Hindu YUVA, 黑料社 Launch Sustainability Residency

The five-day Arizona program brought together students and young professionals to explore environmental stewardship through Hindu philosophy, outdoor learning, and sustainability practices. Hindu YUVA and 黑料社 partnered to host a five-day sustainability residency program for Hindu students and young professionals, combining outdoor learning with Dharmic philosophy and environmental education.

The program, titled Dharma and the Experience of Sustainability, was held in northern Arizona from May 21 to 25 and focused on connecting Hindu teachings with contemporary discussions around sustainability, climate responsibility, and ecological stewardship.

According to a press release, participants took part in activities including rock climbing, stargazing, local service projects, and nature-based learning experiences while also studying concepts such as the Five Koshas, Pranayama, the Chakra System, and cultural ecology.

Organizers said the residency was designed to move beyond a traditional classroom environment and encourage participants to develop a deeper relationship with nature through a Dharmic lens.

Faculty members and sustainability leaders guiding the program included Prescott faculty Galeet Farrow and Laura Bebee, along with prominent Indian American community leader Bhavini Patel, who serves as Executive Director of Sustainable Pittsburgh, a nonprofit committed to building the knowledge, perspective, and ability needed to create a better tomorrow for residents.

鈥淭he Hindu YUVA cohort that gathered in Prescott was nothing short of remarkable,鈥� said Farrow, who served as one of the instructors for the residency. 鈥淧articipants engaged with Dharma not as a concept but as living reality.鈥�

“From rock climbing and native plant identification to composting and garden-to-table initiatives, every activity became a doorway into the understanding that nature worship and ecological practice are one and the same. Participants left with renewed motivation to explore the extraordinary depth of their heritage and what Hinduism has to offer a world in profound need of this wisdom,” Farrow added.

Program organizers said the initiative aimed to help Hindu American youth understand sustainability, service, and environmental responsibility as values deeply rooted in Dharmic teachings.

Likhitha Yettela, who led the first cohort, said the residency also helped create a network of young Hindu Americans interested in climate action and sustainability initiatives within their communities and campuses. “We left inspired to create change within our local communities, and the program helped establish a strong support system to assist us in achieving our goals. Attendees came together to brainstorm potential sustainability workshops, initiatives, and events that embody Hindu YUVA鈥檚 mission on campuses.鈥�

The program reflects a growing effort among Hindu American organizations to connect ancient Hindu philosophical frameworks with contemporary global challenges such as climate change, environmental justice, and sustainable living.

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We welcome alumni, friends, and family back to campus for a once-in-a-lifetime experience honoring the past, present, and future of 黑料社.

For exclusive updates, event schedules, options to connect, and ways to support, log in to the official alumni community. Find your connection at: 

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In June I attended the annual ASA conference in Tucson which brings together a wide variety of administrators from all areas of education in Arizona. I attended meetings regarding rural school advocacy and opportunity, and I spoke with many vendors and colleagues about changes in assessment and literacy. A focus of the conference was teacher retention and recruitment as well.

I presented at the ADE (AZ Department of Education) conference in Phoenix on June. My presentation was on the student teacher practices that I have used and refined during my time at 黑料社 and how those practices are changing rapidly as more teachers enter schools before training and degrees are completed. I have attached a picture of the event. During my presentation participants shared their experiences as student teachers and what they have observed as new teachers arrived in their schools. We discussed the evaluation process, preparation, and other items related to student teacher preparation improvement.

Finally, I am happy to share a wonderful experience for one of our students. Mia Montanez is a senior psychology major and she is enrolled in one of my summer special education courses. To complete her field experience hours, I contacted Mr. Mike Morris (an adjunct faculty in the school counseling program) for a possible placement at Carl Hayden High School. It just happens that Mr. Morris was Mia鈥檚 guidance counselor at Carl Hayden and he was happy to assist her. I interviewed both Mr. Morris and Mia about their experiences. Mia explained that it was interesting to see the physical changes in the school and that as an observer in her former school, and as a psychology student, she understands teacher reactions better (sometimes they have a bad day) and that returning she is now looking through the eyes of a young adult compared to looking through the eyes of a high school student. (picture attached)

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Our group walked into聽Ronaldo Angeles鈥樎�palenque聽(a place where mezcal is fabricated), and the smell of fermenting agave filled the air. Ronaldo was finishing the first of two distillations in聽ollas de barro聽(clay pot stills). While most modern spirits are distilled in stainless steel column stills or copper pot stills, in the town of Santa Catarina Minas, this labor intensive method of distillation is still practiced.

