While the planning process is not well-known to most, members of the CLI became well-versed in what it entails. One such member, Rose Johnson, built on previous knowledge and a deep interest in the planning process through her participation in the CLI. And though she wasn’t completely familiar with the CLI or Greater Capital Heights Improvement Corporation and The Capital Market, she took the plunge and joined. “What interested me is I saw it was centered around the Blue Line Corridor and I’ve been very interested in its development and all that’s going to be involved with it,” said Johnson.
Working with her partner, Shani Gzifa, through the CLI’s capstone project, Rose was able to explore her interest in healthy eating and food access with soil health. “I talk about soil all the time. I’m not really that knowledgeable about growing food and soil and things of that nature but I do know that people talk about produce and how what’s in the soil can affect your overall health,” she said.
“In my mind, I was thinking about food and produce but when we really got into the project we were talking about more how [soil quality] could affect everything,” she said. Using the example of how even someone taking their dog to a park with contaminated soil could hurt the dog, the kids playing in the park, and other visitors, she emphasized that it is an issue that not only affects the areas she was previously interested in, but many more.
Working on the program with Gzifa, they explored the soil issue in the Blue Line Corridor, prioritizing finding out how they can do soil testing while also educating the community. Johnson mentioned that under the guidance of Brittney Drakeford, she was able to get a better understanding of the particular soil and food access issues facing the community and how to do events focused on these issues. From there, they set out with a plan: seeking to get an understanding of the soil conditions in the area, they want to do soil testing of five sites in the area and share the findings with legislators and community members.
In a culminating event, Johnson and Gzifa plan to ask the community to bring soil samples to a block party or farmers market where their soil samples can be tested, they can be educated on these issues, and they can explore how to get involved in the community moving forward. She stated, “Empowering the community with knowledge is something we definitely need to be doing and however we can do that is important.”
This effort coincides well with her other endeavors, including an Instagram page and Facebook group where she shares updates on what is happening in PG County and how they can get involved.
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