A.L.I.V.E: Art and Nature Learning Hubs for L.A.’s Youth

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

RuckusRoots has been a leader at the intersection of art and environmental justice in L.A. for over a decade. Our programs harness the power of art to bridge gaps and foster connections essential for addressing environmental challenges. In L.A. County, systemic racism and income disparities exacerbate inequities in climate resilience, arts access and job opportunities. For example, Scientific American notes that due to limited green space, low-income areas suffer disproportionately from urban heat islands and poor air quality.
A cornerstone of our approach is to integrate art as a catalyst for empathy and understanding, crucial in building resilient and inclusive communities. In fact, research proves that artmaking-in-nature effectively engages diverse youth, fostering environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviors while reducing eco-anxiety (Front. Psychol., 2022). As such, our garden and farm-based arts initiatives empower participants to create more equitable communities.

A.L.I.V.E. is a transformative initiative building upon our established Rebel Garden Project (funded by LA 2050 in 2022), a successful art and urban farming internship for systems-impacted youth. It offers a unique and impactful approach for strengthening STEAM education encompassing climate resilience and creative entrepreneurship for L.A. youth, enhancing equitable community outcomes and safeguarding the arts and the environment in urban L.A. communities. Since 2022, we have continued our work at Rebel Garden, while expanding with similar programming at 2 other sites: The Friendship Garden at Eucalyptus Elementary and The Willows Wetland Preserve in collaboration with Environmental Charter School Gardena. Together, these are our 3 proposed A.L.I.V.E. sites. Our primary goal is for each site to offer free enrichment opportunities for youth, engaging across 3 main education tracks: Art, Urban Microfarms, and/or Native Plants. Over the last year, we have achieved significant milestones at each site, such as certification of food crops, mural painting, and planting native gardens. We now see a need to establish Site Leaders and teams, and to develop a comprehensive program plan to further the impact and sustainability of the initiative as a whole. Each location has unique needs and ongoing activities, from food tower installation to site beautification. With funding, we plan to expand our staff capacity to develop and implement a cohesive framework for all A.L.I.V.E sites.

Our vision for success is a resilient Los Angeles County where youth and communities in South LA and South Bay thrive with increased access to STEAM education, resulting in fresh food, nature, and arts through our A.L.I.V.E program. We envision three flourishing host sites with engaged youth and community members who benefit from the program, as it continues to foster creativity, food sovereignty and offer safe and beautiful outdoor space for all. Long-term, we aim to reach an entrepreneurship benchmark where participants can grow/sell produce, become paid "Site Leaders," and expand into new locations, with a self-sustaining impact on community health and well-being. We believe combining art, entrepreneurship, nature and community is one of the most intuitive responses we can take to help heal our relationship with ourselves, each other and the Los Angeles that we want to see in the future.

We’ve seen significant impacts at our 3 A.L.I.V.E. sites over the past 2 years, substantiated by surveys, testimonials, and data related to reach and participation rates.
1. At the Rebel Garden, we saw the following increases in systems-impacted youth age 15-18:
Growing and harvesting knowledge: 25%.
Confidence in expressing opinions about community issues: 21%.
Confidence in expression through visual art: 18%.
2. At The Willows Wetland Preserve, for low-income youth age 12-14:
60% of 120 youth engaged in mural-making for the first time.
Students' creative confidence rose 36% through 47 program hours.
3. At The Friendship Garden for low-income youth age 6-10:
Over 100 native plants replaced a 2000 sq-foot grass lawn, supported by 35 community members.
85 students participated in garden upkeep and nature-themed art activities.
These outcomes highlight the transformative power of A.L.I.V.E. in enhancing knowledge, confidence, and engagement for K-12 youth.