This page is dedicated to those who are ready to roll up their sleeves and make a tangible impact through hands-on involvement. Below is a showcases active programs that offer direct, physical engagement opportunities for volunteers passionate about the health of those around them and all life within this place we call home. From native gardening to community clean-up events, citizen science, civic engagement, and educational workshops, this is where actions speak louder than words.
Everglades Everywhere challenges the illusory boundary between urban landscapes and the wonders of our Everglades that disconnects people from their home, ground and water all around them. This program underscores a profound truth that even within the city’s hustle and bustle we are all inextricably linked and part of our Everglades at every moment. Through the adoption of native plants and healthy landscaping practices, “Everglades Everywhere” empowers individuals and communities to transform urban spaces around them into vibrant life giving sanctuaries of their Everglades ecosystem, effectively reintroducing a healthier and more proactive quality of life into the urban matrix.
Our initiative is not just about beautification; it’s a bold statement of unity and interconnectivity, a practical demonstration that the essence of our Everglades can thrive in our backyards, balconies, and neighborhood parks. By embracing native flora and healthy gardening practices, we are not only enhancing urban biodiversity but also fostering an environment where the diversity of life and an urban matrix coexist harmoniously. “Everglades Everywhere” serves as a reminder that we are all part of our Everglades’ expansive ecosystem, and through our collective efforts, we can erase the imaginary divide, promoting a more inclusive understanding of our environment. Join us in this transformative movement, as we bring the spirit of the Everglades into every corner of our urban matrix, nurturing a seamless blend of nature and city life for future generations.
What we see influences how we view our reality and our place within this life. The cleanup efforts in our Everglades is about more than just cleaning up what we see; it’s about fostering a collective responsibility towards our surroundings and strengthening the relationships between ourselves as beings and our home. Join us in making a tangible difference one cleanup event at a time, and be a part of the movement dedicated to revitalizing our Everglades and in sequence, ourselves.
If you are able to make a donation to this program, please do so here and get an automatic tax deduction receipt!
Checks are also accepted and can be mailed to the address on our –
If you would like to make a donation of your time and volunteer with this program, please fill out our Engage with Us Form.
“Dirt On The City” is focused on recognizing, making more aware, and developing more of the “dirt” on our cities and communities at large. More than just a play on words, this program recognizes our relationship with the soil beneath our feet holding space for us each and every day. “Dirt On The City” is aimed at dramatically reimagining what many refer to as “dirt” or “waste” to instead be recognized as a resource.
At the heart of “Dirt On The City” lies a deep exploration into how soil impacts every facet of our lives – from the food we eat to the parks where our children play, from water around us and the air in our lungs. The program addresses the local impacts of soil on our quality of life to the broader concerns of greenhouse gas emissions impacting our global climate. This initiative recognizes soil as a crucial player in the health of our cultural and spiritual connections to all that is around us, and how our Everglades is the mother of these soils.
By collaborating closely with a network of champions, our calling is urgent to catalyze immediate action that embraces these vital system changes that induce healthy behaviors and soil regeneration throughout the communities of our Everglades. “Dirt On The City” is more than a program; it’s a call to action for all of us to take responsibility for the health of our lives, starting with the soil that sustains us. Together, we can turn current challenges into opportunities within these cities and the dirt on them we all see around us.
If you are able to make a donation to this program, please do so here and get an automatic tax deduction receipt!
Art with Plants is designed to bring the spirit of our Everglades directly to organizations, institutions, schools, and more. Through interactive workshops, we are together weaving stronger community bonds by introducing participants to the vibrant intersections of Everglades-inspired art. Both volunteers and participants of the hosting organization we partner with will learn about the critical roles native plants play in our ecosystem. Our team provides hands-on experiences that demonstrate how the beauty and biodiversity of the Everglades can be integrated into daily life, fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of this unique environment while gaining some nifty skills on how to foster plants both indoors and outdoors.
Whether we’re transforming a classroom into a canvas, or an office into a mini-habitat for native flora, “Art with Plants” is about creating tangible connections between healthy lifestyles and their home in our Everglades. Participants walk away with the inspiration and experience to make a positive impact on their community. Join us in spreading the message of healing through creativity and action, and see how Everglades will flourish in every corner of our lives.
If you are able to make a donation to this program, please do so here and get an automatic tax deduction receipt!
