Earth to Community, The Reciprocity Report

By David Mora-Flores, Producer/Director, Elderberry Wisdom TV and Radio Program

(Left to right) David Mora-Flores, Joaquin Ocaña, and Rose High Bear during a segment of The Elderberry Wisdom TV and Radio Program.

A new chapter is unfolding for our community outreach and education efforts with the launch of The Elderberry Wisdom TV and Radio Program, a monthly multimedia production hosted by Joaquin Ocaña. This exciting development brings together storytelling, ecological knowledge, and collaboration of community in a way that is designed to inform, inspire, and connect.

Filmed at Capital Community Media in Salem, the show represents a creative milestone and a meaningful step forward in how we share knowledge with a wider audience. CCM:TV and sister station, KMUZ Radio have become important partners to us.

Behind the scenes, this project has been a true team effort. Apart from serving as the Urban Forestry Coordinator, I join Joaquin, the Native Plant Nursery Coordinator and show host along with Rose, the Founding Director, on this project. Together, the three of us completed production training at Capital Community Media in the spring, gaining the skills needed to bring this vision to life. This hands-on experience is a prime example that the show is not only community-driven in content, but also in its creation, reflecting a commitment to building a supportive community while amplifying important voices.

The debut episode was filmed in April and then broadcast in June. Our team has since recorded four programs which will continue to be broadcast at CCM:TV and at our website. These programs set the tone for what viewers and listeners can expect in the months ahead. At its heart is an introduction to Traditional Ecological Knowledge - a body of understanding rooted in generations of observation, relationship, and stewardship of the natural world. Rather than presenting TEK as an abstract concept, the episode approaches it as a living practice, one that continues to shape how communities interact with land, water, and plants today. This foundational topic provides a lens through which future episodes will explore environmental care, cultural continuity, and sustainable practices.

In addition to exploring TEK, the first episodes serves as an introduction to the people who make this work possible. Viewers will meet the staff behind the program, gaining insight into their roles and the perspectives they bring.  The episode also highlights our organization’s TEK Workforce Development Internship Initiative, featuring voices who are learning to connect traditional knowledge with Western environmental work. By showcasing interns alongside staff, the show helps to emphasize mentorship, growth, and the importance of cultivating the next generation of leaders in this field.

A key feature of The Elderberry Wisdom TV and Radio Show is its storytelling segment, which anchors each episode in cultural narrative and oral tradition. In the first two programs, the audience is invited to listen to the wisdom and knowledge shared by Johnny Moses, a respected Native American storyteller. His stories convey values, teachings, and relationships embedded in the natural world. The storytelling segment creates space for reflection and connection, reminding our audience that knowledge is not only learned but also felt and remembered from the ancestors’ past.

Most episodes will include segments that highlight organizations and collaborators who are doing meaningful work aligned with the show’s mission. By featuring partnerships, the program strengthens community ties and brings visibility to shared efforts in ecological restoration, cultural education, and environmental awareness. This collaborative approach helps to reinforce the idea that meaningful change happens through collaborative action.

Structurally, the show follows a consistent format that will carry through future episodes. Each installment begins with an introduction to the theme, followed by educational content such as the TEK discussion. The storytelling segment provides a reflective centerpiece, and partner highlights round out the episode with real-world connections. Our goal is to make each show both informative and engaging, balancing knowledge-sharing with cultural storytelling.

Looking ahead, The Elderberry Wisdom TV and Radio Program will expand on this foundation by exploring a wide range of topics related to traditional knowledge, native plants, urban forestry, and community resilience. Future episodes will continue to feature diverse voices, deepen conversations around ecological stewardship, and provide insights that audiences can carry into their own lives and communities.

This is just the beginning, but it already offers a clear vision of what’s to come: a space where knowledge is shared across communities, where stories carry meaning beyond words, and where connections are strengthened through collaboration and creativity. You can reach out to Capitol Community Media TV which is publishing the schedule at its website. We will also be adding links to our website.