Voices in the garden

Urban Farm DB summary

In Philadelphia, a robust number of environmentally friendly initiatives — including collective gardens, urban agriculture, composting facilities, and pollution-cleansing strategies such as using plants to remove lead from soil — have engaged mostly older citizens, while local youth remain indifferent and rarely show interest in creating or maintaining green spaces in their neighborhoods. Drawing on participatory media models from Communication for Social Change and lessons from Environmental Communication, a chapter details the design and early stages of Urban Green Spaces and Digital Technologies, an initiative using media and digital platforms to encourage children and youth to engage with urban green spaces. Founded on the concept of "voice" — where storytelling, empowerment and political agency intersect — the initiative aims to connect urban youth in Philadelphia's low-income, primarily Black and Latino communities to local green spaces. Intended outcomes include increased youth engagement with urban green spaces and increased awareness of environmental justice issues such as sustainability, food security, climate change, and the significance of green spaces.