Community. aka. to serve as Diane C. Fujino calls a "centerperson" in a "grand central station."
Saguaro Nursery,
Desert Botanical Garden
Together with Dr. Tania Hernandez, Cactus Research Scientist at the Desert Botanical Garden, I oversee the team of volunteers behind the Saguaro Initiatives, a community science projects aimed at documenting, preserving, and propagating the iconic saguaro cactus. In this role with the Saguaro Nursery, I conduct germination experiments with saguaro seeds from all over the natural distribution. assemble and distribute seed incubation kits, and coordinate the ex- situ conservation project.
Saguaro Nursery Coordinator (2024- present)
Crystal Zhou with team of volunteers transplanting room temperature germinated Saguaro Seedlings into trays for further monitoring and research..
Middlebury Organic Farm,
Middlebury College
The Knoll was founded by students in 2003 as an educational garden and gathering space for the campus community. As a Summer '22 intern, I farmed myself into the Middlebury food system. In the years after, I've remained on the team to engage with Knoll community partners, hire the incoming crews, and host events ranging from Environmental Science classes, Abenaki sweetgrass workshops, and Knoll 20th Anniversary Celebrations.
Knoll Summer Intern (2022)
Knoll Intern (2022-2023)
Knoll Intern (2023-2024)
Crystal Zhou (left) reuniting with her cohort, Caroline Jiao, Lauren Gemery, CJ Nabung from her original Knoll summer '22 internship at the 20th Anniversary Harvest and Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Celebration. .
Climate Action Fellowship,
Middlebury College
The Climate Action Fellowship is an incubator for students to explore collaborative thinking and skill development on how to confront the climate crisis. As a fellow, I brought students off campus to local field trips, and farmers into our classrooms, kitchens, and gardens. In summer '23, I conducted research and farmed with Black farmers with my CAF grant at Khelcom Farm, SUSU Community Farm, Conscious Homestead, Ananda Farms, Soulfire Farm, Clemmons Family Farm, Strafford Creamery, Sowing Roots Farm, High Priestess, and Calabash Gardens, and Flying Buffalo Farm. Lastly, I taught a class analyzing Black land ownership in Vermont and the United States.
Climate Action Fellow (2023-2024)
Crystal Zhou (bottom right) with Climate Action Fellows from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 for an end of year celebration.
New Perennials Project,
Middlebury, College
The New Perennials Project is a multi-year exploration of the role of perenniality in agriculture and education. As an intern, I stewarded the $50,000 USDA grant for the Improving VT Agricultural Lands and Building the Next Generation of VT Farmers project through creating promotional schedules and materials, booking performers and speakers, and organizing activities and attractions for four Community Farm Days. Other projects explored releasing a podcast on the theme of apocalypse and and weekly workshops focused on perennial plant medicine.
New Perennial Summer Intern (2023)
New Perennial Fall Intern (2024)
Crystal Zhou (center) with New Perennial interns Tessa Mott and Annalise Johnson at the New Perennials hosted Community Farm Days at Larson Family Farm.
Women of Color (WOC),
Middlebury College
Women of Color at Middlebury (WOC) is a collective space for students who identify as women or nonbinary people of color. When I attended my first WOC meeting, it was only a handful of lowerclassmen gathering six feet apart in a basement. Our weekly meeting place became a Grand Central Station of knowledge, advice, and socializing. As we switch between discussion and activity meetings, we aim to celebrate our identities and cultivate a sense of belonging. Every spring, I lead big events ranging from annual WOC traditions such as the Black Pearl Ball and Art Gallery, as well as school wide celebrations such as the DMC Block Party and Dia De Los Muertos processions.
WOC Event Coordinator (2021-2022)
WOC Co-President (2022-2023)
Crystal Zhou (left) with WOC '22 -23 board members Aylin Atzin, Aurora Austin, Franchesca Belisle, and Divyanshi Raturi at the WOC Gallery: Feminine Rage.
Pan African Latinx Asian Native American Student Coalition
(PALANA),
Middlebury College
PALANA is a student organization and social house built on community, culture, and empowerment for students of color at Middlebury. In my different roles, my main focus has been fostering collaboration across diverse student organizations—spanning athletic, religious, cultural, academic, social, artistic, and service-oriented groups—to strengthen community connections at Middlebury. Our bi-weekly bonding events and larger events drew students from a wide variety of background in order to cultivate a more inclusive and respectful campus.
PALANA Secretary (2021-2022)
PALANA Event Coordinator (2022-2023)
PALANA Creative Chair (2023-2024)
Crystal Zhou (right) with board members Marissa Lewis and Leslie Ramirez while setting up for the Dia de Los Muerto procession.