Focalizers

Michael Flynn has been working with Common Vision for six years and currently serves as the Director of Education and Program Development. He has a BA in Sociology and Education from Pomona College. Through Common Vision he helps to draw communities together, to connect students, elders, experts, and teachers, and to network existing positive projects so that they may benefit by cooperating towards one common vision. He has helped develop garden-based educational programs in LA, organized bio-fuel co-ops, taught veggie-fuel workshops, organized four Fruit Tree Tours, and run a small organic farm. He is also a certified yoga teacher and permaculture design teacher. 

Connecting with the earth and its healing and empowerment has been lifelong journey for Megan.  Currently serving as Common Vision's Projects Director, she manages the enormous number of logistics involved in each of our 6 vehicle and 25 person expeditions.  Megan finds paralells between Fruit Tree Tour and her childhood dream of being a migrant farm worker and loves to teach Common Vision course participants how to make positive choices for themselves and the communities they live in.

Blair Phillips founded Common Vision in 1999. Seeking to create and be the change he wished to see in the world, Blair set out to create the types of programs in which he had wished to participate while in school. Recognizing there is no end to our learning and awakening, his mission has led him on a journey to study the different facets of sustainability and to help others to foster these same connections for themselves. Together with other prominent members of Common Vision, Blair organized and facilitated Bio-fuel powered courses, workshops, and farm tours. In addition to receiving a BA in environmental studies (with an emphasis in education and Agroecology) and a permaculture teacher certification, his explorations have resulted in his being well versed in the area of water development. Further, Blair has been observing the connection between ancient cultures, their traditions, and what we currently call sustainability. This unique perspective has led Blair to study in villages of West Africa and has resulted in the propagation of over 7000 trees in Guinea, W.Africa.
Currently, Blair is the script-writer for the Fruit Tree Tour Performance, the Artistic Director, and faithful double clutcher of Common Vision’s first bus, “The Lioness”.

Leo is a multi-talented man who wears many hats.  Among his roles are building and stewarding the Common Vision fleet, running alternative energy trainings, teaching drumming on Fruit Tree Tour, and helping to coordinate our large pool of volunteers.  As the Alternative Energy Specialist Leo converts our vehicles to run on Straight Vegetable Oil and builds our Solar Electric Systems.  Not to mention he's hardworking and good looking guy.

Maggie White is continually grateful for the opportunity to help  plant more trees!  Her work with Common Vision aligns with her dedication to supporting  our human family's connection to our natural world. Since 2005  Maggie has cared for the entire life cycle of the trees on Fruit Tree Tour, from managing the donations and purchasing all of our fruit trees to organizing rootstock and scion for grafting, picking up soil for each planting, and stewarding the 1000 dormant trees while on tour.  Maggie has a deep natural capacity for listening and service and has been instrumental in coordinating our ever growing pool of volunteers and keeping supplies on hand for the crew and project.  Maggie managed a vegetable and medicinal herb farm in the Sierra Foothills in 2005-06 and has inspired many to grow food in their community.