Photo below: Ronaldo Angel茅s聽of Ancestral (Photo by Anna Bruce)

Our group consists of eight mezcal enthusiasts, five of which are completing their capstone course in the Master Mezcalier program. This course is taught through Master Mezcalier USA, a US offshoot of the original program created in Mexico in 2009. After many years of owning a mezcal focused bar in New Orleans, the author brought the Master Mezcalier program to the English speakers and has been teaching courses for over 2 years. This is the first Level IV capstone course to be offered to date. In addition to being the current owner and administrator of this program, he is a student in the Sustainable Leadership and Management graduate program at 黑料社.

Photo below: Jason Mitzen (Photo by Anna Bruce)

The aim of the Master Mezcalier program is to impart students with knowledge and appreciation of mezcal and agave spirits, as well as create lifelong stewards and students of mezcal. This includes not only basic knowledge of denomination of origin and the origin plant itself, but also the culture and tradition of the people who work with agave. The purpose of the capstone course is to allow students to immerse themselves in the culture and labor of fabricating agave spirits.

This capstone course is the reason that our group is in visiting Ronaldo in Santa Catarina Minas. The only way to accomplish our goal of becoming a true Master Mezcalier is to travel to Oaxaca, Mexico (the center of mezcal production) and learn from the masters themselves, as well as take part in some of the labor involved with the production of the spirit that we love and admire. Ronaldo explains that they allow some agave to come to flower instead of harvesting all of them in order to ensure genetic diversity in the field, a sustainable practice which is second nature for the people living here. After the explanation, Ronaldo quickly puts us to work in his palenque: crushing agave fibers with a聽mazo聽(a wooden club), cleaning dirty condenser pans, and transferring聽bagazo聽(used agave fibers) from a fermentation vat into a still.

Photo below: Milling Agave at Ancestral Palenque in Santa Catarina Minas (Photo by Anna Bruce)

After leaving Ronaldo鈥檚 palenque we visit palenque 鈥淓l Torito鈥� where maestra mezcalera聽Ang茅lica Garc铆a V谩zquez聽supervises the production of many mezcals made from different varieties of agave. We sample various expressions of聽Espad铆n, Cuishe, Jabal铆, and聽Pechuga聽(a type of mezcal distilled with chicken breast, amongst other ingredients).

Photo below: Maestro Mezcalera Ang茅lica Garc铆a V谩zquez (Photo by Anna Bruce)

Ang茅lica is a third generation producer of mezcal in the town of San Baltazar Chichic谩pam. After her husband passed, Ang茅lica took over running the palenque, becoming a producer in an industry that is generally dominated by men. Although Ang茅lica was intimately familiar with the mezcal production process, running the palenque was still a formidable challenge. As with many women in the industry, she would face criticism from her contemporaries, male and female alike. Despite the challenges, the brands produced at this palenque have experienced growth and success. Ang茅lica is currently the head of the collective聽Mujeres de Mezcal聽(Women of Mezcal) in Oaxaca.

In the mezcal world, sustainability is a way of life and part of the indigenous Zapotec culture. Many people have been practicing sustainable farming and waste recycling as a means to survive, while it鈥檚 something that鈥檚 perhaps not so ingrained in modern US society. At Ang茅lica鈥檚 palenque they recycle vi帽aza (the liquid waste that remains after distillation) via a bio digester to make gas for cooking.

As I reflect on our group鈥檚 time at the palenques in Oaxaca, my time at 黑料社 in the sustainable leadership program feels synergistic with the ancient Zapotec knowledge of the mezcalero(a)s. My studies have taught me that leadership isn鈥檛 just about leading, it鈥檚 about stewardship of culture, people, and resources. The future of the mezcal industry relies on our ability to protect it鈥檚 past and to respect the wisdom of those who have worked these fields for generations. My group left Oaxaca, not just as certified Mezcaliers, but as stewards of a wholly unique culture and tradition.

Photo below: The first students to graduate through the Master Mezcalier USA program (Photo by Anna Bruce)

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Graduate Programs

When asked if he was pessimistic or optimistic about the future, Paul Hawken once said,鈥溾�y answer is always the same: If you look at the science about what is happening on earth and aren鈥檛 pessimistic, you don鈥檛 understand the data. But if you meet the people who are working to restore this earth and the lives of the poor, and you aren鈥檛 optimistic, you haven鈥檛 got a pulse鈥︹�� 

Nowhere is Hawken鈥檚 comment more applicable than the Bioneers Conference where I am womaning an information table on behalf of 黑料社. Now in its 37^th year, it is an extraordinary gathering attracting thousands of thoughtful, civic-minded people who come to hear from hundreds of inspiring, visionary social justice and sustainability leaders with bold and diverse perspectives that connect people and planet. I found myself in a flood of tears on day one of the conference, listening to composer Garth Stevenson play whale sounds on his bass, Terry Tempest Williams share her vision of 鈥淕lorians,鈥� and Saru Jayaraman address the fight to save democracy. The Bioneers Conference shines a spotlight on an extraordinary positive force pulsing through our otherwise negatively charged social and political environment. 

