Pseads Institute

Planting the seeds of wonder, wisdom, and whole-person learning.

Pseads (“seeds”) is an educational nonprofit and design institute dedicated to reimagining learning as a living, creative, and deeply human process. With over 20 years of research and practice, we partner with educators, students, and communities to revitalize classrooms—with imagination, connection, and purpose. Our programs integrate story, science, social-emotional learning, and ecological and social justice, honoring the unique gifts of every learner and nurturing empathy, agency, and hope. We believe that learning can be a force for healing, belonging, and meaningful change.

To bring this vision to life, we design and facilitate:

• K-8 classroom programs and collaborations
• College and university courses/projects
• Educator workshops and professional development
* A youth fellowship program
• Intergenerational projects and community events

Pseads Summer Workshops Are Here!

We’re so happy to launch our first-ever summer workshops – led by Pseads Fellows!

Rising 2nd-3rd graders: join Emma for creating mornings filled with writing and art in nature.

Rising 4th-6th graders: Have fun with poetry, painting, and filmmaking with Lizzie, and bring stories to life.

We can’t wait to see you this summer!

Join Pseads in Celebrating Young Voices and Year Four of Hope on the Rize! 

🌟 Hope on the Rize 2025 🌟

This year, Hope on the Rize narrative and filmmaking project has soared to new heights. An extraordinary 1,270 student films have come to life—our most ever. But it’s not just the number that moves us—it’s the luminous quality of the stories, the depth of the poetry, and the unmistakable heart behind every frame. These young creators have dared to speak with heart, dream boldly, and craft visions of a more beautiful, just, and connected world. In every film, we glimpse the quiet revolution of hope taking root.

This rise in participation and artistic excellence is a direct reflection of the growing momentum behind Pseads’ mission—where learning meets purpose, and education becomes an act of healing and transformation. We are honored to share that our Mother Tree Council has expanded, bringing in even more visionary leaders from across the fields of education, ecology, arts, media, and science. Each council member has carefully selected this year’s films of “High Distinction”—and we can’t wait to share them with you. 

Celebrate with Us! A selection of award-winning films from Hope on the Rize 2025 will be featured at this year’s  Harvest of the Heart, our annual community gathering and fundraiser:
🗓️    August 16–17, 2025    🗓️

Meet the Council

New Things Are Blooming!

As the movement grows—Pseads stands at a powerful threshold—ready to deepen and expand our impact across Marin and the Bay Area. This year, our poetry and creative-based programs are thriving in 120 classrooms in seven school districts, with a 100% renewal rate. And we feel like this is barely scratching the surface of what’s possible.

In response to inspiration and growing need, we are launching two new initiatives: Exhale, to support and grow community among educators, and the Pseads Youth Fellowship Program to nurture youth leadership, starting with a cohort of young women. These widening circles of care reflect our commitment to cultivating a learning ecosystem where creativity, well-being, and connection can flourish—for every student, every educator, every community.

Pseads in the World

In 2020, five Pseads poets were invited to share poems as part of TEDxReImagineScience. The video poems were outside of the typical TED Talk format, but TED organizers loved the content and added a compilation to their main site. This was one of the first youth submissions of this kind added to the TED site.

Experiencing these visions and voices helped inspire the Hope on the Rize narrative and filmmaking initiative that began at Pseads the following year. Hope on the Rize includes emphasis on creating new narratives that inspire greater curiosity about science, the Earth, and the universe, and reflections that bring imagination and innovation together toward a healthier planet.

Learn More About Pseads

Pseads programs leverage the humanizing power of creativity, poetry and narrative, seamlessly weaving in concepts tied to key grade-level curriculum to enhance and elevate the overall learning experience. Over the last decade, our work has uplifted learners and educators by opening up new and deeper ways to connect to: What they are learning; Who they are; How to take meaningful action in their classroom, community, and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who supported the Second Annual Harvest of the Heart!

Read What Educators Say About Pseads

Read What Students Say About Pseads

Follow Pseads for Prompts, Poems, and Stories!