People, Place & Critical Partnerships: Native Prairie Plants as Superheroes beyond Water Quality

There is a problem in Minneapolis communities at the intersection of ecological and social systems. Despite efforts to use native prairie plants for cleaning water, the social justice stories connected to native prairie plants were being ignored. This problem has negatively impacted communities because native prairie plants can be an educational tool for action around water justice, climate change, systemic racism, and habitat restoration. A possible cause of the problem is a narrowed focus on the science behind the native prairie plants without attention to diverse voices, perspectives, partnerships, and capital that people involved in the projects hold. The purpose of this case study was to hear from diverse voices, perspectives, and partnerships involved with a variety of native prairie planting sites in the Minneapolis area. This multiple case study investigated the meanings people made connected to forms of capital through a social constructivism paradigm based on participation in community native prairie planting projects. Four cases with six focus group interviews, alongside triangulation using artifacts and visual methods were used in this study. Analysis included critical theory, ecological citizenship theory, and complexity theory. Participant hands were on plants and in the soil where lessons expanded beyond the tangible environmental science into self-reflection and community relationships related to sense of place, connection, belonging, healing, agency, and knowledge to action. Nine findings emerged from the data. This study teaches community leaders tools and pathways for healing and reconciliation at the intersection of social and ecological systems (Berkes et al., 2008; Liu et al., 2007; Nyborg, K., 2020) and points out gains in forms of capital when native prairie planting projects were completed by individuals, groups, and communities. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]