PATHWAYS PROFILE Community Ecology Institute... ...continued from page 9
The high-school portion of the program guides students in learning about and taking leadership on initiatives such as: native tree plant- ing and food forestry; creating native pollinator meadows; storm- water management best practices and their maintenance; garden design, creation, maintenance and harvesting; reducing and reusing waste materials; plant propagation; and community engagement and communications around ecological stewardship. In addition to after school opportunities, the high-school track also serves neuro-diverse students participating in a range of programs provided by the Howard County Public School System, such as Career and Community Explo- ration and Project Search. These students are bused to the farm two- to-four days per week during their school day and supported by CEI and school system staff in learning transferable skills. We are invested in our students, ensuring they receive a wealth of valuable and practical experiences. As one participant described it: “I got to join a team of diverse individuals and connect myself with the vibrant, local community of Columbia. From networking and research to carpentry and cultivation, CEI’s breadth of possibilities facilitates their mission for both personal and community growth. During my internship, I’ve witnessed the incredible moments of teamwork and unity, laughter and joy, and harmony amongst everyone here — from the new volunteers to the veteran staff. CEI is a unique combination of flexibility, support, and positivity, creating an irresistible feeling of positivity within the organization.” Nourishing Gardens Our Nourishing Gardens program was created in the fall of 2021 with a two-fold mission: (1) install food and pollinator gardens in yards, community spaces, and with community-based organizations and businesses; and (2) establish a green-infrastructure jobs train - ing program. In 2022, CEI celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Nourishing Gardens program and its accomplishments. Our 20 trainees contributed more than 1,000 hours of combined installation support for 25 new gardens in primarily public spaces (schools, open spaces, community centers) throughout Howard County. Our gardens provided access to growing space to community members who might not otherwise have land to grow on. More than 500 community members were directly involved in the planning, installing, and caring for Nourishing Gardens this past year; and more than 1,300 food and pollinator plants were planted and add - ed to the biodiversity of our ecosystem. At the close of the year, five of our Nourishing Gardens trainees from 2021 and 2022 were offered opportunities to earn an income from CEI, supporting our goal to pro- vide flexible and meaningful green infrastructure jobs in our commu - nity. continued on page 34
PATHWAYS—Spring 23—33
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