Rosa Parks Elementary School Community Garden

VISION

The principal and teachers at Rosa Parks Elementary School envisioned a ‘community garden’ as a means to nurture community spirit, common purpose and culture appreciation among the diverse populations in City Heights. Children and their parents involved in the school-based Cesar E Chavez Service Clubs picture a vibrant garden as an environmental classroom for tangible educational projects, service learning and leadership development. The owner of City Farmers Nursery, a local business, was excited about his participation as a way to give back to his community. The Padre Dental Group and other health providers saw the chance to develop an appetite for healthy foods and diets among children and their families. With the new Wellness Center’s Teaching Kitchen opening, the facility would offer a venue to prepare ethnic cuisine with the garden’s harvest for all the community to enjoy and celebrate.

MISSION

The mission of the Community Garden is to bring school children and community members together to work for a sustainable planet. The Project is designed to motivate and equip City Heights children and residents to take action on behalf of youth at multiple levels: as a community, as organizations, as families and as individuals. The focus of this effort is to strengthen the community’s capacity and effectiveness by facilitating academic performance, bridging intergenerational relationships, promoting dialogue and community service. As an outside classroom, it shall provide real life, hands-on experience to study health and nutrition, oral health, science, mathematics, ecology, agriculture and more. The concept builds upon the existing community resources and assets; it has the power to change people’s lives and can affect City Heights’ children in profound ways.

DIVERSITY

The Rosa Parks City Height Community Garden is an inclusive project, shaped by local community members, especially the youth to serve the whole community. Steering Committee members, representing the extensive cultural base in City Heights, have been working in tandem with other local planning groups, organizations, civic groups, children, parents and residents to identify existing resources and interests for optimal participation and involvement.