WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — The Pollination Project has awarded a seed grant to Monmouth University Assistant Professor of Art and Design Kimberly Callas, creator of the project Discovering the Ecological Self.
The foundation awards $1,000 every day to persons it identifies as individual change-makers and activists worldwide working to make the world – or their own community – a better, more peaceful, just and more sustainable place. It is a platform for investing directly in committed people “who just need a little money to launch their social change vision.”
Callas describes Discovering the Ecological Self as a “social practice project,” designed to uncover humans’ deep relationship with nature through reflection on personally and culturally significant nature-based images and symbols. Participants explore symbols, such as mountains, caves, bees or honeycomb through various art-making techniques and seek to better understand personal and universal meanings.
In order to foster environmental stewardship and create environmental leaders, participants then take their newfound knowledge and create ways to share their discovery through art exhibits, performance and environmental actions. Callas is working on the project with Monmouth University students and middle school students through Aslan Youth Ministries, based in Red Bank, N.J.
“Thank you, Pollination Project, for believing in my work and the impact this work has on helping to heal the great disconnect between humans and nature,” said Callas. “This grant will help purchase the art supplies that we use to explore the nature-based images and symbols.”
The Pollination Project gives seed grants to projects that benefit people, the planet, and animals in areas like environmental sustainability, social justice, community health and wellness, arts, and education. To learn more, visit the Pollination Project.