THE WORD
- Residents and volunteers recently came together to clean, plant and beautify the Muhummad Harvey Youth Grow Garden on Vine Street in Harvey, Illinois.
- The community garden was created to promote youth engagement, neighborhood beautification and stronger community connections.
- The effort is led by founder and 2nd Ward resident Ronald Muhummad, alongside co-founders Saniyah Brown and Courtni Odom, juniors at Thornton High School.
- Volunteers from the World Mission Society Church of God / ASEZ-WAO joined residents in helping improve the garden.
- 2nd Ward Alderwoman Colby Chapman also participated in the community effort.
- The project represents a larger push to create positive spaces where Harvey youth and residents can connect and take pride in their neighborhood.
Harvey Residents Join Forces to Grow More Than a Garden
A community garden on Vine Street is becoming a place for more than plants to grow.
Residents, students, local leaders and volunteers recently gathered in Harvey’s 2nd Ward to plant, clean and beautify the Muhummad Harvey Youth Grow Garden, a neighborhood space designed around youth engagement, beautification and community connection.
The project was founded by 2nd Ward resident Ronald Muhummad, with Saniyah Brown and Courtni Odom, both juniors at Thornton High School, serving as co-founders. Their involvement puts young people directly at the center of an effort focused on creating something positive and sustainable within their own community.
Volunteers from the World Mission Society Church of God / ASEZ-WAO also joined the effort, working alongside neighborhood residents and 2nd Ward Alderwoman Colby Chapman to clean and improve the space.
The garden is designed to give residents a place they can collectively care for while providing young people with another opportunity to become involved in their neighborhood.
“We’re growing more than a garden — we’re growing community.”
That message captures the larger purpose behind the Vine Street project. While planting and beautification were the focus of the day, organizers are also working to strengthen relationships between young people, residents, volunteers and community leaders.
For Harvey, projects like the Muhummad Harvey Youth Grow Garden show how an underused neighborhood space can become a gathering point built around ownership, service and community pride.
The work on Vine Street also comes as organizations and leaders throughout Harvey continue creating opportunities for families and young people. On Saturday, August 29, the city’s 2nd Ward will also help host a free Back-to-School Bazaar at Transformation Community United Methodist Church, featuring school supplies, resources, giveaways, games, food and entertainment for local families.
Sources
- Information provided by the Harvey 2nd Ward community organizers and Muhummad Harvey Youth Grow Garden organizers.
- Back-to-School Bazaar event information provided by the 2nd Ward Alderwoman’s Office and participating community organizations.
