I feel joyful when I move with intention, purpose, and mind- I realized that my whole experience body-spirit alignment—while building a movement in my city to create loving myself, my given and the 4C Tree Project, which stands for chosen family, and minoritized Capture Carbon Commemorate COVID, communities. has been the greatest source of joy for me during this challenging pandemic. SAMANTHA ALCALA • New Y ’11ork, New York This project is to honor those who lost their lives due to COVID-19 during the My garden brings me joy. pandemic by planting trees in public I grow lfowers and places so people can stop, relfect, and remember the pandemic and those who veggies at Knox’s urban lost their lives. I am working with the farm on Laurel Street in nonproift Green Newton and partnering Hartford. Co-creating such with the Newton director of forestry to make this happen. In the process, I’ve bounty with the earth makes gotten to build amazing connections me feel like I can do anything. with kind and driven leaders across my city. I also joined the Green Newton GABBY NELSON Youth Group and created a subgroup Assistant Director, Urban Engaged Learning within it, the 4C Tree team. Now my team of high school and Photography of birds and college students and I other wildlife, and the have raised over $44,000 opportunity that gives me to plant at least 220 trees across my city of Newton, to be out in nature and in Massachusetts. tune with it, brings me joy. ELIZABETH SOCKWELL ’21 It’s my job—I’m a professional wildlife Newton Center, Massachusetts photographer—and it’s also my great passion. Reading, talking with MELISSA GROO ’ • Brooktondale, New Y84 ork friends, FaceTiming When I try explaining something my kids and grandchildren, to one of my guitar students several different ways and one of spending time with my husband, them actually works. I see their being in the woods, my work, my facial expressions change from puzzlement to comprehension, research, and, most of all, an then joy and relief, as they immense sense of overall gratitude. integrate it. That never gets old. ANDY BASSFORD ’ • Bronx, New Y76 ork MANYA BOUTENEFF ’78 Hartsdale, New York ↗ For more responses, please visit commons.trincoll.edu/Reporter. FALL 2021 31