Project volunteer Jeremiah White also came up with a solution for maintaining the garden over the summer once teachers and students leave for break.

After several conversations with the Indianapolis Immigrant Welcome Center, White connected with five refugee immigrants who were very interested in helping maintain the garden over the summer.

“Our TED-Ed club at ISI seeks to improve our students’ confidence and to help them build important idea development skills that will serve them in college and in the real world.”

“ISI is a school that goes beyond teaching a set of facts; it teaches students how to think critically and make their own assessments of the world.”

"My decision to work at ISI was deeply personal, as I believed attending ISI was the best decision for my own children. During my first 100 days, the ISI community proved that my decision was the right one."

“Being immersed with these people and learning how to create ceramics from Delia, a woman in the community, was an unforgettable experience,” Bernadette said. “Witnessing the creativity and beauty of the Shipibo people was very special, and we are pleased to be exposing more people to this unique culture."

The sales of 120+ auction packages and many dozens of individual donations generated hundreds of thousands of dollars to support ISI students, faculty, and facilities.