Christa Avampato's Blog, page 9

We’re All Part of President Jimmy Carter’s Legacy

President Jimmy Carter. City of Boston Archives from West Roxbury, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How do you sum up 100 years of decency, service, and love? President Jimmy Carter’s advocacy and policies to secure human rights, world peace, free and fair democratic elections around the world, protections for nature, and health, well-being, and housing for the most vulnerable will live on long into the future. In the midst of all his accomplishments and contributions, he always maintained his grace, humility, and gratitude for being able to help others.

When Jimmy Carter was elected President, the U.S. was reeling from the Watergate scandal. Americans had lost faith and trust in their government and politicians. And what did President Carter say and do? He publicly pledged to always tell the truth and support all Americans, no matter the personal consequences to him. He was not concerned about getting re-elected or flexing his power. He cared only about taking care of all people in any and every way he could.

I had the honor of hearing him speak just as I was starting my career. His message was simple and powerful — be honest, take care of others, and build a better world for all beings. His remarks mirrored his actions. He walked the talk. His advice is more important now than ever.

President Carter will be laid to rest in Plains, Georgia in the shade of a willow tree next to his beloved wife, Rosalynn. Symbolically, a willow tree stands for mourning and rebirth, flexibility and adaptability, renewal and vitality, strength and stability, vision, endurance, tranquility, and introspection. These are also the principles President Carter lived by, and the principles he’s calling all of us to live now in the wake of his remarkable life. Let’s honor his legacy and continue it.

Sharks were my career coaches

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

I became a biomimicry scientist because of sharks.

I was on my way to work in 2018 listening to an episode of the Ologies podcast with Alie Ward. She was interviewing Dr. Chris Lowe, a leading shark researcher. He explained that sharks have an incredible self-healing adaptation. The ocean is a dangerous place, and sharks often sustain deep wounds. To stave off infection and promote rapid healing of their wounds, they have mucus on their skin that’s rich in a complex carbohydrate called glycan that has a unique composition. When Dr. Lowe talked about this, my product developer mind started spinning. If we could determine what unique component of the shark mucus promotes healing, we could apply that knowledge to healing human wounds. (This research is on-going, and in 2023, researchers determined mucus on the skin of sharks is rich in a complex carbohydrate called glycan that has a unique composition distinct from other fish.)

Years before I listened to this Ologies podcast episode, my boss, Bob G., had introduced me to Janine Benyus and her work in biomimicry — the sustainable application of adaptations in the natural world to the human-designed world. Working with Bob was my first product development job.

Growing up, I was a science and math kid. I abandoned my dream of being a scientist because a college professor my freshman year told me I, “had no mind for physics.” (More on that experience and how I DO have a mind for physics in a future article!) Instead, I majored in economics and history, continuing to love science as a personal passion. This Ologies episode promoted me to look into biomimicry as a bridge between my love for science and my business career in product development.

When I got to work, I Googled to see if there might be a biomimicry class I could take. What I found was that Arizona State University and Janine Benyus had just established a biomimicry graduate program. It was virtual, relatively affordable, and the application window was open. I applied, got accepted, and graduated. After that experience, I went on to get a master’s degree in Sustainability Leadership at University of Cambridge, and I’m working on bringing together all the aspects of my career — writing, storytelling, business, product development, and biomimicry — to build a better world for all beings. Biomimicry changed my life and career, and continues to help me evolve, grow, and thrive.

Looking back, I see now how all those threads made their way into my life through different avenues because I’ve always followed my curiosity, wonder, and joy. We don’t always know how the pieces of our lives and career will fit together. It sometimes takes longer than we’d like because the circumstances of our world need to evolve to catch up with us. Trust the timing of your life. Keep learning. Do the best you can with what you have where you are right now. What you seek is also seeking you. Eventually, you’ll find what’s meant for you and it will be worth all the effort.

