California

Thomas Jefferson HS Getting Some “Green” for Green Alley Project

In southern Los Angeles, students at Thomas Jefferson High School are cleaning and greening the neighborhood, and receiving a little “green” to support their efforts. TJHS recently received a $5,000 grant from State Farm California’s Environmental Grant Program for their work to build a “green alley” near the school.

Green alleys are a growing trend in cities as they provide a functional space for people to walk, bike and skate safely while encouraging healthy lifestyles through gardens. Working with neighbors who live along the alley and engineering students from California State University Los Angeles, the TJHS students will work in teams to create sustainable design proposals for the neighbor’s yards along the alley. Project goals include improving the fences and yards of neighbors living along the alley by installing green walls which capture storm water and use it to grow plants.

As for the classroom? The Green Alleys project is interdisciplinary, touching aspects of biology, English, design, and computer-aided drafting.

“It’s really great to see these kids becoming aware of the world around them in through this program, because I never was,” said State Farm Agent Delores Stubbs. “Designs created by the kids in collaboration with their school and community give them a sense of responsibility and accomplishment and help them to understand that what they do affects the world around them. As a member of this community and as a business person, I see this as an important step in community improvement and involvement.”

Thomas Jefferson High School was one of just five California high schools to receive the $5,000 environmental grants. Winning schools were selected using multiple criteria for their environmentally-focused, student-led projects including hands-on learning and intentional ties to classroom academics.