WHSAD students have worked to foster a relationship with the Powers Street Community Garden. We attended a planning meeting and agreed to spend Wednesdays helping to prepare the gardens for spring planting. We have also signed on to help maintain the gardens and participate in the activities that will be scheduled there.
This is incredibly important work for the students for several reasons. First, they are leaning to work cooperatively with members of the community. They are learning first hand how people come together to cultivate a positive space for the community. Secondly, they are learning how to care for the earth. They will learn how to prepare the earth for planting, how to grow plants of all kinds, and how to create healthy, thriving gardens in the midst of a large city. Third, they are learning the value of working and cultivating with their hands. This has positive benefits on the mind, soul, and spirit of all people and they are experiencing first hand rewards of planting, caring, and enjoying thriving natural spaces. Finally, several of the students are participating in a design team where they are working wit the landscape architect to develop the space. They are experiencing the entire process first hand. This gives them valuable experience and insight into an avenue that the study of architecture opens for them. -WHSAD Community Service Supervisor, Sandra Spaziani 
Below, student correspondent Antonio Perez provides some insights from students who participated in the activity.
On April 18, WHSAD students partook in a community service opportunity in coordination with Health for Youths. WHSAD students worked hard and together to help clean up Power Street Garden. Jahmar Cummins, a sophomore who participated in the cleanup, recounts his time: “Well to start off we went to a garden and the main goal for that day was to clean up the garden by picking up any trash we found. We then had to rake the soil after placing a new patch of soil. We then threw away any dead leaves and random sticks laying around to better the look of the walk way. On that day I accompanied Angie Navarro and about 10-15 freshmen scholars. And to finish, I believe that community service is important because it provides a better chance or opportunity to join a good college.”
Another WHSAD sophomore Angie Navarro also discusses her experience: “I raked leaves, added soil, and picked up trash from the soil. I worked with Jahmar, and some freshman. Community service is important to experience more and to help the community.” Community service offers an amazing experience for all involved. Not only do students get the opportunity to help out the community and neighborhood but also they become familiar with other students with whom they might not have interacted otherwise.