Static electricity is nature’s gift that feeds us

Photo by Christoph on Unsplash

Static electricity may not top your list of things you’re grateful for this holiday season. It’s definitely on the nice list because the food we eat and enjoy wouldn’t be possible without it. Here’s a wonder of nature that changed how I see food.

Simply put: Plants grounded in soil have a negative charge. Bees have a positive charge. When a bee lands on a flower, the pollen jumps onto the bee due to the attraction of the opposite charges. (This is the same electricity transfer that happens when we walk across a carpet and then touch something that gives us a little shock.) When the bee flies away with the pollen, the flower now has a neutral charge. When a second bee arrives, that bee skips the neutrally charged flower knowing all the pollen has been taken by the first bee. This means the second bee doesn’t waste their time, energy, and resources on that flower, and moves on. Over time, that flower will build up a positive charge and pollen again. Once that happens, another bee will again be attracted to the flower and the cycle repeats. This is how plants are pollinated and serve as the base of our food system.

Imagine if we could embrace that communication that occurs between bees and flowers. How much time, energy, and resources have we wasted in relationships, jobs, or environments that we knew weren’t right for us? Rather than embracing the wisdom of a bee, we work so hard to try to make it work and it falls apart. Many times, it’s no one’s fault. It just wasn’t a match. It’s better to just move on and find the places where we can experience equal and generous reciprocity — a place where we can offer our gifts and receive the gifts of others.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this wonder of nature, envisioning how this principle could transform my life and our shared world. How might we align talents and gifts, matching needs and resources to create sustainable change? How might we build systems that appreciate, value, and utilize everyone’s contributions so that everyone has what they need? Answering these questions is the work that lies ahead for all of us, and nature is our wise and successful guide.

Monument Valley 3, a video game I worked on, is now on Netflix

Monument Valley 3 – https://go.ustwo.games/mv3

Monument Valley 3, a gorgeous video game with heart, is now out in the world on Netflix. I’m honored to be a Climate Expert for the game. I wrote about it as part of my Master’s program in Sustainability Leadership at the the University of Cambridge. Goethe said, “In the end we retain from our studies only that which we practically apply.” I’m grateful that my applied learnings from Cambridge now have the potential to reach the 3 billion people around the world who play video games.

Of course I’m most proud of the exceptional group of talented people who made Monument Valley 3, especially the Game Director and my dear friend, Jennifer Estaris, whom I love and admire so much. May this game inspire all of us to care for each other, our communities, and this beautiful planet we share.

Please download, play, rate, review, and share Monument Valley 3, and let me know what you think! To play, click this link on your mobile device: https://go.ustwo.games/mv3

Ace is my first foster dog success story

The last photo I took of Ace in my home before we went to his adoption meeting to meet his forever family.

Ace, my first foster dog with Muddy Paws Rescue, has found his forever home! I only had him for 13 days, and he will always have a special place in my heart. He’s a cuddly, silly, loving guy. It’s incredible to me that in two weeks he went from being in rough shape on the streets of Kentucky to a loving home in New York City with people who adore him.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’ve cried a lot – sad tears for me and happy tears for him. Many people have asked me how I can foster, knowing I will get attached and have to let them go. I’m doing this because the need in our shelters and for the many homeless animals we have all over the U.S. is so great. I’m dedicated to helping as many dogs as I can to honor my soul dog, Phineas, who was a shelter dog. I lost him nearly a year ago in January 2024. I want to help heal the hearts of these animals, and the people who adopt them, even though it may break my heart every time to say goodbye. It’s worth it to see these animals happy and loved.

In less than 2 weeks, Ace taught me so much. He showed me that our lives can change, for the better, so quickly with love and support from someone who cares. His resilience to trust and love people, even after all he’s been through in his short life, is something I aspire to embrace myself. Most of all, Ace showed me I’m ready to adopt a dog again when the right match comes along.

