Community Growers Program

Community Growers T - Shirts.
Community Growers T - Shirts.

 

 

 

On March 9th, we began our 8-week Community Growers program with a leadership-minded group of 22 youth in the Baker Chapter of the Boys & Girls Club at Hiatt Middle School in Des Moines. (Project lead is Linda Shenk with team members Alenka Poplin and Caroline Krejci, ISU Extension Caitlin Szymanski, and team of undergraduate researchers Branden Cervetti, Kate Fjelstad, Kara Harmet, and Carlee Tope.) Using a methodology of spatial, socio-technical storytelling, this group will be using primarily GIS and gaining some familiarity with agent-based modeling to create and tell the story of the assets of their neighborhood and then devise and conduct an action project in their school’s community garden.

Their story-maps and action project will be shared with neighborhood residents, the local neighborhood coalition Viva East Bank!, and City of Des Moines officials at community events such as a community festival we are planning in late August.

 

 

On the March 31st, The Community Growers youth began learning GIS today, learning about calculating distance, using layers, and finding locations.
On March 31st, the Community Growers youth began learning GIS today, learning about calculating distance, using layers, and finding locations.
On April 6th, Researchers and Community Growers youth took advantage of the lovely weather and went out to the garden where they made videos to give their perspective of the garden.
On April 6th, researchers and Community Growers youth took advantage of the lovely weather and went out to the garden where they made videos to give their perspective of the garden.
On April 20th, Community Growers youth were working on their GIS map today, analyzing what their map suggests about their garden within food and recreation systems.
On April 20th, Community Growers youth were working on their GIS map today, analyzing what their map suggests about their garden within food and recreation systems.