Last season, we had the pleasure of hearing from Tom Cole and Warren Brush about their efforts in resilient agriculture with African Women Rising (AWR). In this episode, we hear from the Executive Director and Founder of AWR, Linda Eckerbom Cole, a woman who has worn many hats: actress, nonprofit leader, community activist, and esteemed Santa Barbara local. Linda narrates the winding path that brought her to northern Uganda and explains the sustainable programming her and her team have pioneered: permagardens ensure sufficient produce throughout the year, even when harvests are low. Teaching centers expand local literacy for women denied many educational opportunities. Conferences dedicated to spreading regenerative, community-led practices take the permagarden model far beyond AWR’s main regions. In total, Linda has helped impact the lives of 150,000+ refugees, war-affected women, and their families. Tune in to catch a glimpse of Linda’s work empowering people with the means to control their collective futures.
