Throughout the years, the Marion Institute has partnered with a variety of organizations to collaborate on philanthropic initiatives and inspirational events that leverage our collective strengths to more effectively reach our primary mission of turning great ideas into action – all around the world.
This month's newsletter features some of the fruits of those partnerships, from our flourishing relationship with GROW Education and local schools in New Bedford, MA to our recent Connector Series events on Lyme disease and climate change in which we joined multiple groups to create engaging, inspirational experiences for our attendees. We also act as a partner and incubator to our Greenhouse Initiatives, and this month we present S.A.F.E Kenya , a current fiscal sponsor project that is capitalizing on it's success and embarking on new challenges. Last, there's also some big news from two of our in-house programs, the SouthCoast Energy Challenge and the BioMed Network.
Big things are happening here at the Marion Institute, but we couldn't do it without our partners and supporters like YOU!
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A Series of Fortunate Events
Earlier this month, we welcomed Brendan Kelly, herbalist and author of The Yin and Yang of Climate Crisis, as the guest speaker of our events centered on the startling correlation between Lyme disease and climate change.
The series kicked off with an evening lecture on Thursday, June 1 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The event was well attended, particularly by many people who later indicated that they had never been to a Connector Series event before. They certainly chose the right event as an introduction to our thought-provoking programming. Brendan gave an informative and enlightening presentation centered on the Chinese medicine philosophy of Yin (water/cold/cool) and Yang (fire/hot/heat) and how the imbalance of our environment (both global and local) mirrors a similar overheating within us and within our culture. The audience participated eagerly in the Q&A portion of the lecture and many purchased copies of his book, which was available for signing at a post-event meet-and-greet.
To read the full recap of these engaging and highly informational events, please click here.
SECOND CHANCE TO HEAR BRENDAN KELLY!
The events were so well received that we hope to be able to bring Brendan back for more Connector Series events in the future. Don't want to wait until then? You can access the June 1 lecture in its entirety on SoundCloud by clicking the button below.
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Planting Roots in New Bedford
By Groundwork! blogger Steven Froias, for newbedfordcoworking.com/
It’s a simple and quiet thing yet also something profound. At schools throughout New Bedford, GROW Education is entering its third year of planting community gardens for the benefit of students and the neighborhoods around them. GROW Education is a project of the Marion Institute and it is spearheaded in New Bedford
by two great Groundwork! members - Adam Davenport and Zoe Hansen-DiBello.
On Tuesday night, May 23, I joined them and area residents at a community planting event at Carlos Pacheco Elementary School on Mt. Pleasant Street. We got our hands dirty planting tomatoes, kale, lettuce, hot peppers, beans and more in the raised beds on the south side of the school.To read the remainder of the article, click here.
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Keeping Women S.A.F.E.
An update on S.A.F.E Kenya, a current Marion Institute Fiscal Sponsor Project
Sponsored Arts for Education (or S.A.F.E.) uses street theater, film and community programs to educate, inspire and deliver social change across Kenya with a goal of informing and engaging locals on culturally taboo topics, such as Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision (FGM/C.)
The S.A.F.E Kenya team's objective has been to challenge the cultural norm that perpetuates the practice of the mutilation of young girls, most recently in the Loita Hills region of Kenya, which is home to approximately 40,000 people. The organization uses a combination of tactics to achieve their mission: public performances that create and spark a debate around the issue, workshops with targeted segments of the community for in-depth discussions, school health clubs for education and awareness, one-on-one meetings with community members and interventions with individual families who are planning to cut their daughters.
The organization has seen success in their efforts to abolish FGM/C and transition the community to the Alternate Rite of Passage (ARP); during the December 2016 cutting season, approximately 30% of girls in the community were spared the cut. The shift in attitudes has also exceeded expectations; even families that still cut their daughters are accepting that change is coming.
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The BioMed Network Welcomes BMINA!
The Marion Institute's welcomes our new program The Bioregulatory Medicine Institute of North America. Founded by Dr. James Odell, BMINA is designed to promote the science and art of biological regulatory medicine and to increase public knowledge of its history and current place in changing the current medical model. Check out the newly launched website, which will become an exciting hub for information and education for both practitioners and those in search of expanding their understanding of biological regulatory medicine.
In addition, BMINA is hosting its first biannual conference, Changing Medicine from the Inside with renowned speakers at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky, October 19 - 21, 2017! This two-day event will feature dynamic lectures, live case studies, and interactive discussions that dig into the latest in bioregulatory diagnostics and therapeutics – as well as excellent networking opportunities. Register today!
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SouthCoast Energy Challenge Forges New Partnerships in Mass Solar Connect Program
The SouthCoast Energy Challenge and Cape & Islands Self Reliance have collaborated with Pick My Solar as part of a Mass Solar Connect Program. Mass Solar Connect is a state campaign with the goal of increasing the installation of photovoltaic systems by partnering with Massachusetts non-profit groups in an outreach and education campaign coupled with competitive pricing.
We know how much work it is to get quotes and figure out what proposal is best for you when it comes to solar. Therefore, we are recommend using Pick My Solar’s website as a tool to make the process of getting quotes from solar companies much easier.
Pick My Solar’s online marketplace has reputable local solar companies compete for your business, providing you with three complete quotes for a system at your home. Your information will only be shared for a one-time purpose of getting you the best quotes, so you can make the best-informed decision.
Further, our partner, Self-Reliance is available to help you, as always, over the phone or in-person, to evaluate which quote would work best for you http://selfreliancefuelcoop.org/. To start the process of getting solar bids on your home, visit https://pickmysolar.com/solar-connect/.
Have questions?
Call or email Nicole at the Marion Institute (508) 748-0816 ext. 119 or nicole@marioninstitute.org.
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In addition to monetary donations, the Marion Institute would gladly accept the following new or gently-used items to help further our mission of supporting positive change and social good.
- Assorted Garden Tools for GROW Education
- Anti-Blue Light Screen Protectors
- Conference Room Chairs (Set of eight)
- Wall Display Monitor for Conference Room
Many of these items can be found on our Amazon Wishlist. As an added bonus, you can elect to have a portion of the purchase price go to the Marion Institute by using Amazon Smile. The Marion Institute is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit group and contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Thank you for your support!
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