How should we face the rise of reactionary politics?

The Ecological Design Collective (EDC) has always sought to cultivate a space for envisioning possible futures grounded in environmental resilience, justice, and imagination. But as recent global shifts in politics and governance cast shadows on efforts to foster transformative change, we find ourselves confronted with an evacuation of futures that once felt possible. Reactionary turns in many nations are constraining the space for change, and for some, it might feel as though pathways toward equitable and ecologically grounded futures are narrowing.

Join us in thought and discourse as we considers the best course of action in these troubling times. How can we imagine futures that exist beyond the limitations of conventional governmental and institutional frameworks? What strategies can we employ to resist the forces that constrain our capacity to envision alternative possibilities? What does environmental activism look like in this era of reactionary politics, and how can we learn from comparative, global perspectives on these challenges?

Missed our last conversation with Asad Raza? Watch, listen, or read the conversation below. 

Last month, the EDC launched its first installment of a four-part conversation series with artist Asad Raza as we follow the development of a public artwork that focuses on listening to the ecosystem! Earlier this year, in our EcoArts group, Raza revealed he has been commissioned to create a permanent art installation on the River Granta in Cambridgeshire. The Granta is a rare chalk stream sustaining the habitats for a range of wildlife. Well known for his collaborative approach to projects, the artist is partnering with ecologists, microbiologists, and architects and now some of us here at the EDC. This is a unique opportunity to be part of an ongoing conversation with an artist in the process of creation. 

The next conversation will be held virtually on February 11th, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. EST on the EDC platform.

Other eco-events coming up in January!

• January 7th: Attend a free Plant Medicine Farmacy workshop online. Learn about the benefits of herbs for holistic health, unpack the foundation of herbal medicine, and pick up snippets of herbal history.
  
• January 23rd: Join the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education for a webinar on Campus Decarbonization Efforts.
• January 28th: Eclipta Herbal is offering a virtual class on the herbal compass. Learn more about this traditional medicine practice.
  

Do you work in sustainability or ecology? Share what you do with the EDC! 

Throughout Spring 2025, the EDC is continuing its monthly series of “Groundings” that explore Baltimore’s ecology, history, and contemporary place-making efforts through experiential events. Last fall we toured the Checkerspot Brewing Company to learn about their sustainable beer-making practices; we visited the 6th Branch's community gardens; and went exploring the hidden history of Baltimore's underground rivers with artist-designer Bruce Willen. If you or anyone you know is working in the environmental space and would like to showcase their land-related work with our community, please fill out the form below. We offer a $250 honorarium per event.

Apologies...

Over the last couple of days, you may have received a direct message on our platform from a stranger seeking a "relationship." Needless to say, this is a spamming bot. We have anti-spamming software in place to identify and remove such accounts before they can cause trouble, but occasionally one of them slips by. We have updated our internal systems to better protect our members from the nuisance of such spammers. Of course, we have also removed the offending bot account. Its search for love must continue elsewhere!