TAMIU Annual Report 2021

GARDEN YIELDS GROWTH, PLENTIFUL HARVEST FOR ALL The small, but fruitful permaculture installation otherwise known as the TAMIU Garden has taken shape this year thanks to the efforts of its volunteers, student workers and University staff members. Located behind the Kinesiology Wellness and Recreation Center, various crops are grown year-round utilizing organic methods that contribute to a clean and flavorful harvest. Christopher Segovia, special program aid with the College of Arts and Sciences, spearheads TAMIU Garden initiatives, with the help of over 15 regular volunteers. “We have also germinated and grown well over 500 plants from seed during the 2021 season, and hope to double this the following year,” said Segovia. Between 150-180 lbs. of vegetables were gathered and donated to local community entities like Holding Institute and the Laredo Community Fridge, in addition to campus dining services. This year alone, the TAMIU Garden received an estimated 200 visitors. Initially, the TAMIU Garden grew from a 2016 pilot program that saw students build a garden behind the Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center. That effort grew substantially with acquiring its current 8000-square foot space. The TAMIU Garden has been growing ever since and today affords innovative opportunities for students and community members alike. These efforts included a family-friendly Pumpkin Painting activity, plant-inspired artwork installations on campus, a dedicated web site and a monthly column in The Laredo Morning Times’ Dvino Magazine. As part of this year’s World Teachers Day celebration, TAMIU’s College of Education participated in an outreach opportunity that spanned from Laredo to Australia. College of Education students joined as potential co-founders of a new democratic system of education aimed at addressing educational inequity, in partnership with the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME), a global non-profit headquartered in Australia. A video of their meeting is available at go.tamiu.edu/aime . Students, including members of the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE), joined AIME’s latest initiative to transform the face of education through IMAGI-NATION {University}, which represents a network of change-organizers working to solve the biggest challenges facing our planet. “Our goal is for our students and TAFE members to not only finish school and transition into university, but to seize control of their own internal narratives as educators and educational leaders and help future students fully realize the potential each has. Together, they will share a challenge of organizing change throughout 2022 by mobilizing 100 other students to become mentors and, in turn, inspire 100 local high school students to nurture a new, transformative mindset that’s focused on addressing educational inequity…,” said Dr. James O’Meara, College of Education dean. The celebration of World Teachers Day took place throughout The Texas A&M University System’s 13 campuses. TAMIU GOES GLOBAL WITH CELEBRATION OF WORLD TEACHERS DAY Dr. Christian Faltis, Dr. Filiz Shine, and Dr. James O’Meara. OUTREACH 31