Nature Sacred

Honored to be recognized with the Women First Impact Award in Anne Arundel County! Very grateful to Brooke Lierman for nominating me for this. Special thanks to County Executive Steuart Pittman, Senator Shaneka Henson, Council Member Peter Smith and the organizers, Elaine M. Shanley, CFP? and Pamela Finley, for this recognition --and to the incredible team at Nature Sacred for their dedication to bringing the healing power of nature to communities in Anne Arundel county and across the U.S. Excited to continue this work together!

We're #hiring a new Sr. VP of Philanthropy in Annapolis, Maryland. Apply today or share this post with your network.

We’re excited to share that Nature Sacred’s Neha Srinivasan is featured on the latest episode of the Mud Kitchen podcast! In this episode, Neha reflects on her role as a project manager at Nature Sacred, her love of dance, and how communications and language shape her world. It’s a thoughtful and inspiring conversation that dives into the connections between personal passions and professional purpose. Mud Kitchen—hosted and produced by Zoe Roane-Hopkins, a landscape designer and community enthusiast—is all about celebrating the stories of people making a difference in outdoor spaces across the East Coast. We’re delighted to be part of this series. Tune in to hear the conversation: https://lnkd.in/eR8nEchC

We’re excited to share that Nature Sacred’s Neha Srinivasan is featured on the latest episode of the Mud Kitchen podcast! In this episode, Neha reflects on her role as a project manager at Nature Sacred, her love of dance, and how communications and language shape her world. It’s a thoughtful and inspiring conversation that dives into the connections between personal passions and professional purpose. Mud Kitchen—hosted and produced by Zoe Roane-Hopkins, a landscape designer and community enthusiast—is all about celebrating the stories of people making a difference in outdoor spaces across the East Coast. We’re delighted to be part of this series. Tune in to hear the conversation: https://lnkd.in/eR8nEchC

Friends- Nature Sacred is seeking a SVP, Philanthropy to help us continue to grow support for Sacred Places across the country. A new position, the SVPP, will work closely with me, and will join a tight-knit amazing team working with intentionality and urgency to improve the health and wellbeing of both people and planet. Solutions oriented thinking while striving for excellence and joy in every corner of the position is key! Please share with your networks so we can continue to meet the moment and the movement of healing through nature! Cheers and gratitude ?? https://lnkd.in/ejYBY2ca

As we enter the season of gratitude, I am reminded of the profound connections Nature Sacred's BenchTalk continues to inspire. It draws people together—to share, reflect, and experience gratitude in ways that are both intimate and collective. It’s been just over a year since we released the paperback version of BenchTalk, a collection of reflections, stories, and insights shared anonymously in the journals tucked beneath our Sacred Place benches, and brilliantly edited by Salma Hasan Ali. This collection continues to resonate, sparking thoughtful dialogue and moments of profound connection. Last week, we celebrated BenchTalk at a book party graciously co-hosted by The House at 1229 with Kathleen Buhle and Mary K. Bush —the latest in a series of gatherings we've enjoyed since launching the collector's edition of BenchTalk two years ago. Each time new people find our common humanity in these stories - what nature draws out in us organically - it lights up a room and ignites change in communities across the country. As I reflect on this season of gratitude, I give thanks for nature, for our incredible community, and for the voices and stories that make BenchTalk such a powerful force for connection and renewal. Haven’t read BenchTalk yet? Purchase your copy or one for someone you want to share your gratitude with, and join us in experiencing the unifying power of nature. www.benchtalkbook.com

My friend Alden E. Stoner leads Nature Sacred, a network of urban sanctuaries that seem essential for communities where people seem to need a safe space to unwind, reflect, and connect with the power of nature (and write or draw notes in a journal, if they wish). They have a gorgeous book called "BenchTalk," where they published some of the incredibly thoughtful and beautiful journal entries that reveal "what happens when we pause, if only for a moment, in nature." I'm so thankful to have this in my office!!! https://a.co/d/gTChtzs #bookrecommendation #naturesacred #Journaling #nature #reflection #clearminds

Just days ago, I was in Lincoln, Nebraska, for the opening of The Garden of Hope and Healing, the latest Sacred Place on a healthcare campus. It is invigorating to see large hospital systems like Bryan Health recognize, and invest, in nature?as a means to provide more holistic care to their patients. April Sampson Cancer Center partnered with Nature Sacred for our community-led design process to thoughtfully create a healing space to nurture the mind, body, and spirit of patients, families, and caregivers. This green space is about so much more than beauty. It’s about transformative and comprehensive care patients receive at the Center. By integrating nature into the healing process, this environment??not only reduces stress and anxiety but also actively supports emotional well-being. It can help people cope. Studies have shown that nature-based interventions can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression among cancer patients, helping them cope better during treatment. This reinforces the important role that green spaces like this can play in enhancing the overall quality of life for patients. A sincere thank you to June and Paul Schorr, III, for their generous support, which made this Sacred Place possible. Their dedication to enhancing patient care through the healing power of nature will have lasting impact and touch countless lives. Now, I invite you to take a moment, take a breath, and explore this special place through the video linked below. Let’s work together to bring more nature—and healing—into our healthcare systems!?

“During my career in public health and medical social work, I became passionate about getting doctors to see all of people’s needs, not just the needs of the body.” In Generations Magazine, Emma Stokes, PhD, shares a deeply personal story of her experience with the healing power of nature following a mini-stroke. As she prepared for surgery, it was the calming scenes of water, forests, and fields on TV that helped her navigate the anxiety and chaos of the hospital environment. Emma’s story is a powerful reminder of what we at Nature Sacred have always believed: that nature is a vital resource for healing and well-being, especially for older adults. We’re honored to be mentioned in her piece and to work alongside healthcare organizations nationwide to create Sacred Places—small, contemplative green spaces that foster healing and connection—on their campuses. You can read Emma's piece here: https://lnkd.in/gHKcxaum #GreenSpaces #HealthyAging #Wellbeing #NatureTherapy #NatureForAll

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Doro Bush Koch and Patricia Reilly Koch for their podcast, Health Gig. What felt like a warm, easy conversation turned into a beautiful episode that just dropped today. We talked about Sacred Places, their role in our health and well-being, and I even got to share a few journal entries from BenchTalk—moments that truly capture the power of nature in people’s lives. A heartfelt thank you to Doro and Tricia for creating space for such a meaningful conversation. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend giving Health Gig a listen! (One of my personal favorite episodes is their conversation with Chip Conley about finding purpose in midlife.)