Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Claudia Spurill. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Claudia , thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I started my career as a Registered Nurse in Richmond, VA in 2015. The apartment complex I moved into had a large community garden nearby where I saw seniors walking to and from in the afternoon. As an RN, I recognized the physical and mental benefits of the garden for the seniors. Despite language barriers and cultural differences, the garden united the community, allowing them to grow food and relationships. I witnessed this magic as a child and now see it in South Richmond’s immigrant community. Unfortunately, the landowner sold the original garden without notice, bulldozing the community’s hard work and tools. This was the second time the landowner had taken their land. I took action and found 2 acres of undisturbed land nearby to rebuild the community garden. We face the challenge of restoring the Biggs Road Community Garden and rebuilding the community’s trust after their garden areas were stolen twice. Our goal is to show our commitment to the community, preserve the legacy of those who came before us, and plant the seed for the future. We need your support to restore the Biggs Road Community Garden and bring back the magic to our community.

Claudia , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As a young girl, I fondly remember my mother picking me up from my grandmother’s house after work. We would stop at my father’s garden during summer evenings, where he grew various vegetables. This place was magical, and my dad was like Superman. I loved following him around, stepping into his large shoeprints as he showed me the different vegetables he was growing and helped me harvest what was ripe. I thought my dad had a special magic in his hands. Once we had gathered and watered the plants, we would return to where my mom had parked the car. My dad would pick me up, sit on the back of his old green pickup truck, and dust me off. My mom always had a cold drink waiting for us, and we would sit together and watch the sunset. Before the mosquitoes started biting, my dad would remind us to head home. Growing up, I was surrounded by a community of people who supported each other and cared for the environment, even if they didn’t realize it. Looking back, I appreciate the values and lessons I learned from my village’s people.

The space where my father used to garden was replaced with an apartment complex, and our backyard became the new garden. However, as I got older, I started questioning the old-fashioned wisdom my father tried to impart, replacing it with textbook logic and scientific reasoning. However, during my teenage years, I stumbled upon a secret that my father had been keeping. He was illiterate. As a dramatic teenager, I was devastated. I couldn’t believe that the Superman of my life was an old country black man who couldn’t read. But then it dawned on me that this was the real magic. My village was made up of survivors who took the scraps that life gave them and turned them into something beautiful. They built loving homes, successful children, and productive communities. They were the ones who planted the seeds.

Unbeknownst to me, a country farmer had sowed a seed that his daughter would nurture and teach others to cultivate. Though I pursued a pre-med major during my undergraduate studies, my spare time was spent in the botany lab, where I delved into the intricacies of crop production. As I attended lectures on the revolutionary nature of gardening and its potential to pay homage to our ancestors, I felt compelled to establish an Ecology Club to impart this knowledge to others.
Eventually, Michelle Obama’s call for black and brown children to grow their own food further fueled my passion for community gardening. 2012 while volunteering at the Health Department, I encountered three young girls living in income-based apartments who aspired to have a garden like the former First Lady. Along with my father, I volunteered to assist them, which ultimately led to the creation of a non-profit community gardening organization, with my father serving on the Board of Executives.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

As a Registered Nurse and as a community changemaker, what helps me succeed is remembering to treat everyone how I would want to be treated. I have been a patient in a hospital bed, afraid and lonely. I have also been someone searching for their purpose. It’s okay to take time to help others along their path. Someone helped me.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I love what I do. I have been a registered nurse for eight years. I began my career as an associates-prepared RN, working nights on an inpatient rehab and spinal cord injury unit. I obtained my BSN and rehab nursing certification during my first three years of nursing. I transitioned to a Family Medicine clinic four years ago. This transition helped me to realize my gift of being an educator. In addition to nursing, I am the executive director of a non-profit community gardening organization. I acknowledge the interconnectedness of human and environmental health and believe that the best ways to tackle our health concerns are through education and action.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.socogrows.org
• Instagram: socogrows or claudiaspurill
• Facebook: claudiaspurill or seedsofchangeorg
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/claudiaspurillrn or www.linkedin.com/company/seeds-of-change-organization
• Twitter: claudia_spurill or socogrows