Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers has provided support to DIVAS for Social Justice to offer STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math) activities to P.S 156: The Laurelton School and P.S 132: The Ralph Bunche School. Through the Cultural Adventures In After-School(CASA) program through the Department of Cultural Affairs, each school was provided with a 8 week enrichment program.
DIVAS for Social Justice is a grassroots organization that empowers youth in underserved communities to use technology for social change. The CASA program is providing to both programs the opportunity for students to learn about Hydroponics, The Art Of DJ-ing and the importance of homeownership in communities of color.
Jason Harris of Southeast Queens is facilitating the Hydroponics portion of the workshop. Students have been responsible in planting seedlings, and learning about the growing process through hydroponics. In addition, the hydroponics towers the students are working on will be transferred to the Garden Of Resilience and powered through solar panels. The vegetables grown on towers will be given to community residents for free, helping to address the issue of food insecurity.
The Nett-Work Inc. is providing facilitation in learning to DJ. Each student is given their own DJ console and tablet to learn the art of DJ’ing and the history of Hiphop in Southeast Queens.
In the last portion of the program students will be learning about the importance of homeownership. DIVAS for Social Justice has partnered with the Center for NYC Neighborhoods to create a multimedia based project for the Black Homeowner’s Project. Students will capture through sound and image, “What Makes A House A Home”.
A culminating event highlighting the work of both schools will take place at the Garden Of Resilience on May 21, 2022.
