Danny speaks with Gretchen Ostherr, President & CEO of Coastal Maine Botanical Garden and
Jordia Benjamin , Executive Director of Indigo Arts Alliance. We discuss The Program:
"Deconstructing the Boundaries: Tending to Communities" is the third and final part of the project's symposia series. It builds on the previous two symposia by focusing on environmental justice in both urban and rural areas. Through centering Black and Brown experiences and knowledge, we aim to broaden the narrative on who holds skill and experience in environmental practices and land stewardship. The symposium will feature Black and Brown artists, scholars, historians, activists, and community members. Attendees will leave with the tools to continue reparative justice work and understand their connection to the land they live on.
https://www.mainegardens.org/events-exhibits/indigo-arts-alliance
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
● At over 325 acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is New England’s largest botanical garden. Home to thousands of different types of plants and visited by hundreds of thousands of guests each year, the Gardens is an immersive place of learning, beauty, and whimsy around every corner.
● The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections between people and nature and promote plant conservation through horticulture, education, and plant science.
● Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens aims to have a positive impact on people and the planet and inspires people to connect with nature.
https://www.mainegardens.org/
Indigo Arts Alliance
● Indigo Arts Alliance is a Black-led organization that supports artists of color through artist residency programs, public events, and community organizing to highlight the abundance of Black and Brown thought leadership and creativity.
● At the core of Indigo Arts Alliance's mission is its artist residency programs that are rooted in global connections; between and among Black and Brown artists. These connections showcase artists' activism to the larger public as their work is a reflection of personal identity and their unique life experiences.
● IAA believes that artists play a crucial role in envisioning a just world for all of us. Our work with the Gardens has been to shift the narrative from a European model to one that is inclusive for all peoples. The focus has been on artists, scholars, and cultural leaders who advocate for climate justice, drawing from their lived experiences and community involvement.
https://indigoartsalliance.me
