Crystal Cavalier-Keck, a leader in this year’s 2020 U.S. Accelerator, is teaching cultural lessons and self-sustainment to youth through indigenous seed gardening. 🌱
Crystal, a citizen of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation in Burlington, NC, is Co-founder of Seven Directions of Service( 7 directions ). Her organization works to educate children and community members on how to farm in a self-sustaining way, involving cultural classes and hands-on gardening. She draws on her ancestors’ knowledge of farming and agriculture to help her community have access to locally grown food. Crystal is also an expert in her field of Strategic Intelligence, Political Campaigns, and Public Administration. She has conducted trainings along the East Coast on Coordinated Tribal/Community Response for emergency management through natural or man-made disasters.
Crystal’s goal is to expand her gardening programming and offer more culture classes so youth can learn more about their culture and their connections to food.
