What is Thrive@EVI? 

Formerly known as LEARN@Ecovillage, there has been an education and outreach arm for Ecovillage at Ithaca since our forming days in the 1990s. As part of its founding goals, the community recognized the importance of demonstrating an alternative to the typical development and lifestyle choices that were degrading the environment and social connectedness.

Goal 7: Serve as a model for neighborhood development in other communities through the provision of research and education programs

Thrive carries out the EVI mission to promote experiential learning about ways of meeting human needs for shelter, food, energy, livelihood and social connectedness that are aligned with the long-term health and viability of Earth and all its inhabitants.

So, what have we been up to in 2023 . . .

July 1 marks a new fiscal year and Thrive’s staff and Advisory Board took the opportunity to review the offerings and impact we had locally and beyond.

  • Tours - Our village is a popular and impactful experiential learning environment. Throughout the year we hosted over 300 people on tours. We offer small private tours for prospective residents and seekers, and large educational tours to local institutions including Wells College, Ithaca College, Boynton Middle School, Humphrey Fellows (Cornell), and Visit Ithaca/Chamber of Commerce

  • Educational Programs - Thrive offered 11 in-person programs and 11 online programs on topics related to conscious communication, forest bathing, climate change action, social justice, family systems theory, and the new online, monthly Q&A program for people anywhere to engage with us

  • Speaking Engagements - Staff gave 4 presentations to CoHousingUS, Boynton Middle School, and SUNY Geneseo

  • Research/Media Requests - 2 visiting researchers spent a month at EVI in November; 10 different organizations from around the world asked to cover our community in media or research

  • Volunteers - Two programs at Cornell University offered us 4 student volunteers from the Moral Psychology classroom and the Johnson School of Business Big Red Microenterprise program

Caitlin Cameron