A Year in Review

Welcome to our 2023-24 Annual Report.

A Personal Note from our Founder

Dear Friends of WiseTribe,

This past year marked a defining shift in the journey—for WiseTribe and for me, personally.

After years of pushing forward with determination, creativity, and a deep sense of purpose for this work, I found myself at a crossroads. In July 2023, just days after a meaningful strategic planning session with our board—guided by a former CDC planning executive generously serving as a high-level volunteer—my cherish mother passed away. Her death, following a long journey of caregiving, coincided with a deep personal and organizational burnout.

We wrapped up our outdoor learning project at SouthTech Preparatory and, with hope still in our hearts, attempted to reintegrate our Food Land programming into Carver Middle School’s STEM curriculum. But the conditions in schools were more complicated than ever—complex, overstretched, and antithetical to well-being. With my energy depleted and the environment around me not conducive to health, it became clear that it was time to pause.

WiseTribe, as it was, needed to be put down—gently and consciously—to allow space for something new to take root. During the 2024-25 school year, I will take much-needed time for self-care while reflecting on how to make meaningful change in these transformative times.

This report captures the final chapter of WiseTribe’s first form. It reflects both our closing accomplishments and the honest truth of what it means to walk away—for now—so something wiser can emerge. I share this with gratitude, humility, and hope.

With care,
Jacqueline Botting
Founder, WiseTribe

Reflections on 2023-24

With your support, WiseTribe accomplished a lot in the 2023/24 school year. Here are a few highlights:

  • Jesup Wagon 
  • The support of our community lifted well-being volunteers who provided educators with stress-relieving practices via wellness workshops to support school administrators.
  • Art Class collaboration
  • Food Land Dinner Theater kicked off with a BANG in January
  • 24 diabetes risk screenings, which included rapid result A1c tests and blood pressure readings. Several children (with the parents' written permission) asked to be screened.
     
Thank you to our amazing supporters, volunteers, and partners for believing in the vision of a healthier, wiser future.
We invite you to explore the inspiring highlights you helped make possible this year!

Food Land (formerly Food Citizenship)

We help schools build capacity for Food Citizenship, a focus on food to solve significant challenges facing our future.

Our youth-led programming focuses on sustainable food production and building a healthy future through food.

Hands-on experiences link to academic standards for science, math and civics, nurturing students as future leaders.

Check out just some of our successes: 

  • 3,200 lbs of food were distributed to students, teachers and families of Carver Middle School and through our community events. 
  • We estimate that a total of 1,250 people received this food 
  • 380 bags of food were distributed as part of our programming 
  • 189 hot meals were served through Food Land Dinner Theater and after-school "Eat-n-Greets"  
  • 215 lbs of food harvested from our gardening efforts
  • 230 lbs of food waste diverted to composting 
  • 98 hours of food citizenship education, including one field trip to an indoor aquaponic farm
WiseTribe, united for a healthy and wise food future

Learning: Jr. WiseTribers Unite

We support youth, schools & volunteers who seek personal growth.

WiseTribers receive forward-thinking learning experiences that lead us toward a sustainable future.

Check out (some) of our results: 

  • $10,000 first-ever scholarship awarded to a graduating Jr. WiseTriber. The teenage Haitian immigrant heading to Middlebury College said our programs help "define her values system." 
  • 413 hours from 42 volunteers to support youth training & education. Topics included: Financial literacy and mindfulness-based relaxation practices, Wisdom Exchange events, and more.
  • 16 Wisdom Exchanges (community-based conversations and visioning sessions). 
  • One 8-week virtual robotics club for 15 students who discovered the fundamentals of Arduino boards and regenerative agriculture.
  • 6-week virtual, volunteer-led "Walking With Nature" camp collaboration with Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge to help youth connect nature with well-being.
  • 4 educator visioning sessions addressing work/life balance for greater school well-being.
WiseTribe - United for a healthy and wise Learning future

Well-being

We support schools, students and personal growth-oriented volunteers.

We provide experiential learning opportunities to support the growth of wellness practices. Activities address various concerns, issues and challenges to well-being, including the role our environments play in it.

Our science-backed practices, tips and techniques provide actionable resources that aid participants in increasing total health and well-being at home, in the office, and beyond.

Check out (some) of our results:

  • 4 professionally led yoga Nidra sessions for 57 educator participants. 
  • 6-week nature-based learning series and pollinator garden creation. 
  • 4-week Camp for a Health Future for 22 middle and high-school-aged students from low-income backgrounds. 
  • 1 handful of lifelong well-being skills taught: mindfulness, cooking, journaling, and more.
  • 22 "investor" pitches from students as they built leadership skills and selected projects to commit to progressing during camp.
WiseTribe - United for a healthy and wise Well-Being future

Community, Fueling a Healthy & Wise World

WiseTribe is a small nonprofit organization that pledges growth and transparency. 

 

2023/24 Financials - The following financial details reflect what was recorded for 2023 to 2024.  

Operating Income Donations - $99,835.14


Operating Expenses Administration - $39,176 Fundraising - $11,095 Programs/Grants - $88,561.25 Marketing - $13,045
In-Kind Services & Contributions Total Value - $15,382


Besides cash donations received by our donors, WiseTribe also received in-kind contributions for professional and volunteer services, food, and supplies. Receiving these needed resources in kind allows us to use our cash to implement program services. Although these in-kind donations are not shown in our financials, they add significant value to the organization.

Charming Gardeners of the Soul

Meet Jr. WiseTriber, Dina, who matriculated to Middlebury College, Vermont, on a full scholarship. Congratulations, Dina! 

Meet Jr. WiseTriber, Dina, who matriculated to Middlebury College, Vermont, on a full scholarship. Congratulations, Dina! 

Marla Acosta elementary school teacher who retired after covid. 

Our Community Brings Learning to Life

 

Right now, things feel uncertain. It's hard to envision that the future can be positive, healthy and wise. But we're already on the way. 

We are bringing a healthy, wise future to life. 

The power of community in this moment in time.

WiseTribe is not a single-issue nonprofit. We address systems, which requires examining challenges thoughtfully and thoroughly. We aim to produce solutions that aren't linear but are circular, ensuring that they will continue to evolve as future needs require.

Sometimes, the time or complexity of our projects can make our impact more difficult to feel. But it only takes a spark to get a fire going. 

You can get involved and help us doing this work.

  1. Become a leader: Reach out for information about joining our board as it strives to increase impact. 
  2. Support our work: Become a WiseTriber for $5 per month. WiseTribers volunteer on a project basis to produce impact over a 90-day period.
  3. Become a mentor: Provide friendly, trusted input as a role model for youth implementing WiseTribe projects. 

Thank you again for your involvement and engagement with WiseTribe. Together, we are making a difference in building a healthy, wise world.

Celebrating 2021 volunteers