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Alumni Spotlight: Heavenly
Congratulations to Heavenly Evangelista who is now an official Police Officer with the New York City Police Department! Heavenly first came to Concrete Safaris with her elementary school for Green Exercise Days in our gardens. When she was 14, she saw our logo on the Summer Youth Employment Program’s list of Providers, and signed up.…
Read MoreOLA-SYEP 2025 Highlights: Cohort Chronicles 1
Garden Cohort This summer, the OLA-SYEP Garden Cohort Interns have been getting hands-on with urban gardening—learning square-foot gardening, companion planting, and proper watering techniques to help plants thrive. 🌱🌿 These young leaders are gaining essential skills while planting seeds for a healthier, greener community! Photography Cohort 📸 Focused and framing the future! The OLA-SYEP photography interns…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight: Michele
Michele participated in our Summer 2020 Bridge Program and is an active member of the OLA Youth Leadership Academy. What did you learn from your time with Concrete Safaris? From my time with Concrete Safaris, I learned how to write my own resume, actively collaborate with my peers, and participate in a workplace. With my…
Read MoreMaking The Best Of Garden Days
Garden Volunteer Days are events that give me a chance to interact with people who take time out of their busy schedule to come help us beautify our gardens. It’s great to have people come down and supply their energy towards bettering the community. Especially, in times where everything seems a little more difficult to…
Read MoreFirst Time Around: Volunteer Days
Since I have joined Concrete Safaris, I have had the opportunity to be a part of two garden volunteer days. I have volunteered at gardens before but this felt different. This would be the first time I am not a participant. My duties included greeting and checking in volunteers, as well as giving an intro…
Read MoreMeet our Volunteer Project Coordinator Alexis!
I didn’t really know what to expect when I was coming in to work for the first time but I was surprised by how comfortable it felt to work here. Everyone was friendly, I felt new but I didn’t feel out of place. How I would describe my first week at Concrete Safaris: Only the…
Read MoreSYEP Guest: Benjy Kirschner
On our final day of week four, youth attended a garden talk featuring Benjy Kirschner, the Vice President of Sales of Wilson Daniels. Youth had a grape juice tasting, while talking with Mr. Kirschner about potential career paths. Youth learned about the production of wine, how each wine gets its unique taste and how it…
Read MoreSYEP Bridge 2020 Kickoff
Even though it is the 3rd week of the Summer Youth Employment Program Bridge, it is our first in-person meeting. Youth are meeting outside in our gardens to engage in the Outdoor Leadership Academy. Youth are taking precautions to stay socially distanced while being active. Some youth are learning from a virtual platform, to insure…
Read MoreVirtual City Surfers
We have been keeping our youth engaged with virtual after school activities! City surfers are taking on a new experience as youth are taking outdoor play, photography, gardening and leadership classes online. Youth are learning how to exercise at home by completing challenges, counting steps and engaging in group workout classes! On gardening days, City…
Read MoreResources During COVID-19
With the recent closing of DOE schools in NYC, we want to be able to provide health resources for our Concrete Safaris Community. We will be updating our e-news with resources, both online and the NYC area. Subscribe to our e-news here: INTERNET SOURCES: Need to explain COVID to your kids? Use this zine from…
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