Action Plan Title: City Sustainability: An Aeroponic Tower

Neena K.

Hometown/Country: Washington, DC

Program/Year: BELL Rhode Island (2024)

Describe your project in detail, including what steps you've taken to advance your project. 

I started the Gardening Club at my school, which maintains the garden. I then had to contact administration, and get the project approved, and find a way to get the resources to actually get a tower. Now that we have assembled the towers, planted seeds, and have mature plants, we have to watch over it. We have weekly check ins, making sure the water levels are good, and that they are getting enough sunlight. We track the growth. I also run a social media account for it, which has brought in many new members and an audience from my school community.

Describe the need or issue you are trying to address in one or two sentences.

I wanted to address the lack of science opportunities at my school. Agricultural and food sciences are not often taught in high schools.

How did you get interested in this issue? Why does this issue matter to you and should it matter to others? What new insight or learning do you have about this issue? 

I am very passionate about sustainability and the environment, and it is important to give students the opportunity to explore their interests. There are so many lessons to learn from the world around us. I now understand the communal aspect of agriculture, and how working as a team is key for success in the gardening world.

How have others been involved in your project? What are their respective roles? If you did work with other people, what are the challenges and benefits of working with others? If you've done this project almost entirely on your own, how can you get others involved? 

We now have a large club, full of students who are passionate about nature and love to get their hands dirty. I work alongside a few other student leaders, and we all lead meetings and check in with administration. There are many roles of responsibility, as well. Club members are able to pick what job they would like, and the days they are available to check on our garden. We also have many staff members who are invested in our success, and we have built strong relationships with them too.

What challenges and obstacles have you experienced and how have you addressed these challenges?

Getting approval from the administration was tedious, but we were very clear with our goals and what we needed. My student leaders and I worked diligently to build the perfect proposal.

What knowledge or skills that you learned during your BELL/Leadership Institute course have you applied to your work on this project? 

Taking the lead on something I care about is a skill I developed in my time at Brown. I have made my voice heard, and really felt like a leader.

What tips and advice would you give to new students as they think about developing and working on their own Action Plans?

Keep an open mind! You may face difficulties, but be persistent. Bring your ideas to life, and get people involved!