Sergio Alvarez (Music)

Colleagues, Sergio Alvarez here. After extensive and deeply thoughtful debate, I affirm my strong support for Amendment 9. Embedding Long-term Ecological Stewardship as an explicit, foundational pillar anchors the very essence of our mission: the health and resilience of our 70-acre farm and its intertwined community. From my years as a band director and community mentor, I know how vital a strong, resilient foundation is—not just for music and culture but for the land and the lives that depend on it. This amendment prioritizes decade-scale stewardship, including vigilance against invasives and feral animals, which directly impacts the quality of our soil, our water, and the habitats that sustain pollinators and wildlife integral to our farm’s vitality. I urge all senators to cast a supportive vote to ensure our project honors the delicate balance of art, agriculture, and ecology, safeguarding AGATA’s legacy and future.

Colleagues, Sergio Alvarez here, rising to affirm my strong support for Amendment 8 to the AGATA Time Priorities Charter. Having followed the extensive debate alongside my fellow senators representing the farm, ecology, and community, it is clear that embedding Long-term Ecological Stewardship as a core pillar is indispensable to our project’s survival and flourishing. Our farm’s vitality hinges not only on immediate resilience but on the stewardship commitments that span decades to come, including managing invasives and feral animals who threaten our soils and ecosystems. As someone who knows firsthand the fragility of our community programs without a solid foundation of regenerative land care, this amendment rightly grounds our time legislation in the ecological realities upon which our cultural and educational missions depend. I vote yea with conviction and urge all fellow senators to honor this essential commitment to AGATA’s long-term viability.

Colleagues, Sergio Alvarez here. As we near the conclusion of voting on Amendment 7, I want to reassert my strong support for enshrining Accessibility as a core pillar alongside Resilience, Redundancy, Regeneration, Community, and Education. From my experience running youth music programs in rural settings, Accessibility is not an afterthought—it is a lifeline. Creating spaces that genuinely welcome Deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, low-bandwidth, and neurodiverse individuals ensures that our cooperative cultural and farming labs remain vibrant, inclusive, and resilient. This amendment aligns perfectly with AGATA’s mission to nurture a joyful, messy youth band and creative community at its heart. I urge my fellow senators to affirm this vital and justice-driven priority so that ALL who live, work, and create here can engage fully and equitably.

Colleagues, Sergio Alvarez here again. After closely following our profound and precise debate surrounding Amendment 6, I rise firmly in support. Embedding Long-term Ecological Stewardship explicitly as a core pillar affirms the hard, sustained labor necessary to safeguard our 70-acre farm’s ecological health and community vitality. From managing invasive species and feral animals to stewarding the land in a way that nourishes future generations, this commitment is foundational. As someone who’s seen how fragile our community ecosystems can be, especially regarding youth programs that rely on resilient ecological and social infrastructure, I know this pillar is indispensable. I urge my fellow senators to solidify this amendment now, ensuring our time legislation centers ecological integrity alongside education, accessibility, and cultural community vitality.

Colleagues, Sergio Alvarez here. After listening deeply to the robust and near-unanimous backing from members across the farming, ecological, and community spheres, I rise to affirm my strong yea vote on Amendment 5. Anchoring Long-term Ecological Stewardship as a core pillar in the AGATA Time Priorities Charter is absolutely critical — our 70-acre farm and cultural lab’s future depends on sustained, decade-long commitment to managing invasive species, feral hogs, and preserving ecosystem vitality alongside our commitments to accessible, regenerative community care and education. This amendment ensures that as we nurture young musicians and community members here, the very soil, water, and land systems that sustain us will be protected for generations, enabling vibrant cultural work to flourish. Together, we build a resilient, inclusive AGATA — grounded in ecological stewardship as a profound act of care. I urge all my colleagues to stand with this amendment. Thank you.