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Detroit
Hero Story
It is with great enthusiasm that I write this nomination for Andrea Mendez, a senior at Detroit Cristo Rey High School for the Michigan Hero Award. I first began working with Andrea in 2019 through her time as a Grow Detroit Young Talent Intern on a Southwest Detroit neighborhood project known as the Merritt Street Neighborhood Improvement Plan. This project includes Scarcyny Park and Garden, a family flower garden, recreational space, and picnic area, Cadillac Urban Gardens on Merritt, a neighborhood raised bed vegetable garden that provides free and equitable access to residents, and the Merritt Street Orchard, an 8 tree apple orchard built on an abandoned lot. These spaces have not only created neighborhood and community gathering spaces for area families, local schools, youth and community organizations, but have ensured residents within Southwest Detroit have access to equitable green space within their own communities.
Andrea's passion and drive impressed me from the very beginning. In 2019, Andrea began working with me as a Growing Detroit’s Young Talent Intern completing garden maintenance tasks at Cadillac Urban Gardens. Through her kind nature and care for ones community , I have watched her emerge as a garden and community leader; taking on any task with a smile and always finding ways to engage those around her. Andrea has always been quick to complete tasks and move along to the next all while lending a helping hand when needed. Andrea's dedication to her community and food justice has been displayed time and time again as she has often stayed after hours to volunteer her time to help complete or advance in a project the team may have been working on all while looking for new ways to engage the community in these activities.
Now serving as one of two youth Field Supervisors for Cadillac Urban Gardens, Andrea has demonstrated true leadership and dedication to her community by becoming a front line worker through this position which allowed her to provide over 4 tons of free produce between the 2020 and 2021 growing season with her team to over 800 residents all while ensuring access to equitable green space throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is my honor and pleasure to recommend Andrea Mendez for this recognition and am fully confident that she and those she works with will be apart of the next wave of young environmental leaders here in Michigan.
Detroit
Hero Story
It is with great enthusiasm that I write this nomination for Andrea Mendez, a senior at Detroit Cristo Rey High School for the Michigan Hero Award. I first began working with Andrea in 2019 through her time as a Grow Detroit Young Talent Intern on a Southwest Detroit neighborhood project known as the Merritt Street Neighborhood Improvement Plan. This project includes Scarcyny Park and Garden, a family flower garden, recreational space, and picnic area, Cadillac Urban Gardens on Merritt, a neighborhood raised bed vegetable garden that provides free and equitable access to residents, and the Merritt Street Orchard, an 8 tree apple orchard built on an abandoned lot. These spaces have not only created neighborhood and community gathering spaces for area families, local schools, youth and community organizations, but have ensured residents within Southwest Detroit have access to equitable green space within their own communities.
Andrea's passion and drive impressed me from the very beginning. In 2019, Andrea began working with me as a Growing Detroit’s Young Talent Intern completing garden maintenance tasks at Cadillac Urban Gardens. Through her kind nature and care for ones community , I have watched her emerge as a garden and community leader; taking on any task with a smile and always finding ways to engage those around her. Andrea has always been quick to complete tasks and move along to the next all while lending a helping hand when needed. Andrea's dedication to her community and food justice has been displayed time and time again as she has often stayed after hours to volunteer her time to help complete or advance in a project the team may have been working on all while looking for new ways to engage the community in these activities.
Now serving as one of two youth Field Supervisors for Cadillac Urban Gardens, Andrea has demonstrated true leadership and dedication to her community by becoming a front line worker through this position which allowed her to provide over 4 tons of free produce between the 2020 and 2021 growing season with her team to over 800 residents all while ensuring access to equitable green space throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is my honor and pleasure to recommend Andrea Mendez for this recognition and am fully confident that she and those she works with will be apart of the next wave of young environmental leaders here in Michigan.