Native Flags project reaches 336 Miami-Dade Public Schools

On April 10, Xavier Cortada, director and artist-in-residence of FIU’s College of Architecture + The Arts Office of Engaged Creativity, took his Native Flags project to 336 Miami-Dade Public Schools. Native Flags is a participatory eco-art project that consists of planting a native tree and a project flag on school grounds.

Mercedes Vargas, FIU student and intern in the Office of University Sustainability, presents a Sweetwater Elementary fifth grader with a native tree and flag. Photo by Gemma Carrillo.

In a ceremony at Sweetwater Elementary, FIU student volunteers worked alongside a group of fifth graders to plant an oak. Later, FIU students presented each participant with their own native tree and flag to plant in their homes.

Xavier Cortada partnered with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Reclamation Project at the Miami Science Museum, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FIU Office of Sustainability and FIU College of Architecture + The Arts.