The Brushwood Top 10: 2025

By Catherine Game

2025 was a big year for Brushwood Center!

Looking back, it’s hard to narrow down our most significant moments, as there are so many thanks to the Brushwood team, our community, and our supporters. The Brushwood Top 10 is an annual tradition that we are always happy to share, so the whole staff came together to choose the following incredible moments of 2025.

Thanks to our supporters for making these moments at Brushwood possible. We can’t wait to make more moments of impact with you in 2026!

1. Celestial Forest Bathing

Abbey Castro, Communications Coordinator

Brushwood partnered with Reciprocal Forest Bathing to provide free opportunities throughout the year for the community to mindfully connect with nature, in English and Spanish.

Jess Rodriguez, Coalition Building Manager and Forest Therapy Guide, leads a Forest Bathing session.

2. Celebrating the 42nd Annual Smith Nature Symposium Youth Environmental Leadership Awardees

Ashley Cullen-Williams, Senior Program Director

This year, we were thrilled to honor Robin Wall Kimmerer at the Smith Nature Symposium Awards. We celebrated the work of future environmental justice leaders, Ja’Harmony Johnson and Victor Hinojosa, two exemplary young leaders.

Youth Environmental Leadership Awardees Victor and Ja’Harmony with Robin Wall Kimmerer at Chicago Botanic Garden

3. The Community Leadership Roundtable: In the Field

Angela Ramirez, Administrative Coordinator

This year, the Community Leadership Roundtable took a new form: Environmental Justice and Healing bus tours to some of the most relevant sites in Waukegan. Watch the short film by Videographer-in-Residence, Kateryna Sazonova.

The morning bus tour group of Brushwood partners, Board members, and participants at Yeomen Creek Landfill.

**4. The At Ease in Nature Exhibition**

Jes Klinge, Veteran Programs Specialist

The November art exhibition, At Ease in Nature featured artwork created during our 2025 At Ease programs, as well as work inspired by experiences in nature from members of the Military Community. This year’s exhibition highlighted the diversity that can be found in nature and in the armed forces, making each stronger than they would be without it.

Dante Plata, Army Veteran, with his photography pieces at the At Ease in Nature opening.

5. Expansion of the TIERRA Program

Jess Rodriguez, Building Coalition Manager

TIERRA (Transforming Internal Experiences for Resilience and Restoration through Acceptance) is a first-of-its-kind, nature-based mental health intervention. This year, it expanded beyond its pilot phase to new organizations in Lake County, and 17 new Community Health Workers were certified in the program.

The Accelerator team celebrating with the certified promotoras group.

6. Before Dreams Are The Last Place We Find You: Lydia Cheshewalla

Julia Kemerer, Director of Arts and Administration

Brushwood welcomed Osage ephemeral artist Lydia Cheshewalla for a solo exhibition of the work created during her residency at the Center for Humans & Nature.

Lydia Cheshewalla gives an artist talk on her collaborative process with nature during the exhibition opening.

7. The Hunter Family Foundation gift to name The Maxine M. Hunter Performance Plaza

Mirja Spooner Haffner, Director of Development

In April, Brushwood received a transformative gift of $2.5 million from the Hunter Family Foundation to create The Maxine M. Hunter Performance Plaza, in support of Brushwood Center’s comprehensive campaign to expand programs and renovate our building at Ryerson Woods, Activate: A Campaign for Investment in Community.

Rendering of the future Maxine M. Hunter Performance Plaza by Serena Sturm Architects.

8. The Release of Flourish

Parker Nelson, Director of Public Programs and Music

This fall, Ensemble-in-Residence Black Moon Trio released a new album with Brushwood called Flourish, featuring our 2025 Smith Nature Symposium Honoree, Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Parker Nelson with Trisha Steele from Prairie Circle Unitarian Universalist Congregation
receiving a copy of the Flourish album.

9. Supporting Youth and Families with NEST Packs

Eddie Flores, Youth Education Coordinator

Created in response to families’ fear of going outside due to ICE activity, Brushwood’s NEST Packs are designed to nurture connection, curiosity, and community by providing families with Nature Exploring Safety Tools backpacks that make outdoor exploration both accessible and affirming.

Staff members Abbey Castro, Jes Klinge, Eddie Flores, and Ashley Cullen – Williams pack NEST packs at Brushwood.

10. Growing the Team

Catherine Game, Executive Director

Brushwood Center welcomed Ashley Cullen-Williams as our new Senior Program Director this summer. Ashley is a passionate and licensed mental health advocate and social-emotional learning expert, and has already had transformative impact in her new role at Brushwood. Learn more about Ashley’s story through her video.

Ashley Cullen-Williams confers with the Community Programs Team

And I have a bonus top moment, as I grew the “team” in an additional way. My family and I welcomed baby Emerald, born on Earth Day of this year!

Emerald has already enjoyed touring Brushwood exhibitions and perusing the Nature-Inspired Holiday Market, and she can’t wait for ¡Hola! Wiggleworms!

We wish you the best in 2026!