Green Pioneers: “Green is Good, for the ‘Hood!”

By Jessica Goerzen

In East Oakland, long abandoned by supermarkets, there is an urban oasis created by the Green Pioneers. The pioneers of the local green initiative have built a garden on what was once a trash pile. Intrigued by this student directed community initiative I went to visit the Green Pioneers at Claremont Middle School.

Castlemont, is one of Oakland’s “small-school” models. The small school reformist model came into play in the early 2000’s after the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave the Oakland school district 9.5 million dollars. Now, eleven years later, it is still arguable whether or not the small school model is a success. Although graduation rates have improved, the drop out rate has significantly increased as well. As of 2010, the Castlemont campus experienced a 45 percent drop from 1,300 to 700 students.

On the other hand, when asked if they like the small school model, two Claremont students described how they felt the small school model was desirable in that they were able to be more involved with school programs and teachers. Ms. Sarah Johnson who is both a biology teacher as well as the facilitator of the Green Pioneers explained that the Green Pioneers initiative is a student led model in which student interns plan and execute a project. Once the project is completed the interns receive a stipend. Without funding from the school board, the Green Pioneers initiative survives solely on private grants and individual funders corporate and non-corporate. Due to cuts in funding, the Oakland school board is only able to contribute the land on which the garden is located.

The Green Pioneers have many projects in the works. Aside from various fruits, vegetables and herbs they are working on expanding their flock of chickens as well as constructing a pond. When asked why the program is important to Oakland, Green Pioneer Jasmine responded “Well, I think that green pioneers is good for Oakland because it helps the environment and it also helps teenagers get close to nature which I think is pretty majestic - that’s exactly why I joined the club!”

“Because I’d rather spend my time working on my community than out in the streets up to no good. I love working in the garden, and even making a delicious snack for my fellow colleagues. My project is the farmers market and hopefully I’m able to achieve it. I’m trying to make it into a big block party. Something the whole family can enjoy. My experience in the green pioneers has been great and I’m glad I could help the community eat healthy,” says Joanna, a grade ten Green Pioneer. For Kaylen, the Green Pioneers represents a space in which youth are exposed to new ways of thinking about the food system. “The Green Pioneers Club expands knowledge within Oakland youth. Students feel that they learn a new skill at each meeting.”

Towards the end of the day, the Green Pioneers began to congregate around the table for a healthy snack and a meeting. Oranjel, grade nine said, “here we teach you how to grow, and we teach about what is in your food.” Mustard green and crepes made with eggs from the farms chickens were served. As the meeting came to a close and shout outs were given, thanking various people for their hard work and accomplishments, the Green Pioneers closed with their team cheer, “Green is Good, for the ‘Hood!”

For more information check out the Green Pioneers student built blogspot at: http://castlemontgreenpioneers.blogspot.com/