Episode 47 of State of Water

We’re thrilled to welcome Stella Young to State of Water. Stella is the Director of Development for On the Ground Global who partners with coffee farmer communities to improve standards of living through a variety of projects in support of clean water, gender equity, and cooperative economics. Stella shares some of the On the Ground origin story and how their commitment to fair trade and cooperative economics supports their efforts to seek true partnership with their farmers. Stella reflects on the foundational importance for people to have access to clean water and how formative her lifelong involvement with On the Ground has been – from trips to Chiapas as a 6 year old and Ethiopia as a 10 year old to being a board member as a teen where she initiated a scholarship fund for students in Congo.

Stella gives updates on On the Ground’s current projects in the Congo and Chiapas and reflects on the importance of On the Ground’s arts and culture work including the lasting impact of the musical ambassadorship program and the film “The People & the Olive,” filmed during On the Ground’s trip to Palestine. Finally, Stella shares how this full circle opportunity to work for On the Ground meets her interests and experiences and how State of Water listeners can support and engage On the Ground’s work.

Listen to State of Water on Spotify, Soundcloud or Apple Podcasts.

Learn more about On the Ground at: https://www.onthegroundglobal.org/

EPISODE 47 credits:

Stella Young interviewed by Seth Bernard

Produced, edited and mixed by Dan Rickabus and Chris Good

Narrators – Alex Smith, Ben Darcie, Dan Rickabus, Jenny Jones, Angela Gallegos, Rachel Marco-Havens

Graphic by Chris Good

Theme Music – Mike Savina, Seth Bernard & Dan Rickabus

Featured Music – “Homestretch” by Ecotone and “Authors (instrumental demo)” by Dan Rickabus

“On the latest episode of State of Water, we get to hear from Stella Young, the Director of Development for On the Ground, a Michigan-based org doing critical work in water, health care, education, and gender equity in the DRC, the West Bank, Ethiopia and Chiapas, Mexico.

Stella drops the knowledge about the vital work of this fantastic organization in our midst, and shares how we can plug in. Thank you for listening and, as always, thank you for the actions you take every day as a water protector!” -Seth Bernard, State of Water host