Earth/Work: Artists & Sustainable Living feat. Carl Stafford

Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 2:00-3:00 PM

Earth/Work is a conversation series featuring individuals creating sustainable lives—radically reimagining our connection and use of our planet. Audiences will hear short, informal presentations about what led each speaker to embark on their creative paths and what keeps them moving forward. Participation, discussion, and questions encouraged.

The second speaker in the series is Carl Stafford. Born and raised on the west side of District Five in Kansas City, Missouri, Carl Stafford is the founder and visionary of MY REGION WINS! (MRW!), a non-profit whose mission is to transcend everyday challenges by using the arts to nurture creative and undeveloped ideas that shape society. His vision is to have art and nature be instrumental in addressing environmental and social injustice issues.

Stafford’s work includes transforming blighted areas into vibrant native plant gardens, organic gardening, coaching, speaking, restoring, and advocating. His goal is to revive the west side of KC’s District 5 by using natural resources as assets, generating revenue to compensate residents with the aim for neighborhoods to become self-sustaining economies. His work on Boon Area 1 an environmental artwork installation that also acts as a community garden, was a 2022 recipient of the Charlotte Street Foundation Cultural Producer Grant.

In 2021, Carl Stafford was recognized as an “Innovator to Watch” by Grinnell College for his efforts to rectify damage created by redlining, systematic divesting, and environmental degradation in Kansas City.

Stafford is a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute in New Media.

EARTH/WORK SPEAKERS

March 11 – Matthew and Tia Regier of Matfield Green, Kansas

March 25 – Carl Stafford of My Region Wins!

April 8 – Brooke Salvaggio of Urbavore Farm and Compost Collective

April 22 – Ryan Tenney of Sankara Farm

Earth/Work: Artists & Sustainable Living is organized by Elizabeth Stehling Snell in partnership with the Charlotte Street Foundation.