Orlene Marie Carlos

Orlene Carlos is a PhD student in the School of Sustainability in the College of Global Futures. Since 2021 Orlene has been working with the Kuntanawa Tribe whose home is the rainforests of Acre, Brazil. In her work with the Kuntanawas she is inspired by their mission to heal themselves, the forest and the globe through their project Transform and Illuminate. Orlene’s research will center around the concept of Healing for Sustainability—expanding environmental consciousness through sharing the practices and traditions of indigenous guardians of the land. Orlene began her pursuits in sustainability at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with her Masters degree in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development in 1998. Since then, she has worked with indigenous and marginalized communities as a performing artist and educator to assist children and adults process and heal trauma. When individuals on their healing journeys find peace and harmony within themselves, their communities can heal as well. We are all connected as a global community. Each person’s healing contributes to heal and sustain the world and the natural systems we live in and are deeply connected to.