What are you doing to lead others and to help the community, and what have been the results of your actions?

Choose the project category or categories:
Brief summary of the community issue or opportunity the project will address:

The proposal I am submitting addresses several community issues as well as provide a multi-tiered opportunity for the community. My proposal addresses the following opportunities. Wasted land opportunities, economic development, green initiatives and community building and pride through economic sustainment.

State how the project will work – the activities and timeline:

1) Identify senior citizens with two or more lots on their property. We will couple them with youth driven culinary arts programs and trade schools. The seniors citizens will have a choice of gardens such as vegetable, herb or flower. 2) Each senior will provide a percentage of their land to the designated program as well as a community co-op. The students in the designated culinary program will work the land. 3) We will implement a green initiative by the use of recycled rubber from inner tubes and tires. These materials will be repurposed as bedding liners as well as visually appealing potters, thus prolonging the harvest season (by serving as natural insulators). 4) We will then build community vegetable stands on abandoned properties in the communities to sell the excess harvest to the local communities (ie, mini eastern markets). The participants will split the profits equally to provide incremental income that can go toward living expenses, i.e. heating bills. We can also implement fundraising opportunities such as cook books, etc… The timeline will be broken into three phases -Phase 1 (identifying participants) will take place during the winter -Phase 2 will take place during the planting season. -Phase 3 happens during the harvest season (spring summer).

State the results you wish to achieve:

Community economic sustainment, generational gap closure, clearing of landfills, repurposing abandon land, community pride and healthy living options.

Choose the project category or categories:

up to $50,000

Who is leading the project? State the name of the person or the project team:

Franchot Westbrooks

How will the project engage others in this issue or opportunity affecting the community?

It will engage others through the opportunities they can implement in their own communities. It will also close a generational gap that affects our communities and neighborhoods. It will drive healthier communities. And lastly address a landfill issue that affects everyone regardless of race or socio-economic status.