Lisa Wilson

Butterfly Child

 I am grateful for these and other experiences that people in my communiTree have inspired and motivated me to contribute to. Jono Miller, John Lambie, Bill Pischer-Jessica's Organic Farm, Matthew Reynolds-The Bayshore House, Ellen Maloff, Dill Ward-VegSarasota, Michele Mician, Felix Wilson, and Laura Morton, many others.

 
Emerald Forest - When I moved into my neighborhood I had no idea I'd end up spending the next 2½ years getting involved in the biggest public interest project of my life. Nor did I realize the experience would give me a crash course kaleidoscope of civic participation in City politics, spirituality, community development, environmental planning, and park land conservation. I didn't set out to learn these things, but it was an inevitable outcome. It was a difficult and often overwhelming endeavor, but the more I learned, the more I was inspired to bring the community together around saving perhaps the last large urban forest like it in the City for a children's nature park. Tucked away in the New College cultural district, the Indian Beach Neighborhood had worked for many years to preserve the land before I moved there and had brought the National Park Service on board in their valiant efforts. When I learned about the forest, they had exhausted their efforts to save it and I started where they left off with new hope and energy. I sharpened my skills and will continue learning from the powerful lessons in conflict resolution, compromise, patience and optimism. I named the land the Emerald Forest the first day I walked inside it because it was so green and reminded me of the Jack and the Beanstalk book. I thought it was a magical space for kids in the community who would love to have such a place to play inside the City. Through an art student who became involved in the wide community effort to save the land, that the meaning in the words engraved on the entrance columns hit me in a different way. Rus In Urbe, the Latin meaning Country In The City, was the former 1947 Ziff arboretum and its legacy brought together developers, environmental and civic groups, politicians, teachers, students, citizens and neighbors from all walks of life for a great cause. Beth, the art student, said that Rus In Urbe is a place in your heart and mind, an internal country in the city that gave her a great sense of peace - a way to live.

 Unfortunately, our valiant efforts met too many challenges and we did not result in saving the land. But it did bring us closer together around what urban greenspace means and how to do it better next time, how we can work harder to work smarter together for the common good.

 VOTE YES-YES, Sarasota's First Urban Greenspace Program

The efforts made by many to save the Emerald Forest had a direct and positive impact on creating and passing the community's first Urban Greenspace Program in Sarasota County, that brought with it, $100 million in funding.

 

As soon as I learned about the referenda and Yes-Yes campaign, I jumped on board, and worked as a campaign coordinator hitting the streets to get the word out. I produced the campaign commercial with some talented friends, raised funds to get it televised, inspired local business owners to donate materials for a 60 foot Vote Yes-Yes banner for a downtown condo and got people to the polls.

 
I knew if the referenda passed, we would have a good chance of having this funding available in time to save the Emerald Forest. Not only did it pass, it passed in a landslide voter turnout, where 27,000 people, and 80% of voters put greenspace on their priority list. Now the community has a great urban greenspace conservation program and we will start seeing more urban parks for all neighborhoods to enjoy.

 
Inspiration - Kids in Nature - It was being an after care teacher at New Gate Montessori School that most profoundly affected my passion for environmental conservation and compelled me to try and save the Emerald Forest. At the end of each school day, before after care began, I took small groups of children for a trek into the campus woods for an hour or so nature break before going either home, or to my after care program. The teachers were happy to reduce the end of day chaos often found in the classroom and the kids would jump out of their chairs pleading with her to be one of the 5-7 kids she would allow to go. We explored the small patch of forest, which was like an island to the kids. Sometimes we explored with a flute or a camera, other times the kids would drag palm leaves that were bigger than themselves down the dirt path, past the owls nest, and build an Indian fort when we reached the make believe fire pit. Some of the kids had never seen fruit growing outdoors, and each time we walked past the grapefruit tree on our path, they thought it was just as amazing to pick one and toss the rinds into the trees as it was every other time they had done so. As we sat one day on a blanket talking about nature and eating our fruit, one little boy cracked me up when he threw his arms out, let out a huge sigh and yelled, "I love it out here, it's so peaceful... I can hear myself think." Some of them often refused, begged or cried not to have to leave. With the visual and communications aid of multi-media equipment, the kids learned how to be nature reporters and talked to each other with camera and microphone in hand. It was witnessing their experiences in nature that had the most profound impact on me connecting to the environment and what leaving natural places means to our society. I observed very shy and introverted children come out of their shell within a matter of minutes when they stood with the microphone in their hand and pretended to be on Nickelodeon. Their multi-sensory nature experiences brought them to understand more about themselves, to appreciate and respect other people and creatures, to foster a spirit of teamwork and stimulated self-discovery. Most of all they were more self empowered. Every child deserves to have every day experiences in a natural, peaceful place and if they had that opportunity, we would have a more peaceful world, I am convinced of that.

 

Compass

Two of the most life-shaping experience for me were living in an abusive foster home and losing my mother at age 11. It was the relationship I had with my grandfather, my mother's father, through this experience that gave me a deep appreciation and recognition for the wisdom keepers in the world. The sense of abandonment, extreme family dysfunction and social stigma that that came with being a foster child made me more tuned in and sensitive to social justice issues and shaped my public interest beliefs at a young age. With the loss of my mother, I gained strength that would have otherwise gone undiscovered and often feel that I am helping her fulfill the life she lost by picking up where she left off so young. I easily identify with the needs of children and often found myself donating time to speak up for the homeless, minorities, youth and the elderly. My grandfather has done his best to give me the world. My grandpa is my best friend.

 

To summarize my community contributions to sustainability, I feel like I am the one who received the biggest gift, in seeing the true forest through the trees. It was the Emerald Forest Project that connected me to a part of my past that needed a visit. It was a cathartic experience that brought me to realize no matter how many forests I might save or try to save, it was a lost girl trapped in a distant past that I was really trying to find justice for. I lost the forest, but I found myself. And for this experience, I can only thank the development group who gave it a go with me. We did the best we knew how.

 
I am proud to have been recognized by the National Park Service in their nomination to the American Land Conservation Award for my work in various community conservation and public service efforts that included: The Emerald Forest Project, Jessica's Organic Farm, and The Mission to Mexico - A Voice for Migrant Farmworkers, which became the United Way International/Delta Sky Wish Partnership Project of the Year.

 
Next Step - My next project is currently under way. Research into creating an intergenerational, nature based community that prioritizes senior living with families who want a more back to the earth lifestyle and intellectual stimulation with onsite environmental education. The goal of this social services kind of living structure will include cottage industry businesses where people can work and live, farm animals and a get your hands dirty organic farm for all residents to grow their own food. With limited natural resources on the planet and an unlimited population I believe we need to create alternative living communities that compact our best assets into one place. Where do you want to live when your 80 years old? I want to live in a community that respects elders and brings them into life rather than allowing them to live the last of their days in isolation.

I've also started a social marketing consulting company, Better World Media, that's goal is to provide resources to help people have right livelihood jobs helping their community while serving public interest projects for children, the elderly, minorities and the environment.