InterConnection Laptops Support Rural Conservation Efforts
Wisdom of the Elderberry Farm is a Native American nonprofit organization providing training in horticultural and agricultural education to low-income Native American adults and youth in Marion County, Oregon.
Through habitat restoration and conservation education, individuals served by the farm can help restore the environments in their watersheds, while developing skills for careers in horticultural and agricultural education/ environmental conservation.
Computers Help Establish Nonprofit Programs
In October of 2019, Interconnection awarded Wisdom of the Elderberry Farm two laptops to assist their Board of Directors with organizational planning. Currently, they are developing plans and establishing funding sources for a new program in which participants will learn to germinate and tend to native plant species, as well as open and operate a native plant nursery.
The Farm’s main objectives are to provide horticulture and agriculture workforce training, pre-apprenticeship training in environmental assessment and habitat restoration, and to create opportunities for participants to engage in microenterprise training (including business plan development).
Wisdom of the Elderberry Farm is also developing partnerships with educational institutions and government agencies to provide distance learning opportunities for tribal members living in more remote parts of the state.
Program outcomes
Rose High Bear, Board President of Wisdom of the Elderberry Farm said, “The donation of two laptop computers was a huge blessing to us. It has made it possible for us to begin day-to-day administrative operations and communications. This includes growing our board (which now includes five gifted individuals), developing collaborative partnerships, applying for initial grants, and developing other outreach within our communities.” She specified that one of the awarded laptops is being used for grant writing, while the other is being used for volunteer coordination, social media account management, and the development of a new website.
This year, Rose High Bear (pictured above) received a Special Recognition Award from the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District for her knowledge and work in sustainable horticulture and agriculture.
To learn more about culturally-tailored environmental science curriculum, visit Wisdom of the Elders, Inc.
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You can help organizations like Wisdom of the Elderberry Farm better serve their communities with information technology from InterConnection. Donate today!