ccording to the Flow Theory, you reach a state of mind PROViDE holds that ecologically sustainable programs enhance considered to be in “flow” when your passions and disaster-affected communities, and more importantly, individuals devotion are so connected with what you are doing, and their offspring. that the action seems automatic. Kristopher Young M.A. ’11 “Further, an integral element to truly helping those in need is clearly demonstrates that his role as Founder and Executive investing people in their own recovery. This ensures that proDirector of PROViDE, Participatory Response Offering Vitality grams will continue far into the future and synthesizes traditional in Devastated Environments, affords him the tranquility of genknowledge and technical expertise. uine flow. “PROViDE has turned into a way to fill the glaring void Prior to arriving at Prescott College, Kris was attending to between emergency disaster response and long-term develophis passions of wildlife–urban interfaces while working for ment in a sustainable and ecological way … although I still Davey Resource Group, leading a team that vaccinated over haven’t made any money doing it yet! 10,000 trees in New York City in an effort against the Asian “I am still learning how to run an organization, and I’ve long-horned beetle. While in NYC, Kris made a connection learned that much more than just fulfilling our mission is with a group from Sri Lanka called the Foundation of entailed in running PROViDE, or any organization for that Goodness. matter.” Incorporation, the IRS, building and Kris worked with the managing a board of directors, accounting, marketFoundation of Goodness in ing—the list goes on. Sri Lanka throughout 2007 Kris has recently been focusing efforts of the assisting in the creation of a organization in Haiti following the January 2010 “Green Team” of youth work7.0 magnitude earthquake there. ing to protect the environ“Now that much of the short-term, temporary ment, and other efforts relief has subsided, it is time to begin the long climb including subsistence agriculthat will provide Haiti with solutions to sustainably ture, ecopreneurship, and combat their ongoing issues of food security, ecoother small livelihood projects nomic wellbeing, lack of access to healthcare and designed with and supported education, as well as sturdy and affordable shelter.” by locals. He wanted to do The Sustainability more of the same, so he creatCouncil at Prescott College ed PROViDE. has helped fund much of “I decided that the time this work. “Many faculty, had come to gain more theostaff, and students have retical knowledge to support what expressed great interest in would be PROViDE’s mission to offer our work and have given long-term ecological solutions to stimume great moral support late struggling economies in areas of through my tenure at developing nations recovering from disPrescott College.” Kris sees aster,” Kris explains. “It was important PROViDE and Prescott for me to find a program that would College working more allow me to continue my studies while closely in the future, espeworking from anywhere in the world.” cially by providing Prescott Kristopher Young at Shalom Institute, 2011 By joining the inaugural graduate College students with servteaching assistantship program class ice learning opportunities (GTAP), Kris was able to coat one of PROViDE’s teach undergraduate courses in project sites in Haiti or Sri Lanka. “My studies at Prescott College supported Fire Ecology, Restoration According to Kris, project developthe theory of PROViDE, whereas my work Ecology, and Social ments are gaining momentum through with PROViDE is the praxis of my studies.” Entrepreneurship while working donations and small grants, and a steady – Kristopher Young toward his master’s degree. In interest in volunteer opportunities. “I am May of 2011, Kris finished a Thesis on the need for disasterhopeful and confident that within the next five years I will be affected people to participate in their own recovery, and able to focus entirely on PROViDE as a career that compensates received a degree in Sustainable Disaster Management and me and the efforts I have made.” Development. “I started PROViDE selfishly, wanting to gain fulfillment Learn more about PROViDE at www.provide4life.org or find while traveling and making a little money, but it has turned into PROViDE on Facebook. something much larger.” Kris believes that PROViDE is working toward the greater good of society by focusing their efforts on those in society who are perpetually overlooked, or worse, exploited. Secondly, Tree nursury, La Ferme Blanchard, 2011
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Transitions Spring 2012
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