ABOUT US
DE NOSOTROS
The Consumption Literacy Project is rethinking how we use and reuse resources. We work with youth, educators, and communities in Denver, CO to explore the systems behind what we consume and what we waste, and to co-create circular solutions that reduce harm and regenerate value across food, fashion, and beyond. We believe everyone can become active participants in the circular economy.
El Proyecto de Alfabetización del Consumo está replanteando cómo usamos y reutilizamos los recursos. Trabajamos con jóvenes, educadores y comunidades en Denver, CO, para explorar los sistemas detrás de lo que consumimos y lo que desperdiciamos, y para co-crear soluciones circulares que reduzcan el daño y regeneren el valor en la comida, la moda y más allá. Creemos que todos pueden convertirse en participantes activos en la economía circular.
Austine A. Luce, PhD. Founder
Dr. Luce's work focuses on holding space for youth to have a voice in the learning process through thinking politically, personally, creatively, and critically into the relationships between school, self, and the context of their lives
OUR TEAM
NUESTRO EQUIPO
As a staff, we work together to foster community engagement, share knowledge, and support youth and families. We focus on building hubs of food sovereignty and food oases, and connection. We believe every action leaves an imprint on the Earth, some harmful, some healing. Through inclusive, hands-on programs, we cultivate change leaders who explore how we consume, what we waste, and how to redesign systems for a more balanced, regenerative way of living with the planet.
Como personal, trabajamos juntos para fomentar la participación de la comunidad, compartir conocimientos y apoyar a los jóvenes y las familias. Nos centramos en construir centros de soberanía alimentaria y oasis de alimentos, y conexión. Creemos que cada acción deja una huella en la Tierra, algo dañino, algo curativo. A través de programas inclusivos y prácticos, cultivamos líderes de cambio que exploran cómo consumimos, qué desperdiciamos y cómo rediseñar sistemas para una forma más equilibrada y regenerativa de vivir con el planeta.
Program Director
Shelly Martinez
Shelly is a mother of five, ages 10-25 years old, and lives in the Montbello community raising her beautiful babies with her husband. Shelly is an avid urban gardener, with a keen eye for channeling resources in the community to help build urban gardens across Denver food deserts. She is also, a community chef providing meals at our weekly garden meetings. She worked as a substitute teacher and volunteered many hours with CLP before becoming a team member as a bilingual urban agricultural specialist and now, Program Director. In her role, Shelly focuses on restoring urban spaces in Montbello, into beautiful gardens that produce food to share while teaching youth how to grow food and build connections to their community.
Circular Textile Director
Euri Mead
Euri Mead serves as the Circular Textile Director, where she leads innovative community initiatives that advance circular clothing systems through education, collaboration, and experiential learning. Her work centers on building community-based circular clothing systems by diverting textiles from the waste stream, extending the life of clothing through skill-building, and advancing regenerative solutions through composting and emerging mycology-based innovations for textile waste. She empowers communities to rethink consumption, reduce waste, and build resilient local circular economies.
Euri is also an Instructor at Kansas State University with more than twenty years of experience in retail, merchandising, product development, entrepreneurship, and visual merchandising. Her teaching and research focus on circularity education, consumer engagement, experiential learning, and attitudes toward circular clothing practices, translating research into community-based experiences that hope to inspire action. Together with the CLP community, Euri is helping build a community-based circular fashion ecosystem through the Nearly Zero Diversion Project, CLP's Circular Clothing Experiences, and the Center for Engaged Circularity.
Urban Agricultural Specialist Community Coordinator
Justin Twist
Justin (he/they) grew up in upstate New York on the ancestral lands of the Haudenosaunee. Spending much of his youth romping around forests and streams, Justin grew a passion for animals and ecosystems. After studying these things in college, he planted roots in Denver. Justin loves working in the garden, practicing reciprocity with the land, and learning new ways of building soil. He finds joy in sharing garden experiences with youth, and loves the community that Consumption Literacy cultivates.
Urban Agricultural Specialist Community Coordinator
Ashley Pearson
Ashley is an urban farmer who is passionate about growing fresh, culturally relevant food. Starting as a volunteer, Ashley is excited to take on the role of Urban Agriculture Specialist to engage the community and lead day-to-day gardening operations.
Urban Agricultural Specialist Community Coordinator
Zanna Ceesay
Zanna Ceesay is one of our Urban Agricultural Specialists, passionate about cycling carbon (yard waste), creating habitat starting with the soil, and land stewardship. She is the Executive Director, Lead Educator and Head Gardener of Living Systems Institute (LSI), and manages a team of gardeners for LSI’s Reinhabit program.
“I cultivate and nourish - soil, plants, children, and community, one yard at a time. Join us in this effort!” - ZC
Program Coordinator
Anahi Rojas
Anahi is student in college who loves helping others and exploring hiking spots with beautiful views. She enjoys learning and spending time outdoors, combining her passion for nature with her goal to make a positive impact in our community!
Program Coordinator
Addy Dolby
Addy studied Environmental Sociology at CSU where she developed a passion for food sovereignty and environmental justice. As Program Coordinator, she is enthusiastic about building meaningful connections to the land and the community, and continually learning from the people and ecosystems around her.
Executive Director of Eastside Growers Collective
Charlotte Gladney
Charlotte is a community educator and horticulture leader with over 30 years of experience in botany and gardening, including service with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. She leads community-based initiatives focused on food access, sustainability, and education. Through her leadership, Eastside Growers Collective continues to cultivate learning, connection, and community wellness through gardening.
Community Builder
Rick Garcia