ROOT & RISE newsletter

August 2021 Newsletter
 
ROOT & RISE

Dear family, friends, community members...whoever you may be:
 
Welcome and mahalo for your interest in the very beginnings of Root & Rise. From establishing Root & Rise as an official LLC, to imagining and goal-setting, to initiating community outreach and facilitating workshops, it's been a busy few months! There have been opportunities unveiled, doors closed, pivots taken, and visions revisited. All in all, Root & Rise is off to a strong start and continues to find its path.
 
My main take-away from the past few months has been a reminder of my commitment to mental health support and advocacy for those with limited access and means. I am also reminded: this is just the beginning. 
 
While we continue to develop and cultivate our land in South Kona as a site for therapeutic horticulture and beyond, we are slowly bringing visitors and groups to experience to profound peace of the forest and the ʻāina.
 
Please read on to learn about recent projects and upcoming plans for Root & Rise! 
 
With warmth and gratitude,
Aliza McKeigue
Founder & Facilitator

Visit Root & Rise website

Recent Projects

Grounding Arts Series -
Community Workshops in Nāʻālehu
 
In May, Root & Rise facilitated a 4-session workshop series at the Nāʻālehu Resilience Hub for the community at-large. It was a success, drawing an array of participants from keiki (kids) to kupuna (elders). The series focused on mindfulness and creativity to encourage self-care and community building.

To reach a wider audience, the series was recorded and distributed to 4000+ people through the Vibrant Hawai'i newsletter, as well as the Root & Rise social media network.
 
A big thank you to Vibrant Hawai'i for the sponsorship and Gwyn Dora Studios and our volunteers for filming!

Watch Grounding Arts Videos

View Grounding Arts Instructions

Nature: The Great Equalizer -
A Virtual Presentation

Ku'ikahi Mediation Center in Hilo sponsored a presentation by Root & Rise, titled "Nature: The Great Equalizer" in July.

Here's the scoop:
 
While intuitive at its core, there is mounting scientific evidence that humans benefit from interaction with nature. In this talk, we explored why nature eases anxiety, fear, and anger, and how our shared experience of the outdoors breaks down barriers and opens lines for communication. Practical ways to use nature as a facilitator for conflict prevention and resolution to create more harmonious relationships and communities. 

Watch Presentation

Upcoming Projects

Nature & Art As Therapy -
Free Group in Ocean View

Root & Rise is feeling a call to action in rural and diverse Ocean View. A goal of this group is to plant seeds for a long-term dream of Root & Rise -- to help develop thriving, integrative, and accessible community mental health services in Kaʻū to South Kona.
 
This group is free and open to all. 
 
If you are interested in supporting this group, please donate here.

Horticultural Therapy Sessions 
at The Kona Paradise Club

Are you familiar with "the clubhouse model" of psychosocial rehabilitation? Clubhouses are internationally recognized spaces for people with severe mental health challenges (referred to as members) to reintegrate into society, feel empowered and supported in recovery, and advocate for mental health awareness. Clubhouses offer vocational, social, and educational opportunities, and are run by and for the members. 
 
Root & Rise is honored and thrilled to be a part of The Kona Paradise Clubhouse, offering sessions to the members every other month. Our first session will take place in early October.

“Come to the woods for here is rest.“
– John Muir
 
Thank you for following Root & Rise!