due to weather in 17 months of operations - quite a run!
1/16: Hanging Gardens Launch & MLK Day of Service. A huge group from MDC, Easter Seals, and others, led by UPG, made huge progress on our projects at Oleta, and started our Hanging Gardens Project. This major Event drew almost 150, and a lot of people also worked behind the scenes to make it happen. See the attached Project Documentation - and big thanks to UPG member Djorgje for taking the photos and the initiative to make it happen. To see a high-resolution version click http://djordjeishere.com/UPGHangingGardens01.
1/30: We planted around 6,000 Paspallum and 25 native trees in the new Primitive Campsite along Oleta River. Girlscouts and Hands On Miami came out and worked hard. Some even worked an hour past quitting time, removing Seaside Mahoes, Brazilian Peppers and Australian Pines (all Destructive Exotic trees). They went after everything: Seedlings and Saplings, and even Trees!
They learned how to Solarize everything that couldn't be torn out by the roots. Kids were really effective. The scouts stayed for the cookout and kayaking.
2/6: Matheson Hammock Adoption - we kicked it off with lots of Volunteers. The TERRA Charter team arrived early, and led by H.S. Junior Gabriel they set a mean pace for later arrivals to follow. Many who showed up for the County workday ended up working with UPG. UPG has a new metric for measuring progress: we removed over two dump-truck loads of Destructive Invasive Plants!
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Announcements
Volunteer Staff
Professor Michele Scott joined UPG on 1/16 (see above & attachment), and has been going strong ever since. Ms. Scott's experience in founding and operating non-profits cover almost everything that I don't know. Her successful history in grant-writing and in early childhood development programming are absolutely essential. Her main work with UPG is in administration, an area that has been woefully neglected. In short, she's almost everything that UPG needs in a very friendly package! She has accepted the position: Director, Build the Guild Initiative, and has already begun the difficult processes of moving UPG forward on many levels, especially toward becoming a formal non-profit! She is also taking on Administration.
Interns
UPG has been Blessed! In addition to our current great S-L Interns, we have been joined by ELEVEN more Service-Learning Interns. Nine are from Miami Dade College, and each is committed to at least 8 hours per week through April 2011 (or later)!
While doing Recruiting at UPG Partner MDC's Service-Learning Expos on three different campuses, we signed up Jeff, Edward, Greicy, Christopher, Jacques, Santstiell, Loudridge, Abigail, and Kevandra. On 2/6, Oriana joined. Their majors cover a wonderful range, from business to marine biology, healthcare, law enforcement, childhood development, environmental leadership and computer science. We offer those who are undecided exciting ways to find their path in life. Some are fresh from high-school, and many are seasoned adults getting an education.
Many are highly motivated to help Haiti. It is especially gratifying that many who were born in Haiti are also enthusiastic about Stewardship, protecting South Florida's habitat. They join our motivated, hard-working crew of Interns, some who have been with us since August 2009.
Now, friends at FIU are getting the word out about our Internships, and Andre joined. Our goal is 10 from FIU. It is already working!
Most recently, Laura signed up. She met UPG paddling under a Blue Moon during our New Year's Eve Consciousness Get-Away. She is completing her Masters at the Audubon Expedition Institute, and will be helping with our Intern Training.
Haiti needs help now, regardless of academic cycles. If you know a local student at any college or university who needs an Internship, please have them send an e-mail to sam@urban-paradise.org. Subject: Internship Wanted, with school and campus.
Fiscal Agent
Community Arts and Culture (CAC) has become Fiscal Agent for Urban Paradise Guild! This is really important for UPG, because they are sharing their Non-Profit Status with us. CAC's focus is more on music and performing Arts, while UPG is more geographical and physical. A synergistic relationship is developing. Please see their website at http://communityartsandculture.org/ for more information, including their Fundraiser on 2/13, with UPG items for bid!
CAC recognizes what UPG offers South Florida and Haiti. CAC supports UPG without imposing conditions that would negate our highly innovative and effective approaches to Creating Sustainable Paradise. Thanks for your support, CAC, and welcome to Urban Paradise!
We're building up our crews for Stewardship and Planting at Oleta and Matheson. If you want to take part, please e-mail sam@urban-paradise.org, subject: Matheson Stewards or Oleta Stewards.
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Best Wishes,
Sam Van Leer
Executive Director
Urban Paradise Guild
sam@urban-paradise.org
"Creating Sustainable Paradise in South Florida and Haiti, one Habitat at a time."
http://www.facebook.com/urbanparadiseguild
www.urban-paradise.org
If you prefer to be off our e-mail list, please forward this e-mail to sam@urban-paradise.org, Subject: No Thanks.
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SCHEDULE
2/13: Oleta 2nd Saturday - Bike Trail Burma Blitz - work 9am - Noon, then BBQ & Recreation.
2/13: CAC Fundraiser! 7pm - 10pm. For more info, please visit www.communityartsandculture.org
2/24: Panel Discussion at Fairchild: Sprint to Sustainability, with MAST academy
2/28: Oleta 4th Sunday with MDC Earth Ethics Institute - work 9am - Noon, then BBQ & Recreation
3/06: Matheson 1st Saturday - work 9am - Noon
3/13: Oleta 2nd Saturday - work 9am - Noon, then BBQ & Recreation
3/20: Taste of Booker T. Washington - BTW Academy Fund Raiser - All Day
3/21: Virginia Key Nature Walking Tour - Walk on the Wild Side (Dade Heritage Trust Days Event) - starts at 9am, see our website.
3/28: Oleta 4th Sunday - work 9am - Noon, then BBQ & Recreation
4/03: Matheson 1st Saturday - work 9am - Noon
4/10: Oleta 2nd Saturday - work 9am - Noon, then BBQ & Recreation.
4/17: Baynanza! We're going Amphibious! Save the Date!
4/25: Oleta 4th Sunday - work 9am - Noon, then BBQ & Recreation