Fannie Mae employees helped build gardens and an outdoor “classroom,” revitalizing the community garden and inner courtyard habitat at Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology.
Children of low-income families don’t always have equal access to evidence-based educational opportunities, including outdoor learning spaces. Learning gardens have been shown to improve student engagement and academic achievement (especially in STEM), increase nutrition and environmental awareness, and increase life skills for children. Growing gardens are also an effective and engaging way to integrate curriculum and meet learning standards, giving young people the chance to develop a wide-range of academic and social skills.
Experts agree that children need access to nature the same way they need good nutrition and adequate sleep. Learning gardens provide children with the time and space to explore the natural world — something that can occur rarely in today’s era of indoor living.
This month, 206 Fannie Mae employees volunteered time and skills during their #7Days2Serve campaign to build gardens and an outdoor “classroom,” revitalizing the community garden and inner courtyard habitat at Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology. The school, which serves a predominantly minority population of students and has a free and reduced meal rate of 86 percent, was in much need of revamped outdoor student space and a renewed growing garden.
Recently on two beautifully sunny days, Fannie Mae volunteers tirelessly built a 40-foot retaining wall, assembled five industrial tables and benches, spruced up the front of the school, and built 10 garden beds in the community garden. Stomping and sledging through mud on another day, helpers installed five bird houses, and finished soiling and mulching the community garden. Volunteers enthusiastically accomplished all of their assigned tasks in the span of three short days.
Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology, thanks to financial and donated labor resources, now has a functional and safe inner courtyard habitat, littered with 5-plus turtles and wildlife, for students to learn and enjoy and nearby residents have a large rehabbed community garden to grow nutritious and healthy foods.
To learn more about our community revitalization efforts and free home repair services, please visit www.RebuildingTogetherAlex.org or call 703-836-1021.