Meet Shannon Katsos | Development Coordinator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon Katsos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
In 2015, the founders of SEE asked themselves what would happen “if the trucks stopped rolling”. They watched the effects of climate change starting to be more apparent on the Colorado Front Range. This led them to ponder how fragile our supply chains really were, and to question the resilience of themselves and their community of Colorado Springs. It seemed that while some individuals had the skills to grow and preserve their own food, build and repair things, steward the land, and live without dependence on centralized water and energy systems, the larger population lacked the ability to sustain themselves without support. SEE’s founding board members saw the need to provide hands-on, locally-relevant learning opportunities to help build the knowledge base, skill sets, and overall resilience of the community.

What should our readers know about your business?
SEE seeks to empower children and adults of the Colorado Springs area to be household, community and environmental stewards and responsible community members through hands-on learning opportunities. We provide people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics, all geared towards equipping them to be more self-sufficient and well-prepared to take on the challenges of an uncertain future.

While we have existed on paper since 2015, it wasn’t until 2020 that we formally launched our community garden and programs. Starting off with a new global pandemic was less than ideal in many ways, but we had the unique opportunity to provide a safe, outdoor place for people to come together to connect with others and put their energy towards helping a garden grow. As SEE has grown, we have met scores of people who believe in the power and importance of working together and being good stewards, and it has been incredibly inspiring to see folks come together for the sake of learning and growing during an otherwise divisive time.

SEE’s mission is broad, and we aim to accomplish this mission through partnerships with local experts, organizations, and businesses. We know that great things can be done through collaboration, and we look forward to expanding our offerings this way in the future!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
SEE has been shaped and influenced by local teachers and organizations that promote the education and spread of permaculture. It has also been nurtured by the creative passions of its core board members (past and present) who have shared their expertise and belief in a small but mighty organization from the beginning – Kyle Katsos, Phil Phelan, Scott Harvey, Hillary Fuller, Karen Garbee, and Mark Phelan.

Website: http://www.sustainableeducationalexperience.org

Instagram: sustainableeduexperience

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SEEonTSOR

Youtube: https://youtu.be/AlOeOkgzX4w