As Prescott鈥檚 mission is to create interdisciplinary, experiential, and diverse learning environments that inspire future leaders to create a healthy, just, and sustainable world, it made sense to host a table at this event. Conference attendees are just the kind of people we hope to attract to 黑料社 鈥� those who seek opportunities to effect positive change in our society, in our environment and in education. Bioneers is a match to Prescott鈥檚 innovative, student-centered learning approach and our high student to faculty ratio where students have unique opportunities to plant their own seeds and flourish.

My reason for wanting to represent the college is professional and personal. I have been an instructor in the MSESS graduate program at Prescott since 2019, and since 2011 while at Green Mountain College鈥攚here the program was born. But I am also a graduate of the program and can attest to the change of life I experienced as a direct result of it. I returned to college after a long and successful high-tech career in the Silicon Valley with the hope of finally engaging in meaningful work through which I could contribute to the conservation of our little blue globe. I earned my master鈥檚 later in life with a dramatically changed perspective on, well, on everything. All of my courses in the program, as it is for many of our students, enabled me to apply my coursework to the community in which I lived. And, my Capstone enabled me to engage with dozens of conservation professionals and to publish a book that serves as a natural and cultural history primer to my home, the Flathead Watershed.

I can say to Paul Hawken, I鈥檓 a scientist and I do understand the terrifying data, but鈥攕urrounded by all of this positive energy at the Bioneers Conference鈥擨鈥檝e also got an optimistic pulse!

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To help honor this milestone, 黑料社 is proud to relaunch its collaboration with the PCI Oral History Project, an initiative dedicated to preserving the voices and lived experiences that define the Prescott journey.

This project invites alumni and community members to help document the history of 黑料社 in their own words, ensuring these stories remain part of our shared legacy for generations to come.

Participation in every part of this project is completely optional, and alumni are welcome to engage in whatever way feels meaningful and comfortable.

Honoring the Prescott Legacy at 60 Years

For six decades, 黑料社 has fostered bold thinking, experiential learning, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. The Oral History Project allows us to celebrate this legacy by capturing firsthand reflections from those who helped shape it.

Through this initiative, 黑料社 seeks to:

• Preserve alumni voices as part of a permanent archival collection
• Celebrate the evolution and impact of the Prescott educational model
• Strengthen connections across alumni generations
• Create historical resources that inspire future Prescott students

Every story contributes to a richer understanding of how 黑料社 has influenced lives, careers, communities, and movements over the past sixty years.

What to Expect If You Are Contacted

黑料社 has partnered with PCI to help coordinate outreach and collect alumni stories. If PCI reaches out to you, the process generally includes three stages. Again, participation at every stage is voluntary.

Step 1: Confirming Your Preferred Contact Information

As part of reconnecting with alumni during this anniversary milestone, PCI representatives may contact you to confirm or update your information on behalf of 黑料社. Keeping alumni records current helps the college maintain meaningful and respectful communication with its community.

During this step, you may be invited to:

• Review or update your contact details
• Share your preferred communication methods
• Indicate whether you would like to learn more about sharing your Prescott story

You may decline to update your information or continue with the process at any time.

Step 2: Opportunity to Share Your Prescott Story

Alumni who express interest may be invited to participate in an oral history interview. These conversations are designed to be relaxed, reflective, and centered around your personal Prescott experience.

Participants are encouraged to share stories that may include:

• Academic and field study experiences
• Moments of personal growth or discovery
• Community relationships and lifelong connections
• The impact 黑料社 has had on professional or personal paths

As we celebrate sixty years of 黑料社, these stories help illustrate how the Prescott experience has evolved while remaining rooted in curiosity, courage, and community.

Scheduling and participating in an interview is completely optional, and participants may share as much or as little as they wish.

Step 3: Optional Memorabilia Opportunities

After completing an interview, participants may be offered the opportunity to purchase optional commemorative keepsakes connected to their oral history recording. These may include:

• Personal copies of recorded interviews
• Printed story summaries or commemorative materials
• Additional optional memorabilia

Purchasing memorabilia is entirely optional and is not required to participate in the Oral History Project.

