Emy Sautter stands on a path in the woods at Prairiewoods on Boyson Road in Hiawatha is photographed on Friday, April 9, 2010. Sautter is the ecospirituality coordinator for Prairiewoods. (Julie Koehn/The Gazette)
Emy Sautter, 29, Cedar Rapids
Ecospirituality Coordinator @ Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
Emy Sautter has always felt a bond with nature and the world around her.
“I went into the ecological field because I’ve always felt a deep connection to the natural world, but I didn’t always understand why I felt that way — Prairiewoods has helped me understand that connection and foster it,” she says. “And I think it can help others do the same.”
Sautter, 29, who has served as the Ecospirituality Coordinator for Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Cedar Rapids since 2007, graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science — the perfect background for the kind of work she’s doing now.
“Basically, I do environmental outreach to the community. We put together programs for the public, hold seasonal celebrations and work with outside organizations to further our mission,” Sautter says. That mission has a three-part focus — spirituality, ecology and holistic health. Through various programs, Prairiewoods works to connect people of all backgrounds with environmental roots. Which seems to be quite the trend as of late.
“Prairiewoods isn’t just for Catholics. And it’s not a private place. We’re open to all cultures, religions and traditions. It’s open to the public for all kinds of activities centered around our three-part focus. It’s almost like a park in that regard,” Sautter says, stressing that getting involved in the work at Prairiewoods is as simple as you’d like it to be. “You can read up on the what’s going on in our newsletter, join the environmental book club, come out to the center and see the solar residential heating system, or attend one of their sponsored events.” And what better time to do that than this week?
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, this year Prairiewoods is teaming up with dozens of area organizations to put on the Corridor Earth Day Celebration. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, you can head out to the Teamsters Hall in Cedar Rapids where there will be music, demonstrations, presentations and door prizes — all to help raise awareness for the mission that Emy knows so well.
It’s with a defined sense hope, determination and commitment that Emy tackles the work she believes she was born to do. “I just feel so blessed to have found Prairiewoods and to be involved in the wonderful work that’s being done here,” Sautter says.
With a clear understanding of what she’d like to accomplish in the Corridor, perhaps the most important message she’s passionate about sending, though, is that we are all in this — for better or for worse — together.
“Personally, I feel that our biggest environmental concern as a people is our disconnect from our larger ecological family — we have forgotten that we are one strand within the web of life, that everything we do is connected to something larger than ourselves and has an impact, good or bad,” she says. “My hope is that we will return to that level of consciousness.”
— MAGGIE
Corridor Earth Day Celebration
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: 5000 J St. SW Cedar Rapids
Cost: Free
Activities: Keynote Speaker & Author
Connie Mutel will discuss her book “A Watershed Year: Anatomy of the Iowa Floods of 2008” at 1 p.m.
Eco-friendly activities will be available for the
whole family along with vendors, exhibits
and organizations, rain garden and rain barrel demos,
door prizes, live music from the Deep Dish Divas at 11:45, and of course, good food.
The first 100 people in the door receive a free
reusable bag.
Host Organizations: Trees Forever, Linn County Conservation/Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center, Prairiewoods Spirituality Center, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Indian Creek Nature Center, Sierra Club, Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency and more
For more information, check out www.corridorearthproject.com