From the November 7th, 2003 San Francisco Chronicle, "Hot Dates" section

Nurturing a sense of nature
By Rona Marech
Chronicle Staff Writer

A recent study showed that children could identify more than 1,000 corporate logos, but only a handful of plants in their own backyard, according to writer Pamela Michael. That widespread disconnection to nature inspired her and poet Robert Haas to found River of Words, an arts and environmental education organization, nine years ago. They expand their project this week, with the opening of a children's art gallery in Berkeley, where both writers live.
By deepening children's understanding of nature through art and words, "we're trying to grow a generation of earth stewards," said Michael, the executive director of the organization. "If you give children a chance to make a connection to the place they live in and the natural world, then their behaviors are nurturing and appropriate... And creativity generates art and solutions to real problems."
The young artists and poets they plan to showcase in the gallery will include the winners of the annual River of Words contest, which receives thousands of submissions from around the world every year. "Because we're international, we've seen the power of art as a medium for global understanding and tolerance," Michael said. Young people from countries that have hostile relations with the United States routinely participate in the contest, she said. "It's hard to look at it and think, 'this is the artwork of our enemies.' We think the power of art is transformative."
Berkeley The gallery opens Thursday. Holiday hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday or by appointment. 2525 8th St. Studio 13B. Free.
Revenues from art sales will support the River of Words educational programs. For more information call (510) 548-7636 or go to www.riverofwords.org.