Community conversations and creative park design | Waterfront Ambassadors photo diary
With the program in full swing for the season, the Waterfront Ambassadors spent their second week meeting several community partners and thinking through creative park design.
The Waterfront Ambassadors learned how to plan and maintain a garden at home, with Trustees Engagement Manager Michelle De Lima
“This week we began thinking through our engagement projects, which will be the main focus of the summer,” explains Program Manager Sarah Plotkin. “The goal is for each of the Ambassadors to imagine, ‘If you were building a new waterfront park, how would you reach out to your community about what they want the park to look and feel like?’”
Guest speakers this week included Natalie Perez, Community Engagement Supervisor at the New England Aquarium, who taught a workshop on community conversations. It was a chance for the teens to learn about community engagement and how to advocate for issues in their own neighborhoods. The teens also had a chance to speak with Landscape Architect Gretchen Rabinkin, from the Boston Society of Landscape Architects. Rabinkin shared with the teens how landscape designs can play a role in protecting a city from the effects of climate change. The week wrapped up with a summer kickoff event organized by the Boston Harbor Youth Leaders, a group of harbor-focused youth employment organizations, and a virtual gardening workshop with Trustees Engagement Manager Michelle De Lima.
"Michelle showed us her home garden over Zoom and shared some tips about growing plants inside and outside your home,” said Plotkin. “The Ambassadors said they felt excited to try home gardening themselves!”
For their photo diaries this week, the Ambassadors were challenged to go around their neighborhoods and capture photos of the places that they want other people to see—some of which they’d been to before, and others which they were visiting for the first time themselves—as part of a project called "Greetings from my Boston." With some of these images, the teens will design their own postcards. A selection of these images are below:
Jessica Z: During this time of great distress and worry, it was heartwarming when I saw a bunch of colorful signs as I walked down my street. The fact that people took the effort to make and put up positive signs around the East Boston neighborhood to uplift each other’s spirits really makes me feel like I belong in a kind and welcoming community. Little things like these can easily make someone’s day, and it sure made mine.
Sergio F: This is one of the many photos I’ve taken by the East Boston Harbor, and where I see many animals such as bunnies and ducks. The picture for me is a refreshing sight, and reminds me why I love plants and nature. Also, I believe places like this encourage people to go outside and see the amazing plants that surround us, that we usually overlook.
Brittany R: This is a picture that I took while walking near Broadway, in Chelsea. I am proud to have taken this photo because to me the fire station is representative of the entire Chelsea community. From the Great Chelsea Fire back in 1908 to the complete modernization of what was once a small town, this station is a true symbol of the fight and strength of our city.
Clare A: I chose this picture because when I was walking down to this park, I imagined a completely different view. It wasn’t the park I expected and I wished it was more accessible. If a walkway was put in place and flowers or garden beds were added, then I can definitely see an amazing opportunity for the Roslindale community.
Emily C: I chose this picture because not only there is a lot of plants and green, this is also a way people would travel from down the hill to up the hill using this path. There is a church right next to this path and the church has a huge open space. It’s a hill that makes a person want to roll down, like on a TV show. The plants are overgrown here, but it is very interesting to explore this area as there are different plants all around.
Emily D: While walking around my home in East Boston, I discovered this garden/learning place, in front of an elementary school. This summer I plan to chip in to help with some of the weeding and planting in this spot.
Emily H: This is called Ryan Playground which is located near the borders of Charlestown and Somerville, and you can even see the casino in the background. I usually pass by it when I enter Malden, but I have never been there. Although it’s only a twenty-minute walk, I wouldn’t come visit because of how close it is to the rotary and the condition of the park.
Gloriann Z: This is one of the most vegetated places in Chinatown, the One Greenway Park. The residents that pay for this park use it as a dog park. Green space is rare but essential to Chinatown.
Rabab B: This year local communities have been through a lot. It's encouraging to see these positive thoughts while you're walking down the busy street of Broadway, Chelsea. It was an amazing experience to see the smiles that these little messages could spread.
Kevin C: While I was walking in Revere, I was able to find this nice building that I haven't seen before. I thought it was nice since it has so much green around the building with a good number of trees near it.
Sophia T: Beach Street is always a bustling street in the Chinatown neighborhood at all times of the day and the year. Beach Street is usually one of the streets that are used during the Chinese New Year Festival and other festivals or events that Chinatown usually holds. I chose to take a photograph of this street because I feel that this street is one of the best streets to capture Chinatown’s vibrant and close-knitted community and spirit.