We are water, We are the air in our lungs, the fire connecting concepts between synapses within our skulls, we are the dirt between our toes on a calm cloudy day and we are as sacred as Everglades, and Everglades is all of us.
Love The Everglades Movement invites you to join us as we Give the Water the Respect it deserves.Here’s a brief overview of our activities:
We are doing this practice using all the tools available to us — this is our Full Spectrum approach. These tools include the arts, spiritual activities, political organizing, scientific research, event production, and policy advocacy at all levels of society.
Our work grew out of airboat excursions into the Everglades and we plan to continue that — how can people care, if they’ve never been to the Everglades? So, we offer unique encounters with the local indigenous communities (Miccosukee, Seminole, Miccosukee-Simanolee), share important ecological information, and interact with the plants and animals of the River of Grass.
Through our partnerships with local organizations, we’ve participated in Art Exhibitions, Film Festivals, a Poetry Workshop, Benefit Concerts, and eclectic Symposia, since our work began in December 2012.
Our community of volunteers and supporters have been able to build relationships with the Press and Media so that we can bring attention to Poor Water Quality, Invasive Species, challenges engaging Multi-Cultural Communities, and Environmental Justice.
Ultimately, we want to see the Everglades treated in a mindful manner — for people to speak Everglades, act Everglades, build, eat, and interact with the Everglades in a respectful manner. Right now it’s normal to disregard the Everglades (it doesn’t even come up!). We envision a South Florida that has Normalized a Love for the Everglades.
Coordination Circles are a collection of diverse, community-driven groups committed to weaving together the fabric of our collective efforts in support of cultural, environmental, and social harmony. Each circle plays a vital role in fostering collaboration, innovation, and meaningful action within and beyond our watershed. From guiding strategic vision with ancestral wisdom to amplifying local voices through storytelling and embracing technological advancements with intention and enhanced morality, these circles embody the spirit of shared responsibility and love for our community. Together, they serve as the heart of our movement, driving impactful change through inclusive engagement, creative expression, and the pursuit of sustainable, equitable futures for all.
The Social Weaving Coordination Circle works with all the colors of our community to weave and patch together the fabric of our culture through thoughtful event production, community engagement, and volunteer coordination. This circle is dedicated to creating spaces where community members can connect, share, and grow together. This circle facilitates those meaningful interactions and builds a supportive network that enables and supports the actions inspired by our love. They also like to party.
The Sovereign Nations Advisory Circle sits as a guiding force for this movement echoing the love of our Everglades. The circle is dedicated exclusively to people raised within a culture whose way of life and integrated weaving of being has fully naturalized within and as part of our watershed since time immemorial. The vision, insights, and priorities of this circle direct the overarching strategies of all other committees and the board itself. By deferring to the Sovereign Nations Advisory Circle, our organization recognizes the critical role of these communities in leading efforts that impact their ancestral territories.
From traditional art and painting to digital platforms, films, and interactive installations, every medium is a conduit for sharing the unique experiences and perspectives of life and Everglades love. The circle’s creative endeavors serve to recognize and respect the diversity of life within our watershed while inspiring action and fostering a deep sense of belonging and love. Through artistic expressions, this circle amplifies local voices, ensuring that the community’s narrative evolves as dynamically and vibrantly as all life and light shimmering on the water.
This circle embodies the forward-moving energy of a wave cresting towards the future working with all emerging and advanced innovations. This collective comprehends that technology only works for those whom it is designed for and has access to it while wedging all others further from self-determination and sovereignty. The Wave Riders circle is dedicated to flowing with the evolution of innovation by enhancing access and empowering people within our watershed to utilize these new tools and design their functionality to adapt within their own unique culture and way of life.
This dynamic group is composed of deeply rooted local experts, including policy analysts, environmental and urban planners, architects, engineers, specialists in land-use law, landscape architects, foresters, park managers, and civic organizers. Each member brings a profound local understanding and commitment to their roles, enriching the group’s capacity to address specific regional matters. Together, they focus on creating integrated, practical actions that honor local contexts and leverage collective expertise that ensures efforts are both effective and inexplicably linked to the community’s needs and aspirations.
This circle brings together a diverse group of activists, artists, leaders, scientists, tribal members, sociologists, policy experts, and various relational experts who reside beyond our local watershed. Each member brings unique insights and expertise, enriching the collective knowledge and strategies through shared learning and collaboration. The group is dedicated to a reciprocal exchange of ideas and resources, ensuring that every participant can both contribute to and benefit from the collective wisdom.
Mimicking a healthy wetland or coral reef, this circle is comprised of colorful delegates representing our local community’s diversity of organizations, businesses, and alliances. This group is dedicated to strengthening the strong bonds between us by enhancing the mutual support and benefits that can be achieved through collective action. By working together, the Circle aims to leverage the diverse strengths and resources of each organization, enhancing our capacity to serve the community effectively. The focus is on fostering symbiotic synergies and strategic collaborations that amplify impact, ensuring that all organizations involved can thrive and contribute to our shared objectives.
We also rely on the following Consultants to give us advice on specific matters, including advanced research on Social Movements and Strategy; Legal Affairs; Communications Strategy; and Spiritual Concerns; etc.
Robin Haines Merrill is an Artist-Missionary with 30 years of experience in the areas of faith-based…
Dudley Alexis is a graphic designer, artist, and filmmaker based in Miami, Florida. With a backgroun...
Aiyesha is a multidisciplinary Remote Sensing and Geospatial graduate student and professional with …
Experienced Grants Administrator with a demonstrated history of working in the perf..
A born artist, Jean has been drawing since his earliest memories allow him to recall. Wor..
Houston R. Cypress grew up in the swamps of the Florida Everglades, blazing trails through the..
Flash is a community organizer, art director, event manager, street promoter, poet and networking..
Jared Jacobs grew up in the diverse wetlands of the Midwest where the diversity of life aro..
We welcome everyone to contribute in whatever ways they feel is appropriate for their situation – artistically, administratively, financially, spiritually, etc. If you feel called to assist us in doing this work, Please fill out this form to share with us your interests and ability to support active programs or join a specific Coordination Circle, or share ideas of your own.
Volunteering with Love The Everglades Movement is choosing to take action towards healing and enhancing our communities, our Earth, each other and ourselves through love. Welcome to our family.
Thank you very much to those people who have previously served the Coordination Circle, and the Board of Directors.
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.
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.
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):