A part of me died when I lost Phinny, and I worried I might not be able to love another dog again. Ace helped bring that part of my back to life. I have no doubt that Phinny sent Ace to me, and that his spirit helped Ace feel at home in our home. Taking care of Ace, and getting him to his forever home, was something Phinny and I did together – me here on Earth and Angel Phinny across the rainbow bridge working his magic. And I’m sure he’s already at work lining up another foster dog for me, and a dog to adopt, too.

More photos of Acey below.

My favorite organizations for Giving Tuesday

Photo by Sticker Mule on Unsplash

Today is Giving Tuesday, a day during the holiday season that raises awareness for giving to nonprofit organizations. I’ve worked professionally in the nonprofit space for many years in different capacities including fundraising, product development and product management, program direction, strategy, operations, and communications. These have been some of my most gratifying career experiences. I’ve also been fortunate to be an active volunteer and donor.

If you want to make donations this holiday season, and / or get more involved with nonprofit organizations, here is a list of the ones I support as a donor and volunteer:

Animals and Pets
Muddy Paws Rescue
I’m a foster parent for dogs through Muddy Paws Rescue. The support, guidance, advice, and services they provide to dogs, fosters, and adopters is unparalleled. Through a partnership with Tito’s Vodka, donations today will be matched.

Animal Care Centers of NYC (NYCACC)
This is our city shelter system for animals who are homeless. They don’t turn away any animals and work closely with groups such as Muddy Paws to help these animals find forever homes. With the help of the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare, they also provide support for people who are struggling financially to take care of their pets with food assistance and medical care so that people can keep their beloved pets. With the help of the pet food company, Ollie, I’ve arranged to have an entire pallet of Ollie treats shipped to NYCACC to support the shelter pups.

White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary
I learned about this organization when I wanted to make a gift to a senior dog organization in honor of my soul dog, Phineas, who passed away in January. I love their mission to find loving homes for sweet senior pups.

15/10 Foundation
This organization is doing the tough work of providing funds for medical care for pets to help them find forever homes. This is the same group that runs We Rate Dogs, famous for their joyful posts on social media that make everyone’s day. I adore them. I became a monthly donor as a way to thank all the people who have supported my Emerson Page novels which feature Friday, Emerson’s service dog who is also a rescue!

Climate and Environment
Prospect Park Alliance
I moved to Brooklyn in June 2023, a short 15-minute walk to Prospect Park. I love having that nature sanctuary as my backyard and I’m happy to support them. Today, your donations will be doubled.

National Parks Association
The U.S. is so fortunate to have so much protected public land in our national parks. In 2025, they will need our help more than ever as we navigate a new federal administration. Today, all donations will be tripled!

Arbor Day Foundation
Trees provide us with so many gifts – clean air, water filtration, food, and storm protection to name just a few! A gift to the Arbor Day Foundation makes sure our trees receive the protection and care they deserve.

The Climate Reality Project
Since 2006, Vice President Al Gore has trained over 45,000 climate leaders and change makers in all 50 states and 190 countries, me included. (I was trained in NYC in April 2024.) Today, all gifts will be matched.

Humanitarian and Health
World Central Kitchen
Hands-down, World Central Kitchen founded by Chef Jose Andres is the premiere organization for humanitarian relief. With a small staff, mostly employing local people on the ground in areas they serve, they feed anyone and everyone in need. I’m a proud monthly donor.

Coalition for the Homeless
This year I provided a donation to support their back-to-school program that provides new backpacks filled with new school supplies for New York City children who are homeless. They do so much to help our most vulnerable neighbors.

Fisher House Foundation
Most of the members of my small family have served in the U.S. military. As a Christmas gift every year for my uncle who served in Vietnam, I donate to Fisher House. With 98 locations, they have housed 500,000 military families for free when a loved one is in the hospital.

Education
Brooklyn Public Library
I use my local library all the time and our city is made better for all of the services our library systems provide to everyone. All donations to Brooklyn Public Library will be matched today!

