The Collective Work of Resiliency
This spring, we are collectively taking stock as the one-year anniversary of the Shelter-in-Place orders has come to pass. As we continue to practice social distancing and wearing masks, our schools, shops, and cities ease back into pre-pandemic routines. Our own personal daily and weekly routines, still marked by COVID-19, carry us forward to another season of spring. April seemed like a timely moment for our garden programs to honor the collaboration and dedication of students, staff, faculty, community organization, and leaders who have helped weave our response to the pandemic. Our pivot project, Resiliency Bags, has maintained the relationship between University and neighborhood, student and community member. Each week a team of faculty and staff volunteers pack their cars with Resiliency Bags, taking with them fruits and vegetables grown in Forge Garden. Starbrite corner store owner, Ken, coordinates wholesale orders of essential pantry items requested by Resiliency Bag recipients. In keeping with our environmental education aims, the activities and learning prompts designed by Bronco Urban Gardens student interns and Experiential Learning for Social Justice (ELSJ) placements are now making their way to our social media platforms as well. In sharing the contents of Resiliency Bags, we highlight the multiple points of connection and collaboration established over the course of the pandemic. As a result of this collective work, we are also telling the story of how we grow stronger together.