The green roof pavilion recently construct with much help from GE
employees who support the Roots & Wisdom program. The pavilion
replaced the large white tent used during the summer to keep
the youth and guests dry and out of the sun.
The
Annual Garden Party was last night. We were celebrating the seventh growing season
of the Roots & Wisdom program and the construction of the new green roof
pavilion. I worked during the
afternoon and evening to set up for the party. On my way to the garden I picked up the balloon order and a bag of ice from Price Chopper. Debbie and I set up the tables, drinks, and decorations together. And I display for the thank you gifts. The gifts were for the six people who played the
most important roles in funding and building the new green roof pavilion, which
replaced the big white tent we used for shade and to keep the rain off during
the summer program.
For most of the party, I
worked the sign-in/registration table. I checked people off the guest list and asked them to make nametags. I also collected any donations people wanted
to make. I mingled with people as they came in. Many asked why I was working
with the program and how it had impacted me. It was great to see how excited
they were to hear from a program participant.
When there was
no one checking in, I passed the time talking to Sarah. Sarah was a youth
participant with me during 2008 and 2009, she volunteered with us last summer,
and she is currently the assistant grower and will be the Children’s Garden
Director during this year’s summer program. She and I are examples of how the program just keeps bringing people back because of its great impact on the youth. Sarah is one of the life-long friends
I have made as a result of participating in Roots & Wisdom. We both chose
our career paths based on our experiences in the garden and were talking about
different career plans and job opportunities we knew about. We can be great
resources for each other.
Halfway through
the night, we had the speech portion of the program. Debbie welcomed everyone
and thanked them for coming. She introduced Jenny who said a few words about
the program and what it means to her and she discussed the importance of the
college-aged leadership team. Then Jenny introduced Sarah who gave a great
speech about listening to one of her ninth grade teachers talking about his
perfect day. His perfect day would be spent in the garden, walking among his
plants, and being able to eat an apricot off the tree. Sarah said she thought
what he said was crazy when she first heard the story but, after working with Roots & Wisdom, she
understood exactly what he meant and agreed with his idea of a perfect day. Then, Debbie talked about the new
green roof pavilion and thanked those people who had a key role in funding and
building the pavilion. While she spoke about each person, I handed out their
gifts. We wrapped up the speech portion with a few quick words from Terresa
Bakner, the Director of the Board of Trustees of Cornell Cooperative Extension,
and Debbie gave a few closing words of thanks. Form the audience, Chris also
had us recognize Debbie and all her great work.
The party was a
great success. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we raised a decent amount
of money. I enjoyed greeting the guests and talking to them. I love sharing how
important the program has been to me. Roots & Wisdom helped break me out of
my shell, exposed me to diversity, introduced me to some amazing life-long
friends, one of them is my college roommate, and influenced my career path in a
way I never could have imagined. If I had not worked at Roots & Wisdom, I really
do not know what I would be doing with my life. I wouldn’t possess the same
passion and ambition I have to work with the environment and to share my
knowledge with everyone.
The gifts I designed for the key people in making the
green roof pavilion a possibility whether it was
through funding, organizing, designing, or building.
Thank you so much to everyone for supporting Roots & Wisdom!
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