FIELD NOTES: October 7, 2016
This post is the first in a series of behind-the-scenes notes written by RCP staff and volunteers intended to update friends of RCP on the status of our projects and activities. Want to know more? Sign up for our newsletter or email us at info@therichcoastproject.org
It's Friday, October 7, 2016. Today marks one week since we've been back in Puerto Viejo, and oh what a busy week it has been! Even before we reached the coast, we were hard at work representing the Rich Coast Project in San Jose - our arrival to Costa Rica was even mentioned on the University's radio station (Radio U 101.9 FM). Things only sped up once we reached the coast: on our first morning in town we were already gathering stories through our Bush-Fah-Story event. We spent most of the week catching up individually with friends, collaborators and partners, and setting plans for the upcoming South Caribe Roots Archive 2017 Calendar and the IU Media School podcasting project.
Below are the highlights of the past week of activities:
Katie and David Return to Costa Rica
After several months spent strengthening existing partnerships and forging new collaborations in the United States, Katie and David returned to Costa Rica for another round of community projects in Caribe Sur. This trip marks Katie's 11th entry into Costa Rica, where she will spend the next two months developing the South Caribe Roots Archive with local partners and preparing for the Alternative Thanksgiving Break service learning trip with students from the Media School at Indiana University.
Want to support Katie in her fieldwork? Donate to the GOFUNDME campaign now!
Meeting at University of Costa Rica
Before returning to the coast, Katie and David met with a communications professor at the University of Costa Rica to explore possible collaborations in the year ahead. They began making plans for a 2017 TCU and service learning trip to Puerto Viejo for Costa Rican communications students.
RCP Student Advisory Board
We put out a call for applications to our newly formed Student Advisory Board. The RCP Student Advisory Board provides an opportunity for students to be involved in the direction of RCP’s community programs and service learning trips. The Board will be comprised of past participants of the RCP Volunteers program who have demonstrated dedication to the mission of the Rich Coast Project and commitment to active citizenship. The Student Advisory Board serves as an advisory body to the Director and Board of the Rich Coast Project, and bring a student perspective to organizational decisionmaking.
Bush Fah Story Event with Hidden Garden
Last Friday we joined students of the Hidden Garden's Traditional Latino Herbal Medicine for a morning of learning from local community members about the bush medicine they grew up with. Departing from the Bio Mercado, the street team carried a cart of typical plants around town and offered them for free in exchange for a story about the plant. Contributors included Albert "Turci" Luis, Carolina Humphreys Miller, Victor Umaña Palmer, and Erciana Humphreys. Thank you to our volunteers and to the Hidden Garden for help coordinating this #Community #Collaboration.
Thank you for your interest in the Rich Coast Project. We will write again soon with another update, as the weeks ahead are sure to be just as full as the one we just finished!
Katie Beck (RCP Founder & Director)