I am Akayla Wilson and I am in the 8th grade. I have been in STEAM since 6th grade , making this my third year being a part of this program. I like that there are always various activities for me to participate in. One specific activity, I have participated in was making items such as laser cut snowmen and ornaments for the Winter Solstice. One of my favorite aspects of STEAM is art because it allows me to use my creative thinking skills.
This year we decided to focus on the green medians in Laurelton to give them some recognition. Some of the projects we’ve worked on include going out weekly to help keep the area clean. We also planted daffodil bulbs to add more color and beautify to the area, and planted flowers toward the front on the left side of the mall. These efforts are meant to help improve the space and make it look nicer for the community.
I think it’s important to highlight the green malls on Open Street maps because some people may not know it is there and being able to have access to a free website allows it to not only be there for the people in the community but for people all around the world. The Laurelton Garden Club was a black founded club that nowadays encourages black individuals like myself to try and better the community. It helped bring people together, promote caring for the environment, and show the importance of taking pride in where we live. Their work inspires others like us to get involved and make a positive difference in their neighborhood.
