Professional with lots to offer looking for new project

Dear Permie Community,

I am a new face and this is a really exciting network so I wanted to introduce myself and reach out to see if any of you could use my help or offer guidance! I am a young entrepreneur with a vibrant spirit, looking for a chance to work outside of the United States on healing the earth among conscious community. I am trained as an architect and for nearly a decade I have been dedicated to the practice of designing net-zero, regenerative, deep green urban development projects. In 2015 I received a Masters in Geodesign and have been using my expertise in geospatial technologies (geographic information systems) to work WITH (instead of for) communities to plan for true sustainable resiliency. I love weaving together my urban design, sustainable development, and community engagement experience to help empower people to break free of capitalism and patriarchal structures, but the opportunities to do this in the developed world are few and far between, so I am looking for a chance to make a difference in a country in development. Most recently I have been working with the Institute for Conscious Global Change (website), a small NGO which is assisting the UN in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, but funding has stalled and I've decided to take the next year to immerse myself in permaculture. Primarily ICGC works on capacity-building with governments to create and implement sustainable development plans, but I want to devise a method of using mapping technology and permaculture to directly empower grass-roots local community groups to create true sustainability. To me it seems pretty clear that permaculture is the piece of the puzzle which is missing from most urban ecosystems, and I want to change that with you all! I am really excited to set out on a new adventure and am so grateful for whatever advice this network has to offer.

Since my birthday is this weekend (July 22, where my Cancers at?), maybe you would like to gift me some advice on how to achieve my goal? I'll share some more about what I am looking for...

- I need some hands-on experience with natural building, site planning, and farming. It would be great to earn my PDC through a work exchange program. Is there were a farm near a beach that could benefit from my design/planning skills where I could live and work in exchange for practical skills? I'm looking to leave Philadelphia by August 15th. Please, let me know if you think you could use my help.

- Does anyone have experience building living machines/constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment who would like to teach me? My dream is to design constructed wetlands in water-stressed countries. I speak Spanish fluently, and in 2012 I traveled to Lima, Peru to design an ecological wastewater treatment solution for informal settlements (asentamientos humanos/slums). Someday I hope to take this concept and develop a prototypical living system of people and structures which could help poor communities with water resiliency.

- I am VERY interested in social permaculture, does anyone have advice on where to hook up with people doing this kind of work? I am familiar with Earth Activist Training, but am not sure if I can make it to the upcoming training programs. I'd be interested if you would like to share your experiences with this specific training or any similar ones.

It's time to leave the city and go back to my roots, please help me find my next home: a farm on the beach where I can practice permaculture, yoga, and architecture, speak Spanish, and heal the earth.

Please reach out, even if you just want to talk! I am excited to connect with this great community and really hope that some of you can use my skills, passion, and spirit
BTW, here is my website: LINK.

Thanks & Love,
Vern

Probably a lot of work available here, just critiquing the many plans that are in the works. When it's a whole community, then very important to get in on the ground floor.

it looks like most of what you do is nuts and bolts designing. Have you had any experience in setting up the legal framework of intentional communities? This seems to be a perennial need.

Welcome aboard

Dale Hodgins wrote:Probably a lot of work available here, just critiquing the many plans that are in the works. When it's a whole community, then very important to get in on the ground floor.

I hope so...! I'm ready to go! Thanks, that's good info.

Dale Hodgins wrote:Have you had any experience in setting up the legal framework of intentional communities?

I have a good bit of experience facilitating diverse groups of like-minded people, but no direct experience with legal/policy work. I would be open to collaborating an supporting others who do, though!