New life is emerging all around us. I became a grandma in January when our son Ndegwa and his partner Collette welcomed baby Pearl. The love and responsibility I feel for her is overwhelming and extends to the children in our community.

When our youngest child Hannah started school at Lindbergh, we came together as a community to stop the school’s closure. We created the school-community garden to open the space to the neighborhood. Many Northsiders helped by donating labor, materials and knowledge. Families for whom English was a second language shared their gardening skills and food culture with Lindbergh teachers and students.

This project led to the Blackhawk school/community garden, supported by Fiskars. On installation day, a teacher with tears in her eyes pointed out a child who was leading her peers in spreading mulch. She had struggled to connect with that student all year and was amazed to see her leadership and communication skills flourishing in the outdoors. 

The Cities Connecting Children with Nature initiative works to ensure that every Madison child has regular opportunities to connect to nature, particularly among communities of color. As part of that project, we installed outdoor classrooms and natural play areas at Centro Hispano and daycares across the city.

The Mendota School Community PUPs after-school club, co-founded with third grade teacher Debra Minahan, is also improving our natural areas. In addition to exploring issues like affordable housing and racial discrimination, these students entered a design competition for Warner Beach. City Parks staff are implementing some of the students’ ideas this year.

I’m grateful for these opportunities to learn with and give back to our community. Nature is among our greatest resources and teachers. I look forward to watching Pearl learn and grow, with her hands in the dirt, making the world even more beautiful. I wish you all a lovely spring.