In this episode of the Composting for Community Podcast, ILSR’s Jordan Ashby is joined by recipients of ILSR’s 2024 Composting for Community Mini-Grant Program, Victor Perez, compost educator at Garden Time, and Carla Doughty, Executive Director of Zero Waste Providence. Garden Time, Inc. prepares incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals for the plant-based green industry workforce, equipping traditionally underserved populations with the skills, self-confidence, and support they need to successfully transition to long-term employment and productive life in the community. This grant funded their Green Reentry Job Training program, through which graduates, like Victor, work in their communities to spread the message that composting is for everyone. Partner organization Zero Waste Providence provides canvassing training and technical assistance as these outreach interns acquire new skills and workforce competence. In this episode, they discuss Victor’s transformative experience through composting in Garden Time’s Green Reentry Job Training program, and the value of this experience for performing outreach and education tailored to the specific needs of the community. In this episode, Jordan, Carla, and Victor discuss: - The powerful role composting played for Victor while incarcerated, and the transformative power of composting for mental health and personal growth - The importance of having compost educators who reflect the community they’re reaching - The impact of these initiatives on economic empowerment and environmental sustainability - The wide network of community organizations in Providence and the importance of collaboration rather than competition - The importance of funding for local composting and reentry programs, and the outsized impact of these programs The 2025 Composting for Community Mini-Grant Program is now accepting applications. The Program supports new or existing local community composters in New England coastal states and – for the first time – New York City. The Mini-Grant Program focuses in particular on historically underserved communities, including Native Nations and neighborhoods affected by discrimination and exclusion. We invite applications from projects originating in these communities, including BIPOC-led or BIPOC-serving organizations. To learn more about the BIPOC Mini-Grant Program, visit: https://ilsr.org/articles/2025-composting-grants/ For the full transcript and info, visit ilsr.org. https://ilsr.org/articles/transformative-power-of-dirt