WHAT: Participating youth will experience a safe, supportive, respectful, and stimulating community following Indigenous ways. They learn from a wide range of guest teachers about plants, food/body connections, and culture.
SPONSORS: Thanks to our 2024 Major Sponsors: EarthBondU, Bryan Health, Humanities Nebraska, Jeffery and Rebecca Stark Trust, Runza, and Intertribal Spiritual Lodges.
QUESTIONS: Contact us at [email protected] for more information about being on staff, being a sponsor, or donating meals or supplies.
COC I. Roots to Rise (RTR): COC Founder & Director: Freedom Thompson/Director Administrator: Dr. Stephanie Bondi
- Roots to Rise is a multi-dimensional cultural art, humanities, and environmental land connection studies program designed to reach, ignite and uplift all children and youth in our community.
- Providing de-colonizing, culturally responsive Indigenous pedagogy outdoors, Roots to Rise aims to empower holistic health and wellness, and reinforce myriad life and academic skills, with promoting a positive future construct—all led by BIPOC peer mentors and qualified adults.
- By providing a safe space to enhance creativity and self-identity through art, humanities, and environment, Roots to Rise bridges gaps, creates pathways to connection, and uplifts youth holistically.
- Roots to Rise nourishes Indigenous and all community youth through healthy sustenance and sustainability. We do this by providing connections to the land, environment, art, and Indigenous wisdom. All nourishing efforts support a more human/earth healthy and biodiverse future.
- Roots to Rise provides a safe, inclusive, stimulating environment all year including a week-long summer camp to secure connections with self and others in the world of art, humanities, environmentalism land connections, and language.
2023 Major Institutional Sponsors ($500+)
- Ponca Tribe of Nebraska,
- EarthBondU,
- Humanities Nebraska,
- Jeffery and Rebecca Stark Trust,
- Open Harvest Co-op Seed Program,
- Runza, and
- Intertribal Spiritual Lodges