Letters to a Pre-Scientist (LPS)
I’m now in my second year of being a STEM pen pal for students in grades 5 through 10 in low-income communities. LPS pairs students with a worldwide network of STEM professionals for a yearlong pen pal program during science class. We help broaden students’ awareness of what STEM professionals look like and do at work and inspire all students to explore a future in STEM.

Free gifts for readers to celebrate Cyber Monday

The holiday shopping season has arrived! If you’ve got readers on your list, I’ve got some treats for you. For anyone who purchases my Emerson Page books for holiday gifts, I’d love to send you free extra gifts to bundle up with the books to make the present even more special. Just send me a message at littlerose317@gmail.com with the name of the person you’re giving the books to and the address where I should send the free gifts. I appreciate every purchase and reader so I’m more than happy to do this for you and your loved ones. Happy holidays!

Here are the direct purchase links:

Book #1 – Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters
Amazon (Paperback and eBook)
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Bookshop.org

Book #2 – Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads
Amazon (Paperback and eBook)
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Bookshop.org

What’s it like to foster a dog? Meet my first foster, Ace

My foster dog, Ace, from Muddy Paws Rescue NYC

Welcome to Brooklyn, Ace! I picked up my cutie foster dog from Muddy Paws Rescue NYC, and he lives up to his name. By all accounts, he is absolutely aces! Below are some photos from our first day together.

We don’t know much about his history. He’s 6 months old and 19 pounds with a cute trot that makes him look like a little fox. He was found with his siblings in Kentucky and ended up in a shelter. They all had terrible mange (a skin infection) and are healing up well now. Ace has a few bare spots where his fur is growing back. His siblings were also transported by Muddy Paws and are being fostered, too!

Despite all of the new sights, sounds, and scents in NYC, Ace is adjusting incredibly well. We’re working on crate training and he’s taking to it so quickly. He walks well on a leash though it’s clear he’s never had a leash or collar before. He does shake is head when wearing the collar trying to figure out what the heck this is! He listens well and is very smart. We’re working on some basic commands and structured walks. Though he had two accidents in my apartment when we got home for the first time yesterday, I realize now I didn’t know his cues. By this morning, I completely understood when he was telling me he needed to go. He caught on to house training at lightning speed!

Ace is definitely a velcro dog. He loves to cuddle and he’s a sweet, loving pup. Belly rubs, kisses, and pets are his favorite. Never enough love for this guy. Working out at home today with him out of his crate was hilarious to say the least. Try doing burpees and sit-ups when a dog just wants to sit in your lap!

He’s motivated by treats and affection. He doesn’t know what a toy is so hasn’t shown any interest in them (also very common for street dogs who are new to a home.)

He’s unsure about other dogs at the moment, either ignoring them, giving a bark or 2, or freezing in place when he sees a dog. This is very normal for strays as they have been taught to be wary of other dogs just to survive on the streets.

Ace shows absolutely no aggression nor any prey drive. I can touch all his food and treats without him doing a thing. I left him alone in his crate for about 30 minutes today and within 15 minutes he settled down. He slept in his crate as well and slept through the night (except when he had a dry throat and needed some water, which I got for him.) We’re going to try a walk in Prospect Park this afternoon.

Ace will be available for adoption applications on the Muddy Paws website starting on Tuesday, November 26th. Since he is small, sweet, smart, and a puppy, I think there will be a lot of interest in him. Happy to answer any questions about Ace, fostering dogs, or Muddy Paws Rescue.

Combating Parkinson’s with rock climbing

Photos from https://www.upendingparkinsons.org/

“It’s nice to be good at something again.” 

I haven’t been able to get this sentence out of my mind. It was said by a 37-year-old man who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a neurological disorder that has begun to impact his gross and fine motor skills. He was featured in a news story about Up ENDing Parkinsons, a nonprofit that’s created a nationwide rock climbing program for people with Parkinson’s disease. 

