Project Leads: Violet Stone
As farm and food system educators or change agents working alongside rural and urban farm communities, we face enormous challenges to our efforts to support improved livelihoods of those we serve. While we may design focused educational programs or convene groups to work towards change, our work can become daunting. Over time, we may find our energy, commitment and spirit depleted.
Are you seeking a space to step away from day-to-day work to pause, reflect, replenish and connect with a larger community of others doing similar work?
The "Reconnecting with Purpose – A Renewal Experience for NY Farm and Food System Educators and Change Makers" is a 5-month program designed for those working across the New York farm and food system. The program aims to create a welcoming and trustworthy space for farm and food system educators to explore challenges, to re-engage with personal strengths and capacities to address them, and to renew a sense of inspiration and purpose in their work and lives.
The application period for the Year 2 Cohort (2021-22) will open in early August, 2021. To learn about our 2020-21 program in the words of our participants, see below.
Reflections from Previous Participants...
"This is a really important program for helping our food system stay sustainable because so many educators and farmers are burned out and it's because of more than all the work we got to do. A lot of times it's because we have forgotten to keep the things that give us life in our lives and work."
"I'm passionate about the work I do and the folks I get to work with, but this program has really supported my journey in taking a look at myself outside of productivity and external expectations."
"The Reconnecting with Purpose program gave me incredible insight into the passion and strength of individuals in the food systems field. It also inspired me to become a productive member of this community to support and advocate for local food producers."
"I feel less alone with many of the burdens I encounter in my job and I feel as if I have the tools to help alleviate some of those burdens." Read More....
Reconnecting with Purpose Project Team
- Violet Stone, Cornell Small Farms Program, Project Leader. 607-255-9227 or vws7@cornell.edu
- Marcia Eames- Sheavly, Senior Extension Associate, Courage & Renewal Facilitator, ICF Certified Integral Professional Coach. 607-255-1781 or me14@cornell.edu
- Anu Rangarajan, Cornell Small Farms Program, Peer Learning Circle Facilitator. 607-255-1780 or ar47@cornell.edu
Sponsored by Northeast SARE
This project is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number SNE20-010-NY
News and Updates
As farm and food system educators or change makers working alongside rural and urban farm communities, we face enormous challenges to our efforts to support improved livelihoods of those we…
Read MoreSee the full archive from Reconnecting with Purpose
About Violet Stone
Violet is the coordinator of the Reconnecting with Purpose project, which offers farm and food system educators and change makers a retreat space to explore challenges and renew a sense of inspiration and purpose in their work and lives. She is also a collaborator on the Be Well Farming Project. This project creates reflective spaces for farmers and food producers to connect meaningfully and explore strategies that can ameliorate challenges and bolster quality of life. Violet serves as the NY SARE Coordinator and can help farmers and educators navigate NESARE grant opportunities.
Read Articles by Violet Stone
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