The following note was sent to Wild Earth’s six core-staff (together referred to as the White Tail Deer Circle) after a recent Instructor Circle*:
At our last Instructor Circle, we sat by candlelight and shared sweet memories from our year. I feel like I really got to witness the breadth of our instructor body. Some of our newest members like Brandon and Tiffany really reminded me of the incredible uniqueness of our work culture and familial environment within the scope of the everyday workplace.
It was remarkable to see how the baton has been handed over to some of our emerging leaders like Stephanie and Katie, who have taken over crucial programming, allowing our leadership team to expand. And quite possibly the most touching of all was that the fire of passion and inspiration still lives and thrives in the eyes of some old timers like Stefanie, Dustin, and it’s never brighter than in me.
There is no place like Wild Earth and I’ve never felt so proud to be a part of this effort of cultivating connection and character within our community. Maternity leave is incredible so far but it’s going to be hard to stay away and I am so thankful for that.
The White Tailed Deer Circle is such a cornerstone to this magic I witness and I want to thank you all for your true voice, beautiful perspective and fearless vulnerability in leadership and connection. I love you all very, very much and look forward to many more seasons spent working beside you.
With love, admiration, and a whole lot of pregnancy hormones,
Esperanza
*One night of each month during the school year, our instructors get together for Instructor Circle where they build connections across our different programs and engage in discussion about best practices in the field while sharing a meal together.
Esperanza Gonzalez, Program DirectorEsperanza is, and has always been, a teacher at heart. From the early age of 8 she would hold play groups in her church and tend to the young children who would often disrupt the sermons. This passion to teach carried on through the years, bringing her to SUNY New Paltz where she received her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and History. While living in New Paltz, she merged her love for the outdoors, her passion for teaching and her organizational and entrepreneurial skills into many different educational programs. She has taught in various local schools, led theater groups, kids yoga, art programs and of course worked with Wild Earth in a number of programs. Her commitment to community connection has guided her community service work in jails, juvenile centers, Americorps, inner-city art programs, soup kitchens and many more volunteer based initiatives. She sees every child's potential and knows there is no better way to hold their blossoming than through the arts and the exploration of the natural world. More about Esperanza's work.
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big thanks to our business sponsors
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