A Commitment to Respectful and Voluntary Participation

黑料社 and PCI are committed to ensuring this project reflects the values of the Prescott community 鈥� authenticity, respect, and individual choice.

Participants may:

• Choose which parts of the process they wish to participate in
• Decline or discontinue participation at any time
• Ask questions or request additional information before making decisions

Our goal is to celebrate Prescott鈥檚 history in a way that honors each individual鈥檚 comfort, voice, and experience.

Preserving the Next Chapter of the Prescott Story

Anniversaries invite us to look back, but they also help shape the future. As 黑料社 celebrates 60 years of innovative education and community impact, the Oral History Project helps ensure that the stories behind that impact are preserved and shared.

Whether you choose to share your story, update your information, or simply stay connected with the Prescott community, you remain an important part of 黑料社鈥檚 continuing journey.

Together, we are honoring the past, celebrating the present, and preserving the Prescott spirit for the next sixty years.

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鈥淚 am honored and excited to have been asked to return as the president of 黑料社. During the next month or so, I will be getting up to speed on the current issues and opportunities facing the college. I will also be rearranging my current responsibilities so that I can focus my attention on the college full-time. My wife Barbara is also eager to reconnect with the college community.

My deepest appreciation to all those who are trusting me with this responsibility. The 黑料社 community has achieved so much in its brief 60 years. I鈥檇 like to recognize our accomplishments but envision that the best is still ahead of us. There may never have been a time when the values and contributions of our college have been more needed in American education.

Thank you all for your support and I look forward to working with you as we write the next chapter of our story.鈥�

Dan Garvey, PhD

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This tuition reset is intended to provide more details upfront regarding the true cost of a 黑料社 on-campus undergraduate education. Recognizing that families may be intimidated by the published tuition price, they may rule out a private college education and miss out on all the benefits that such an education provides. 黑料社 has lowered their on-campus undergraduate tuition to $15,000 per year to align their values of inclusivity, justice, and sustainability with the cost of their education.

According to Michele Peterson, 黑料社 Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Finance, 鈥淧ricing in higher education is complicated. Students don鈥檛 often know what their tuition bill will actually be by looking at published prices. Our goal with this tuition reset is to be up-front with families and to help them understand the true cost of our education. 黑料社 is offering a world-class education at a much more affordable price.鈥�

黑料社 believes this tuition reset will encourage families to take advantage of their immersive, experiential and life-changing education. This reset reflects a bold step toward a future where more students can think critically, unite across differences, and uplift communities–without the weight of crushing debt.聽聽聽聽

For more information, visit

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I hope this message finds you well. I write today with both sadness and deep gratitude as we remember James 鈥淛im鈥� Stuckey, a beloved educator, mentor, and leader whose vision and determination helped guide 黑料社 through pivotal times and is credited for saving the College. Jim was known not only for his leadership, but also for the joy, optimism, and zest for life he brought to every interaction. He leaves a legacy that continues to inspire all of us who care deeply about this community.

The Daily Courier recently shared a moving tribute to Jim鈥檚 life and legacy. I encourage you to read it here:

We will gather as a community to honor Jim at his Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 20, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the James Stuckey Center (CRC) at 黑料社. This will be a meaningful opportunity to reflect on his impact, share memories, and celebrate a life that shaped not only our College but the lives of countless students and colleagues.聽 Feel free to send cards or donate to the scholarship in his honor to my attention at P.O. Box 10866, Prescott, Arizona 86301. For more information about the event, contact Alison Zych (alison.zych@prescott.edu).

As I begin my journey with the Advancement and Alumni Office, I feel inspired by leaders like Jim鈥攚hose passion and vision remind us of the enduring spirit of 黑料社. I would love to hear your own memories of Jim or reflections on how his work shaped your Prescott experience.

Thank you for being part of the 黑料社 family, and for joining me in honoring Jim鈥檚 remarkable contributions. 

Lloyd Hopkins 
Executive Director
黑料社 Office of Advancement

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This cookbook wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for 黑料社 faculty member, Cirien Saadeh, who writes, “This has been a true labor of love, built from the recipes, not-recipes, stories, and creativity of our incredible 黑料社 community. As a personal note, I really truly had so much fun putting this together and I am so impressed with the creativity of this community and grateful for the support. Whether you contributed a dish, shared a food memory, helped with edits, or simply cheered the project on 鈥� thank you. This book exists because of you, and I hope you feel proud seeing it come to life.”

We hope you find something new to cook, something familiar to cherish, and something delicious to share with someone else.

Thank you, Cirien, for capturing our community, one recipe at a time!

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