EHTP's High School Summer Program's 2023 Civic Project: #KEEPTHEMCLEAN

EHTP's High School Summer Program's 2023 Civic Project: #KEEPTHEMCLEAN

East Harlem, NYC — This July, forty high school scholars enrolled in East Harlem Tutorial Program’s Summer Program participated in the civic engagement portion of our Summer program, including

caring for our local trees
visiting the Randalls Island Green Roof
touring Central Park's Storm Water Mitigation systems
planting a native garden for pollinators at the East River Esplanade
and measuring the oysters of the Estuary.

In four weeks, they collaborated with four agencies including Green and Blue Eco Care, NYC Parks, Randall's Island and Billion Oyster Project, as well as EHTP staff artists Kalada Halliday and Margarita Korol—in order to learn about the trees and water systems of our city and make an impact on our community.

tree signage Design collaboration

EHTP’s community partners at Green and Blue Eco Care encouraged scholars to design signs together that would be placed near beloved trees next to the 2050 2nd Avenue East Harlem Scholars Academies campus.

Scholars brainstormed and encapsulated the magic they experienced in relationship with the nature of El Barrio in notes and sketches that were then translated onto the 14x10 canvas of the tree signage design.

SKETCHES

PHOTO LAYERS

Artist and EHTP Digital Media Specialist Margarita Korol produced illustrations and layout design with Public Engagement Associate Maya Vilaplana, inspired by the scholars’ visualizations of taking accountability for the health of the neighborhood’s plant and pollinator health. From the East River Esplanade to the trees lining the campus sidewalks, how could we inspire more residents of El Barrio to take action to protect what we collectively love?

The tree signs designed in collaboration across students and EHTP staff reflect the students, their visions, and commitment to El Barrio’s Spanish-speaking community.