Chapter Collective: Growing Community Through Food and Collaboration
Opening video and article by Hallela Wagner Ava Divizio,
Chapter Leaders Northern Illinois University
The Plant Futures Chapter at Northern Illinois University has had such an exciting start to the fall semester. We’ve added over 30 new members to our chapter, and it’s been amazing to see more students come together around sustainability and community.
One of our favorite moments this semester was our Harvest Moon Celebration at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in DeKalb. We invited the community to share meals made from the produce grown right in the church’s Communiversity Gardens, and it was so special to see everyone come together to enjoy what we helped grow.
We’re currently hosting a crowdfunding campaign to support the garden’s internships, supplies, and a new irrigation system. It’s been a great way to help sustain the space that’s been such an important part of our chapter’s work.
Advice for Other Chapters: Building community has been at the heart of what we do. Partnering with other student organizations has made a big difference in growing our network and bringing new ideas to the table. We’ve learned that inviting students from all majors helps create a more open and creative environment where everyone feels like they belong. Posting regularly on social media has also helped us share our events, connect with other groups, and show what kind of community we’re building together.
Get to Know our Chapter Leaders:
▶ Click to Play Video
During September and October,
our network hosted over 175 events across 40+ chapters:
Please enjoy a snapshot of the epic community building:
From Friends to Farmers:
Building Community, Careers, and a More Sustainable Future
When Ethan and Zach met through the UC Davis Plant Futures chapter, they shared a vision of creating a space where students from all disciplines could come together through food. With a UC Davis grant and support from Plant Futures, they launched a student growing plot that became a living classroom where collaboration, experimentation, and leadership took root. Partnering with the Davis Food Co-op, they transformed their harvests into plant-based, farm-to-table dinners that brought students, local farmers, and community members around the joy of shared meals.
Alumni Zoey Kaul Joins the PowerHouse Texas Team
We’re excited to celebrate alumni Zoey Kaul has joined PowerHouse Texas team, supporting programs, communications, and operations full time.
Zoey recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with degrees in Government and Sustainability Studies, along with a Bridging Disciplines Certificate in Smart Cities.
Congratulations, Zoey! Cheers to the meaningful work ahead.
