Our Lennox site at SBWIB YouthBuild got a fresh new look this week thanks to the talented Lorenzo at Workhorse Sign Co. The new signage is part of a bigger campus beautification project that students and staff are currently working on as part of their Trimester 1 CAP (Community Action Project.)
According to Lennox teacher Tim Mendelsohn, the purpose of the project is to "make our campus more inviting to new students and so that current students have more of a feeling of ownership of the campus." They hope that it will also improve relations with their neighbors and community. As part of the beautification project, students and staff will be be repairing the fencing, doing some painting, and creating an outdoor workout area for students to use.
Additionally, students and staff have been clearing away trash and weeds. They're working with the City of LA to get some free mulch and with Tree People to get new bushes and shrubs to plant out front.
SBWIB YouthBuild has worked with Tree People to provide environmental education opportunities to our students there for a few years now. This past spring, 25 Lennox students "journeyed out to the Angeles Forest to help restore, plant and care for areas devastated by wildfire," which was recently featured on LA County's Generation Earth website: "Led by Generation Earth Project Coordinators, Maria Adame and Nanci Torres, the group discovered the importance of the local watershed while planting and watering native plants. As they contributed to the removal of invasive plants, they learned the benefits of native species and their relationship to fire. During their time in the Angeles, the group cared for approximately 50 young natives. They were also given the opportunity to visit a site where they had previously planted. This allowed them to see the incredible impact they had already made in the area. The group expressed excitement at the opportunity to spend time in the great outdoors and learn more about natives and their benefits toward water conservation and wildfire mitigation."
According to Tim, "students love getting out and doing hands-on work so it’s a win-win." We can't wait to see the final results of their campus beautification at the end of the trimester!