February 2010 Bartimaeus Institute
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February 2010 Ecojustice Institute: A Photo Essay
You can’t save a place you don’t love. You can’t love a place you don’t know. You can’t know a place about which you haven’t learned.
--opening theme of the February Bartimaeus Institute
This was one of our most energetic Institutes yet. Thirty participants studied Luke’s gospel, the Ojai Valley watershed and the life and witness of Sr. Dorothy Stang. Two thirds of the participants were women, and 2/3 under age 35—trends we find encouraging! Highlights included:
Sisters Roseanne Murphy and Judi Clemens represented Dorothy’s order, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and brought wonderful, engaging energy. The Sisters shared personal stories after we watched the film They Killed Sr. Dorothy. Institute artist Meg Lemieur did sketches during the week as themes were discussed, culminating in a portrait of Sr. Dorothy made out of natural material (left; right, the Sisters with Meg).
On Wednesday we took field trips to Nopalitos Native Nursery and Sycamore Canyon (right), before being hosted at the Abundant Table Farm Project in Camarillo, where we ate delicious food out of their CSAgarden (left).
Guest speakers Don Seawater, an urban forester, and Calvert Foundation social investment animator Art Stevens stimulated our horizons of imagination.
Institute musician Jay Beck got us chanting and drumming throughout the week (right with Christy Rose & David Omondi).
After Elaine’s stimulating talk on restoring the Ventura River, a raucous Thursday night banquet ensued at our home. (Left: One of Meg’s sketches.)
You can read Steve Clemens’ reflections on the week at www.mennonista.blogspot.com. Thanks to all the participants and helpers who made this week possible! There was so much enthusiasm that we are considering doing an ecojustice gathering once a year!