This man mentioned he can no longer do things that he used to take for granted — typing, for example. To see him scale a rock climbing wall at this gym, you’d never know he was struggling to move. The journalist told him this and he got choked up. 

“This means a lot to you,” said the journalist. 

He nodded his head, cleared his throat, and said, “It’s nice to be good at something again.”

Parkinson’s has robbed this man of so much at such a young age. This program has given him back some joy and a sense of pride in himself. The value of that can’t be overstated. 

This story was a reminder to me that we all want to feel we’re good at something. I hope we can all take the time to recognize and acknowledge when those around us are good at something. It takes only a small amount of time and effort on our part, and yet the impact for the person receiving this acknowledgement is enormous. We never know just how much someone may need to hear that. The world is a difficult place right now, and many people feel broken. Let’s do our best to help people feel whole again, and lift them up whenever we can. Feed the good.

5 ways to save money and waste less food on Thanksgiving

Photo by Megan Watson on Unsplash

Thanksgiving is 2 weeks from today and menu planning is in full swing. There are strategies you can put in place right now to save money and reduce food waste. These strategies will protect your finances and the natural world. Food prices today are 28% higher than they were in 2019 because of corporate price gouging, and the higher production costs and lower available supply caused by world events like the war in Ukraine.

These ReFED food waste stats about food waste from Thanksgiving Day shocked me:

~316 million pounds of groceries worth $556 million will be wasted on Thanksgiving Day alone in 2024. If saved, this could provide 5 meals for each one of the 47.4 million Americans who are hungry.It took 105 billion gallons of water to make all this wasted food — the equivalent of every American taking 18 showersOver half of the food wasted on Thanksgiving comes from two items — turkey and milk. This is equivalent to 8.2 million whole turkeys. The greenhouse gas emissions from Thanksgiving food waste are 798,568 metric tons — equivalent to driving 190,000 gas-powered cars for an entire year.When the Thanksgiving food waste decomposes in landfills, it will release 5,000 metric tons of methane gas (a potent and poisonous greenhouse gas)— equivalent to the electricity used by 26,000 homes for an entire year. 

Here are 5 ways you can reduce food waste, saving you money and protecting the health of the planet:

1.) Ask about your guests’ food preferences now
Make sure you know everyone’s dietary restrictions and allergies ahead of time. Build your menu around them so you don’t make any dishes that people can’t eat. 

2.) Make everyone’s favorites
While it’s always fun to try new recipes, when prepping for large group meals stick to everyone’s favorites that are likely to be eaten and likely to be taken home by guests as leftovers. Ask them for their favorite recipes or ask them to bring their favorite dish. Share the full menu ahead of time so everyone knows what to expect and so you can catch any dietary restrictions or allergies before the big day.  

3.) Use the free “Save the Food” Guestimator to make the right amount of food
This guestimator helps you estimate how much food you need to make for everyone at your table to be full and happy. It’s free to use, and customizable by number of guests, appetite level of each guest, how many leftover meals you want to have when dinner is done, and the food type (classic Thanksgiving dinner, vegetarian, or a bit of each). It accounts for the main dishes, sides, and dessert. Savethefood has additional great tools to reduce food waste including storage info for different foods, meal planning and prepping, and recipes.  

4.) Plan to give some leftovers to all of your guests to take home
Have lots of containers on-hand so everyone can take some leftovers home to enjoy or ask guests to bring containers with them. You could also ask them in advance which types of leftovers they’d like to take and how much they want to build into your planning with the guestimator tool above. 

5.) Clean out your fridge and freezer
Your fridge and freezer are great tools to save food waste and have food to enjoy in the days, weeks, and even months ahead! Frozen meals, when properly stored (see Savethefood’s storage tool for more info on that!), can last for months and will help you have a nutritious meal in minutes during the busy holiday season. 

All of these strategies and tools can be used for any food gathering you’re having at any time of year and will help you waste less food (and less money) all year long. Happy holidays!