Nature’s Friends Cuba Tour 2015
Intro of Nature’s Friends Cuba Tour 2015 by Founder, Rev. Dele
Preparing African American communities for climate resilience is groundbreaking work. The two years of hard work required to bring this trip into reality was softened by the many auspicious events that surrounded our experience. In July President Obama re-established diplomatic ties with Cuba, ending 53 years of broken relations that began during the Eisenhower administration. In September, the Pope visited Cuba, bringing with him torrential rains that seemingly ended a dry spell, which has drained the country’s reservoirs.
We arrived on the shore just as hurricane Joaquin (category 3) was turning back out to sea. Our inland greeting from Mother Nature was a full horizon rainbow, seen from afar in our tour bus; seen from underneath as we drove through and seen in retrospect as we arrived in Havana from the Matanzas region. In these events we can see human hearts opening up and the heavens responding in kind. Just as in the book of Genesis, the condition of the earth followed the condition of human hearts. What a blessed feeling that God’s symbol of covenant was embracing our mission of regenerating Mother Earth!
We found the Cuban people as warm as the climate. The strength of their communities was nurtured by the political jurisdictions, and education was formalized in many aspects of everyday life. This summary report outlines the salient features of a comprehensive experience. The full report is available during report back sessions and you may see photos at naturesfriends.coop. Thank you for your love!
Peace and Blessings, Rev. Dele (November 13, 2015)
Purpose
Nature’s Friends and the Eco Cuba Network invited leaders and students in communities of color, and allies, to an international conversation to review policies and practices that comprise sustainability in our neighborhoods. Rev. Dele, founder of Nature’s Friends, will use the resulting observations in strategies to bring food and faith communities closer together and strengthen their effectiveness in preparation for climate changes.
This prophetic mission work is intended to strengthen our competence in food sovereignty so that we have abundance in times of famine.”
Psalm 37:19
Outcomes of Nature’s Friends Cuba Tour
- Nature’s Friends has initiated a global food sovereignty network including food producers and faith communities.
- The Episcopal Church of Cuba has invited Rev. Dele to train churches in climate science and to produce an ecology program ending with a mandala on the grounds of the downtown cathedral.
- Antonio Nunez Jimenez Foundation for Humanity and Nature (FANJ) is interested in sharing their cadre of permaculture teachers with church networks in the United States and supervising mission delegations to Cuba. Partnership with the Eco-Cuba Network can provide travel support to achieve this goal.
- Matanzas representative of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the People (ICAP) is committed to facilitating Nature’s Friends activities in Cuba.
Overview
Over the course of nine days, 15 people from New York, New Hampshire, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Tampa, Chicago, San Francisco and Oakland came to know each other in meaningful ways through dialogue, visiting cultural and agricultural venues in Havana and the Matanzas regions of Cuba, and sharing the excitement and challenges of a new culture.
The North America Department of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the People (ICAP) received us in the Havana office and the Matanzas representative accompanied us on the tour throughout her region. The first two days were devoted to visiting historical sites in Old Town Havana while learning the mission of several community based arts organizations. Each organization had a targeted population they were serving in holistic ways. Leaders repeatedly emphasized the difference between their work and the mission of the public arts schools.
Mid-way through the tour Rev. Dele formed support groups around each of the five farms represented on the tour. She led permaculture design consultations and strategy discussions to address farm labor and income concerns. Participants then began to study our eating experiences through the eyes of a supplier in addition to being consumers. Our exploration of the health care system revealed the importance of free health care as a basic support of sustainability.
The Antonio Nunez Jimenez Foundation for Humanity and Nature (FANJ) hosted a roundtable discussion of sustainability reviewing historical, socio-political and economic components. Yoan Jesus Guerrero Gutierrez, FANJ’s international director, noted that the diversity of our delegation reflected the primary goal of their founder-Antonio Nunez Jimenez. Then Yociel Marrero Baez, director of the Metropolitan Parks project led an educational tour of the Almendares river cleanup project. The watershed tour highlighted the novel integration of neighborhoods within the Metropolitan National Parks and the discovery of a new protocol in constructing wetlands for the tropics. Caridad Cruz, affectionately known as “Cari”, briefed us on Earth wisdom, the cultural nuances of permaculture in Cuba and projections for continued instruction across the country.
The Matanzas Seminary (SET) graciously provided our delegation with a farm to table experience. Secretary Chavela inspired us with a parable about the strength of the butterfly and a resounding exhortation that “churches need to call people back to the land!”
Partners
Antonio Nunez Jimenez Foundation for Humanity & Nature (FANJ)
We are a non-governmental civil organization, non-profit, continuing the legacy of Dr. Antonio Nunez Jimenez through research and development programs and activities that promote a culture of values towards nature in local, national and international levels.
Mission
Continuing the legacy of Dr. Antonio Nunez Jimenez work for a Culture of Nature in order to harmonize the society and environment.
View
A Cuban society with a developed environmental consciousness that recognizes nature as a part of their identity.
A recognized organization, experience and ability to work, committed to the Cuban society and the world in solving environmental problems, with a view to integrate the sociocultural dimension.
Beginning
- Defense of universal and national environmental values.
- Promotion of research related to the institutional mission.
- Expand and strengthen working relationships with national and international institutions related to its mission.
- Inclusion of environmental issues in the field of Culture.
- Sensitive to community work.
- Highlight the cultural dimension in projects that promote sustainable development in Cuba.
Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples
ICAP is a social organization founded on December 30, 1960 for the purpose of promoting and explaining to the peoples of the world the relations of solidarity that sparked the Cuban Revolution. ICAP is the vehicle to reach around the glove to people who are in solidarity, while representing the Cuban people, and delivering a strong message that solidarity not only benefits Cuba but the peoples of the world who are aspiring to promote the idea that a better world is possible for all.
U.S. Institutional Partners
- Eco Cuba Network (see more about our trip with the Eco Cuba network here)
- Eco-Hermanas
- The Pollination Project
- Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
Quotes from Participants of Nature’s Friends Cuba Tour 2015
This trip was life changing. There is a whole bigger world out there that needs help! I appreciate you all.”
Akin Carter, 18 years old
…Now I know how to focus my career. I’m changing my major when I get back.”
Eliza Wilkinson, American University graduate student
I appreciate the genius of the planning. Every day was exciting and educational. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better-it did!”
Zandra Chestnut, staff for Senator Mark Warner
Read about our 2018 trip here!