HSP sits down with Shalitha Peaches “Shy” of White Mountain Apache to discuss ethnobotany and the impacts and importance of the continuation of cultural knowledge.

Today, three-fourths of the world's flowering plants and 35% of the world's crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. Pollinators are fundamental for maintaining the balance and health of our ecosystem, as they support biodiversity and provide a multitude of environmental benefits. However, many pollinators, such as moths, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and bats, are in trouble due to habitat loss, parasites, climate change, and environmental contaminants. It is crucial that we implement changes and take care of our environment.

Empowerment Theory informs all of our programming at HSP, but what is it exactly and how do we use it? Empowerment Theory is often used in social work and its goal is to empower people and communities to gain personal, interpersonal, and political power to better their lives and aims to challenge the existing institutions and systems that act in opposition to these groups.

Volunteering abroad is a great way to make an impact in the lives of people and communities around the globe, but it can be easy to fall into the trap of “voluntourism.” Without proper safeguards and intentional planning, many voluntourism trips may do more harm than good – resulting in exploitative practices and tokenizing local communities. 

The legacy of Native American boarding schools is rooted in a long history of oppression and injustice. Native American boarding schools – which were often run by Christian missionaries – were designed to assimilate indigenous children into the dominant white culture, stripping them of their language, traditions, and culture. The impact of this system of assimilation has been devastating for generations of Native Americans who were subjected to this oppressive form of education. It is essential that we recognize the systemic racism that enabled the establishment and continuous operation of these boarding schools – and work together to address the flaws of the system. 

Global warming directly impacts the environment, and a decrease in carbon emissions is essential. The temperature is predicted to increase by 1.5 degrees celsius by 2050. It’s very clear that we need to find efficient ways to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere annually, the question is how. 

In the hills and rolling valleys of the Appalachian region, a musical tradition was born, drawing on the diverse influences of Scottish, Irish, and English immigrants, as well as the soulful rhythms of African-American blues and gospel music. Known as bluegrass, this stirring expression of the shared struggles and joys of those who call these hills home arose in the early 20th century, a symbol of resilience and resistance in the face of poverty, limited opportunities, and environmental destruction wrought by extractive industries.