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Today we have two wonderful guests on the show to talk about the Multicultural Refugee Coalition (MRC) in Austin, Texas. Meg Erskine and Matt Simon join us to explain the current work being done by the organization, the different components of their jobs, and how the projects function. Listeners can expect to get a great insight into the progress being made by MRC, as well as some inspiring examples of the way different initiatives can work together towards the common cause of a more equitable world.

MRC aims to provide livelihood opportunities for refugees through skills-based education and social entrepreneurship. Their work is divided between two separate, yet connected enterprises: New Leaf Agriculture, and Open Arms Studio. Their work is built on the foundation of providing fair-wage jobs that offer opportunities to advance careers, while utilizing the array of skills and expertise of their workers. 

Meg Erskine is the Co-Founder of MRC, which she began with a small team in 2009. She has a background in conservation biology, and she is driven by her passions for sustainability, ethical fashion, regenerative agriculture, and social enterprise. Matt Simon is the Farm Director at New Leaf Agriculture, a role he began in January 2020, bringing a decade's worth of experience in the organic agriculture space in his native Austin, and holding a number of different roles relating to permaculture design and sustainable agriculture.

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Some background on our guests and the Multicultural Refugee Coalition.

• Expanding on the idea of food autonomy and the foundation it provides for the work at MRC. 

• The array of initiatives that are currently in the pipeline at MRC.

• The important connection and exchange between the Open Arms project and the farm.

• How the farm came to be and the work that went into finding the land. 

• The emphasis on flexibility that the farm offers its workers to accommodate other demands. 

• Benefits of fresh air and exercise for those working on the farm. 

• Healthful herbs and 'weeds' and using the varied knowledge of different cultures. 

• The certification program that MRC is offering and what the modules consist of.

• How listeners can support and contribute to the amazing work being done by our guests!

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Tweetables:

• “For me, the foundation of food justice and food access is food autonomy.” — Matt Simon

• “There are so many things that we are working on that I am so excited about!” — Meg Erskine

• “It was interesting to me to realize when I started working with folks out here, that none of them had ever worked in a greenhouse before, but they had been farming their whole lives.” — Matt Simon

• “Every week is a consideration of what is going to happen six weeks from now.” — Matt Simon

• “We are still looking for philanthropic support and we are looking to expand our network, and meet up with folks in other areas besides our own.” — Meg Erskine

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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Meg Erskine — https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-erskine-5657a95

Matt Simon — https://www.mrcaustin.org/latest-news/meet-matt-new-leafs-farm-director

Multicultural Refugee Coalition — https://www.mrcaustin.org/

Open Arms Studio — https://www.openarmsstudio.org/

New Leaf Agriculture — https://www.mrcaustin.org/new-leaf-agriculture

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Show Notes + Other Links

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