Taylor Quiram, hydroponics instructor for Extension’s Youth Horticulture Program, assists a student as they create their own hydroponics unit. Arnold Parker
Aunique 12-week program focused on gang intervention and curtailing violence through horticulture and mentorship is changing the lives of Clark County high school students.
“Young Men Mentorship through Hip Hop, Literacy & Horticulture” was created through a partnership between the University of Nevada, Reno Extension and Clark County law enforcement. The program launched in 2022 at Western High School and has since extended to Legacy High in North Las Vegas.
Extension Youth Horticulture Education Program Officer Tricia Braxton Perry and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Arnold Parker worked with Western High School’s assistant principal to develop the curriculum, which explores self and group identity, leadership skills, and college and career preparation.
Extension provides the horticulture education and career readiness portion, while law enforcement provides the mentorship. The components work in tandem. “The topic of the mentorship week may be about teamwork. The following week, the hydroponic project will rely on teamwork to troubleshoot potential equipment problems with the hydroponic unit,” Perry said.
School counselors refer students who they think could benefit from the program and make a positive difference in the school. Then, the program helps them embark on journeys of self-discovery and development to become future leaders in their communities.
“We want every type of kid in that classroom,” Parker said. “What we learned is when we bring them all into the classroom, they all have a lot of similarities because we are at high-risk schools. The kids aren’t high risk; it’s the environment they’re in.”
The relationships being built between students are already changing school culture. “We’re creating a safe haven for these kids who might not otherwise have interacted,” Parker said. “Now our groups come together. They’re going to say ‘that’s my friend.’ And by making that connection, we’re coaching them to reduce violence between groups.”
Read more about this program at the QR code below.