RESILIENCY AND RE-ENTRY

THE LIFE OF A SEED

AN ONLINE WEB SERIES AND VIRTUAL PROGRAM

“When we engage the earth, we engage ourselves”

What does re-entry mean? How are we resilient through painful experiences? In 2020, we came together to create a community-serving garden experience, with a special intention to support individuals who are going through “reentry” after incarceration or other traumatic life experiences. 

ABOUT THIS PROGRAM

We follow the “life of a seed” and listen to the wisdom of plants to understand healing, community, belonging and social change. Initially, our plan was for an in-person community program to build a rooftop garden and a ground level garden for the community of West Adams to access fresh food and healing herbs. The covid-19 pandemic forced us to change our plans, and to contemplate, even more than we expected, the true meaning of resilience. 

Together, we created a 6-part video series documenting the process of developing a garden and exploring the “life of a seed” through reflections, dialogue and writing prompts to engage the viewer is what Life has to show us about healing in re-entry. 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM

This is a self-guided virtual program. 

  • You are invited to view the series at your own pace. 

  • Each episode contains both practical gardening insights and reflections on the theme of resiliency and reentry. 

  • Each episode ends with prompts for writing or creative expression to explore.

  • We would love to see or read what you create, if you would like to share! You can email us at mmconnect@mccartychurch.org. 

  • The video series explores:

    • Resiliency and Re-entry

    • Recovery from Prisons and Police Violence

    • Emotional Support for Formerly Incarcerated People

    • Interconnectedness

    • Food Justice

    • Food as Medicine 

    • Healing Through Writing and Narrative

    • Gardening and Plant Care

    • Healthy Soil, Climate Change and Urban Agriculture


BUILDING THE WEST ADAMS RESILIENCY GARDEN

The West Adams Resiliency Garden at McCarty Memorial Christian Church has a groundlevel, soil-based Healing Garden of native and medicinal plants, and will soon have a rooftop, aeroponic food garden. The intention of the gardens is to support formerly incarcerated people with community and healing, and support the resiliency of the West Adams neighborhood through increased social connectedness, healthy food access, environmental empowerment and community green space.

MEET OUR RESILIENCY COUNCIL

TOBIAS TUBBS is Co-Founder of Urban City Farms, and Co-Founder of Create Good Ventures, a Public Benefit Company Dedicated to the creation, investing and advising on supporting healing and liberation for reentering citizens and all people. He also co-authored Human (2017), a book aiming to break the criminal stigma and dehumanization of people incarcerated. After 28 years in prison, Tubbs, sentenced to life in prison without parole, was released October 2018 when Former Governor Jerry Brown commuted his sentence. His work with Words Uncaged continuously tackles prison prevention, re-entry and transitioning by implementing programs and art galleries that engage the philosophy of narrative therapy. Currently, Tubbs is the facilitator of Narrative Therapy Based Reentry Healing and Collaboration Circles that offers a communal space for reentry people to discuss their struggles and successes through Urban Based Narrative Therapy. As an artist, Tobias is also a gardener and landscaper. 

BRENDAN WILSON is a sixth-generation Californian from a landscaping family.  He studied Architecture at SCI-Arc, and after graduating, embarked upon a self-employed career in landscape design, installation, and maintenance, working with numerous collaborators and partners. He enhanced the beauty of many properties with features such as raised beds, brick and stonework, trellises,  water features, and outdoor lighting. His specialties include xeriscaping, urban food gardens, composting, maximizing space for vegetable crops, greywater systems. 

PASTOR EDDIE ANDERSON is a social activist and ordained minister, currently serving the historic McCarty Memorial Christian Church located in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles. He also works as a community organizer for LA Voice(PICO). Pastor Anderson is an active advocate for Black Lives Matter, a convener and Co-Chair of the New Poor People's Campaign in California and is a Bethany and Preston Taylor Fellow. He serves on the Board of Directors for  Claremont School of Theology, Crossroads for Women Inc, Eastmont Community Center and Progressive Christians Uniting raising the voices of those who are forced to live along the margins of society. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.

RAVEN MORGAN 

CLARE ANDERSON-FOX is a longtime advocate for food justice and food system reform. She served as Executive Director of the Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC) between 2015-2020, and started with the organization at its inception in 2010. While there, Clare led numerous programs and policy campaigns to expand access to healthy food in low-income neighborhoods, support community businesses, expand urban agriculture, improve school food, legalize street food and build grassroots leadership for a food justice movement. She is now Vice-President of Strategic Partnerships for Everytable, a food company with a mission to make healthy food affordable for all. She oversees Everytable's partnerships with government, colleges, hospitals, businesses and nonprofits seeking institutional food services. She is also "First Lady" of McCarty Memorial Christian Church, and a believer that God offers us healing in being connected to the earth.

JAIMYON PARKER is an actor, filmmaker, writer, and graphic/web designer.

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

This project was made possible by a generous grant from the US Green Building Council-LA Legacy Project. USGBC-LA is about people – Passionate, practical, and informed professionals and advocates who work together to transform Southern California into a more sustainable region for all. Our members and volunteers believe in creating a more sustainable built environment through education, innovation, and impactful action.

WORD UNCAGED is a creative platform, created by the men of A-Yard California State Prison, Lancaster, and CalState LA professor Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. Its purpose is for incarcerated artists, writers, students and poets to dialogue and critically engage with you.

MCCARTY MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH/ FOOD JUSTICE COMMITTEE - As a church, our mission is to embody the love of Jesus, connect the community and advocate for social justice. Our Food Justice Committee works to transform our South Los Angeles neighborhood from a “food desert” to a “food oasis” where all neighbors have access to healthy, affordable food, grown with respect to people and the planet.