Jared Jacobs grew up in the diverse wetlands of the Midwest where the diversity of life around him painted a clear picture into his future. After beginning his education within the environmental sciences, it did not take him long to find a handheld home video camera to help him shed light and share the expansive diversity of Ohio wetlands to his classmates. His passion for water only grew in College where he became extremely involved with his colleagues and instructors researching, filming, increasing political and physical advocacy for the watersheds of Lake Erie. Receiving professional training from WBGU-PBS made landing his first independent video journalism project with the Great Lakes Water Keepers Alliance possible. He was well on his way to becoming a career advocate. Jared is now working in the heart of Miami building his skills as a storyteller and organizer within the Paradise Key Community helping solve climate issues alongside the city’s most progressive team of creatives, BeeFree Media. As a team Jared is part of Miami’s ascent into a more connected and sustainable South Florida Community.
Flash is a community organizer, art director, event manager, street promoter, poet and networking conduit. As an activist for progressive causes for over 25 years, Flash has demonstrated some unique talents to balance the dynamics of production, movement philosophy, team management and social outreach. Utilizing Art Activism as a platform for connecting social issues with artistic reflection. Flash produces events that instill solidarity with others through art, music, performance, education and creative interaction. The essence of Art Activism allows individuals to express themselves in a conscious format that transcends traditional boundaries to relate with others. This decentralization of expression shifts the power from the podium and reaches the vitality of the populace.
A born artist, Jean has been drawing since his earliest memories allow him to recall. Working mainly in the arena of oil paint, Jean has expanded into other mediums such as acrylic, spray, digital illustration, Animation, 3D modeling, even crafts and techniques utilizing a combination of those mediums. Jean’s work has turned to the realm of what he’s calling “Activation Art” with an emphasis on sound and color therapy. These skills have brought him into the film production industry where he does everything from direct, produce, film, interview and assist. Jean’s stories revolve around History, Culture and Environment here in South Florida. With several successful productions under his belt and more in the works, Jean continues gathering experience in this field.
Dudley Alexis is a graphic designer, artist, and filmmaker based in Miami, Florida. With a background as a former advertising executive, Dudley brings extensive experience in branding, web design, social media marketing, and market campaign development to his creative work. His diverse skill set allows him to craft compelling visual narratives and effective marketing strategies that engage and inspire audiences.
Robin Haines Merrill is an Artist-Missionary with 30 years of experience in the areas of faith-based and environmental stewardship, outreach and economic development. She serves as the Founder and Executive Director of the Christian Cultural Development Foundation (CCDF), a non-profit organization providing creative alternatives to people in prostitution, street children, HIV-AIDS patients, and human trafficking victims from around the world. CCDF has two non-profit businesses for its economic development projects: Mission Gifts, a Fair Trade retail store, and the Upper Room Art Gallery. Under her direction the gallery and gift shop have received several honors and awards including the Miami Knight Arts Challenge 2013, Gold Coast Magazine “Best of South Florida 2012”, the 2010 EDITORS CHOICE Award from South Florida Parenting Magazine, “Most Unique Gallery” from Kids Crown Awards, and “Best Art Gallery in Downtown Fort Lauderdale 2008” from GORiverwalk Magazine of the Riverwalk Trust.
Experienced Grants Administrator with a demonstrated history of working in the performing arts industry. Skilled in Event Management, Mac, Art Direction, Management, and Adobe Photoshop. Strong community and social services professional with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) focused in Photography from San Francisco Art Institute.
Aiyesha is a multidisciplinary Remote Sensing and Geospatial graduate student and professional with a unique blend of traditional and non-traditional expertise. Passionate about the intersections of technology and humanity in emerging climate contexts, Aiyesha focuses on humane UX/UI, machine learning, and AI applications for Big Data in Coastal, Island Archipelagic, and Transoceanic Geospatial Research. With a strong interest in cultural resilience and environmental adaptation, her work leverages advanced tools like Google Earth Engine, Python, R, ArcPro, and QGIS/Orpheus. She is also FAA Part 107 certified as a Remote Pilot-In-Command.
Houston R. Cypress grew up in the swamps of the Florida Everglades, blazing trails through the bush. The endangered beauty of the natural environment made such an impression on him during his childhood – being a refuge for his ancestors and the source of traditional plant medicines – that he grew to find ways to articulate strategies for preserving this World Heritage Site.Art, conflict management, facilitation, multimedia communications, gender diversity and spirituality are some of the disciplines and priorities that he contributes through his collaborations with the following organizations):
