What Gratitude Means To Us: The Ecology School Team

As a nonprofit organization, we believe in the power of gratitude. We are deeply thankful for our generous donors, for the individuals who dedicate their time at River Bend Farm, and for our community and business partners who support our mission. We are grateful for River Bend Farm—a sacred space where we can gather, nurture the land, and find peace.

We asked some of our team what gratitude means to them and here’s what they had to say:


“I like to think of gratitude as my rose-colored glasses that I put on to experience all the highs and lows with an element of optimism and whimsy.” - Tori Kleinbort, Business Development Manager

“To me, gratitude represents staying grounded in the moment and taking into account all the little things that make life special.” - Stacy Faivre, Communications Coordinator

“Gratitude helps me notice all the little things that make things happen - from the person with the extra smile for someone to the pot of coffee already made, to the person making that small extra effort to lift up someone else. Ultimately, for me, it is all the little things that matter most.” - Alex Grindle, Director of Programs

"Gratitude teaches me to hold onto simple moments that mean a great deal to me in everyday life. The idea encourages me to seek those moments out as often as I can." - Wyatt Steffensen, Program Coordinator

“Gratitude is the acknowledgment of myriad moments that are a privilege to possess.” - Meg Edstrom Jones, Director of Educational Partnerships & The Teacher Institute

Stacy Faivre