Group members hosted an open mic session on Wednesday with a variety of poetry and musical performances, in which participants discussed environmental justice, specifically the “justice for guerrilla gardening” movement.
Spadoni, who also organized the event, said guerrilla gardening is when gardeners plant in areas they aren’t legally allowed to cultivate.
He said the ‘justice for guerrilla gardening’ movement refers to a form of protest where law officials deem natural gardening on street curbs illegal, despite the biological and environmental positives of urban greenery.
Spadoni said the idea of the guerrilla gardening event originated from his interest in making cityscapes more environmentally friendly, by planting different succulents in an effort to support wildlife and make the area more beautiful.
“[Guerrilla gardening] is a way to use our brains to bring habitat for the wildlife that could potentially exist in a city,” Spadoni said. “ So that's what we're doing tonight. We're planting our street curb with some native drought tolerant plants and see what happens.”
Spadoni said he spread information about the event through social media to students, faculty and the community.
He said he felt that few people initially showed interest but the turnout was beyond what he expected.
“We had like 20 people signed up yesterday night, and there's probably at least 40 people here right now,” Spadoni said. “It was awesome.”
Members of the garden said many of the group’s events are intended to help the community gain a better understanding of cultural exchange and justice for food insecurity.
Spadoni said the events at the garden promote environmental exploration, student initiative and community collaboration to build a stronger action plan for the fight against modern environmental damage.
Many of the poems and songs at the open mic night were about human and environmental justice.
Brandon Luu, fine arts graduate student and Spring 2020 alumnus, shared his poetry during the event.
Luu said he pulled poems from previously written pieces that seemed to correlate with environmentalism.
“Most of the poetry I chose from this time around had to do with the environment or social justice because I feel like those things are really important,” Luu said. “Especially with current events that are happening right now.”
AJ Mackillop, fine arts graduate student and 2019 alumnus, shared poetry that expressed his connection with nature and San Jose.
Mackillop focused on the beauty of San Jose while emphasizing the struggles of water conservation and the statewide drought.
“Thank you for diluting the overserved poison in our waterways, soil and acidic tongues as we taste what we planted on our one true planet,” Mackillop said in his spoken-word poem. “Not often a prayerful or grateful people. We thank you and appeal to your merciful nature. We beg you, do not drown us in our time of abandon.”
Addie Mahmassani, first year fine arts graduate student, was invited by her professor to perform poetry and sing at the event.
Mahmassani’s passion for surfing and the ocean was her main inspiration for her poems.
She presented her poem in the perspective of the sea, in an attempt to imitate the voice of sea creatures who are taken advantage of by human carelessness.
Mahmassani said by reflecting on the event as a poet and singer, she hopes to help people understand how “humans and nature are intertwined.”
“I thought today's event was a great resource and I hope all our poems and songs helped provide energy for growth in all its forms,” she said.
