Healing Facilitated By Nature
Root ‘n Renew facilitates healing activities in nature for individuals and groups, especially those who lack access to opportunities to engage with nature. Anyone can participate in R’nR programs directly and by referral from, or with social service organizations, faith groups, and mental health practitioners.
Root ‘n Renew seeks to support people as they heal from harmful emotional wounds that cycle through self, family, and society. For some, participation in the program may serve as an adjunct to traditional forms of therapy. For others, R’nR offers the opportunity to engage in nature as a therapeutic experience, or in conjunction with therapy available through R’nR with clinicians. Our purpose is to validate clients’ lived experience and effectuate growth, empowerment, and healing.
Nature calms us and prompts us to be more compassionate. For example, organic compounds released by trees reduce stress hormones and enhance the activity of white-blood cells. Interacting with nature stirs up a “cocktail of feel-good neurotransmitters”–serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins. Psychologists have found that experiences in nature can make us happier and help us to feel more connected as part of something larger, and thus act more generously and compassionately toward ourselves and others.
The menu of services available includes programs tailored for individuals, groups, families, or couples. Activities are located in the abundance of local East Bay natural spaces, trails, picnic areas, sheltered group sites, public gardens, libraries, church retreats, rural churches, and small farms, among other spaces.
Mission Statement:
Root ‘n Renew cultivates safe, restorative spaces where individuals can heal, build resilience, and reconnect with themselves and their communities through immersive nature experiences. By fostering personal growth and empowerment, we help people develop the strength and agency to thrive.
Core Values
AWE & WONDER – We embrace the transformative power of nature, inspiring a deep sense of connection to the world around us.
CONNECTION – We foster meaningful relationships—within ourselves, with others, and with nature—encouraging a sense of belonging and shared experience.
NURTURE – We create safe, supportive spaces for healing, growth, and self-discovery, recognizing that care and compassion are essential for transformation.
COMMUNITY & RECIPROCITY – We believe in the power of collective well-being, where individuals uplift one another through shared experiences, generosity, and mutual support.
Root ‘n Renew Team
Mary Biasotti
Co-Founder & President
For her entire life, Mary has loved being outdoors and was “mentored” into enjoyment of nature and stewarding the environment by her parents. Several years ago she began envisioning how to share the mental and spiritual healing power of nature with others. Mary has planned and directed economic and community development programs for various nonprofits over many years, including Harbor House, GRID Alternatives, International Rescue Committee, and NorCal Congregational Land Initiative. She worked as a development consultant for Richmond Main Street, San Pablo Economic Development Corporation, STEAM the Streets, IRC, and Students Rising Above.
Mary has orchestrated the planning, incorporation, and administration of Root ‘n Renew. She will serve as Executive Director after the startup phase and will coordinate the practitioners and activities.
Charlene Epp
Spiritual Director & Board Secretary
Charlene Epp, ordained in the Mennonite Church USA, is a Spiritual Care Practitioner drawing from years of experience as a bedside chaplain, staff caregiver, Conference Minister, Interim Pastor, and teacher. Her work included staff support based on trauma-informed models such as RISE (Resilience in Stressful Events). Before her ministerial roles, she taught elementary and preschool children from large urban underserved to small rural migrant communities.
As a Spiritual Director, Charlene co-facilitates groups and individuals in their spiritual walk. Raised on a small family farm in rural South Dakota, Charlene has experienced the benefits and challenges of remote rural settings as well as cosmopolitan settings such as The Bronx. A deep understanding of the interconnectedness of flora and fauna ecosystems of which humans are one small part has been a steady companion to Charlene and her vocation throughout her life. Healing is always possible even when a cure is not.
Duncan Smith
Mediator & Board Treasurer
Duncan served 35 years as an ordained Mennonite and for the last eleven years as Director of a denominational health plan in locations that span the nation. He is a trained mediator and a Qualified Administrator with the Intercultural Development Inventory. Both of these passions engage differences toward understanding and healing. Duncan has a passion for people to grow in their spiritual understanding of themselves and the communities they live within.
He is interested in healing and reconciliation work and continues to consult with organizations in conflict and working as well as their vision and direction. Part of Duncan’s interest in supporting Root ‘n Renew is his love of nature, hiking and his current experience of walking 1/3 of a mile to the local forest and having it embrace him and provide its’ healing balm.
Joel Mackey
Co-Founder and Board Member
Joel Mackey is a mental health counselor (therapist) at Bay Area Community Resources. He is licensed in both California and Washington. Joel is also an attorney licensed in California (and Illinois) with a limited private practice specializing in mediation and nonprofit law. He is an adjunct instructor with California State University East Bay.
Previously, Joel was the executive director of the Oakland Education Fund, the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund, Harbor House Ministries, and Habitat for Humanity—East Bay. He has also worked as the legal and policy analyst with Making Waves in Richmond, CA
Joel is a graduate of Northwestern University where he obtained a master’s degree in mental health counseling, Berkeley Law at the University of California, Berkeley with a Juris Doctor degree, and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University, with a Master of Divinity degree. He completed his undergraduate studies at Trinity College. Over the years, community service has consisted of coaching youth sports and serving on numerous nonprofit boards.