Deep Ecology Education Program

We aim to foster Deep Ecological Thinking and strengthen community bonds by developing extracurricular activities centered on regenerative practices. At its core, the project integrates the Andean concept of minga as an organizing principle.

A minga is a traditional practice of collective action where communities unite to address shared challenges or create common solutions. This philosophy emphasizes collaboration, reciprocity, and shared responsibility, values that hold great potential to reshape civic engagement in Richmond.

Through our RVA minga, Richmond is encouraged to reimagine its approach to vital issues such as affordable housing, urban sustainability, and social equity. Community-driven efforts, rooted in trust and mutual care, inspire ongoing acts of transformation. The project envisions neighborhoods coming together not for isolated events but as active participants in creating an inclusive, resilient city.

By adopting this minga-inspired model, Richmond residents, leaders, and organizations are empowered to become agents of lasting community transformation.

Key Achievements

During the reporting period, four notable minga-themed initiatives were organized to exemplify the principles of collaboration and regenerate shared spaces while addressing ecological and social challenges.

1. Rainwater Harvesting System Installation

• What: Installed a rainwater harvesting system at Community High School in Richmond, Virginia.
• Objective: To support horticultural education and aid the propagation of native plant species.
• Impact: The system plays a pivotal role in rewilding efforts to sustain migratory bird populations.

2. Demonstration Garden

• What: Planted a Three Sisters demonstration garden at the same school, using heirloom seeds.
• Objective: Educate participants on bio-intensive agriculture through the lens of relational ontology and regenerative organizing.
• Impact: Created educational opportunities tied to ancient agricultural practices and emphasized sustainability.

3. Community Meal

• What: Hosted a Three Sisters Spring Planting Meal involving migrant students and native-born community members in participatory cooking activities.
• Objective: Build community connections through shared food production while emphasizing healing through food.
• Impact: The event fostered integrated community therapy and reconnected participants with their shared identities as inhabitants of Abya Yala (the Americas).

4. Natural Medicine Forum

• What: Organized a natural medicine forum featuring six speakers sharing ancestral knowledge of plant-based healing practices.
• Objective: Raise awareness about health sovereignty and the safe use of plant medicine through proper training and resources.
• Impact:
• • Attended by 50+ community members.
  • Inspired ongoing efforts to create wellness gardens in schools.
  • Increased understanding of the risks and responsibilities tied to plant medicine.

These four initiatives strengthened Richmond’s commitment to ecological awareness and community empowerment.

Challenges Faced and Solutions 1. Institutional Resistance in Public Schools

• Challenge: Public school systems exhibited inflexibility in integrating transformational content into their curricula.
• Response:
• • Advocated for extracurricular approaches as an alternative to directly influencing core curricula.
  • Focused on engaging students and teachers outside formal education frameworks to introduce ecological thinking effectively.

2. Competition Among Nonprofits

• Challenge: Competition between nonprofit organizations created barriers to collaboration.
• Response:
• • Adopted the minga-based ethos to promote collaboration and shared goals across groups.
  • Fostered dialogue between organizations to strengthen partnerships and shared responsibility in addressing community challenges.

Looking Ahead

Adopting minga-inspired methods has already yielded evidence of substantial social and ecological impact in Richmond. Future efforts will focus on expanding community participation, deepening school engagement, and building stronger nonprofit alliances to maximize this success.

Together with collaboration and the enduring spirit of minga, Richmond is becoming a beacon of inclusion, resilience, and sustainability.