The Program for Leaders Advancing their Community’s Environment (PLACE) is our youth leadership program. PLACE flips the mentor structure usually seen in under-resourced communities. In our train-the-trainer model, Bronx-area youth are charged with leading and educating groups of 15-150 volunteers in environmental service projects.

Since its inception in 2013, PLACE has provided more than 250+ jobs to Bronx youth. However, PLACE is more than a job — it’s a learning experience that empowers high school and college students to become leaders and advocates for their communities.

Guided by our mentors, PLACE participants work on environmental stewardship projects at their group’s designated park, gaining environmental knowledge and horticultural skills throughout the summer as they become stewards of their own green space. This requires hard work, but being able to see its positive impact is a strong motivational force that teaches a great lesson about the value of dedication. In the words of one 2019 PLACE student, Jaden, “Even though the job was hard at first, it became so much more important to me when I realized how crucial our work is to the community.”

To supplement the expertise of our staff, we also invite guest speakers from a variety of organizations — including the Bronx Council for Environmental Quality, Trees NY, and Manhattan College — to join us in the field and educate our leaders on the environmental issues they are confronting. Every summer, we have 5 groups of students, each assigned a dedicated mentor, working in 5 different parks around the Bronx.

Additionally, to strengthen their leadership skills, our youth leaders take charge of service projects whenever The Bronx is Blooming is joined by volunteers from schools, businesses, and community organizations.  The expertise our PLACE leaders develop throughout our program enables them to lead the volunteers with confidence.