Community Kickoff
September 25, 2018 | Baseball, Trojan Outreach, Features
On Sept. 22, Trojan Outreach hosted its eighth annual Community Kickoff event at Peary Middle School in Gardena, Calif.
The day started by surprising the students and their parents with some special guests, the USC baseball team. Every year, the USC baseball team partners with a local middle school that helps them build relations and support within their community.
The baseball team started off by breaking into five different groups assigned different tasks to help clean up the garden, refurbish the barbeque area, create habitats for butterflies and birds and plant new soil for the plants.
"Having our team being out here gives these students a perspective that we were actually once in their shoes and that it's definitely possible to attend a university," said redshirt junior catcher Kaleb Murphy.
Sophomore pitcher Augie Sylk explained to the students that "it's possible to be able to go to college and excel in sports and excel in whatever you're interested in. There are opportunities all around us and I think giving back to the community will help them see that."
"Just seeing these kids smile, talking to them individually, and getting to know their interests made it all worth it," Sylk added. "I learned that a lot of them liked to play Fortnite and we were able to relate in that way.
"They understood that we care about them and see the potential in them the way they see the potential in us as student-athletes at USC. We are here to help in any way we can because we truly care," said Murphy.
Daniel Ramirez, a seventh-grade student at Peary Middle School, expressed how he really enjoyed planting flowers and vegetables with other students because he regularly works on his garden at home and doesn't get a chance to plant at school.
Laylani Flores, a sixth-grader, enjoyed working with her peers to remove a big plant out of the garden with her friends.
"It took teamwork to see how we would be able to dig a really big plant out to make room for other beautiful plants," she said. "I also enjoyed the food for lunch that we had. I love pizza. I'm also really excited to play dodgeball with the baseball team."
Redshirt junior catcher Zack Sharpley, a chemical engineering major, led a workshop with his group of middle school students on how to test the pH balance of the soil they will be growing vegetables in.
"We were able to test for multiple nutrients of the different pH levels of the soil so they understand how to grow their vegetables in the best possible soil conditions," Sharpley said. "It will be great for them to literally see the fruits of their labor."
This is Sharpley's fourth year participating in a Trojan Outreach event with a middle school.
Matthew Acosta, junior outfielder and pitcher, expressed his excitement to "see the students that are about to leave middle school and head into high school that want to see the students following them enjoy a legacy of a great, nutritional garden that they can enjoy."
Alana Olmedo, a seventh-grader at Peary, enjoyed being able to paint the birdhouses, fill them up with bird food and hang them up on the trees at their garden.
"I think these birdhouses will attract a lot more creatures into our garden that will help with pollination and make our garden grow," she said. "I really hope we can do this again really soon, especially since both of my little sisters are about to start middle school here at Peary and I know they would enjoy the activities we did today."
Henry Washington, Peary Middle School campus supervisor and "The Garden Father" has proudly maintained and sustained their garden for over 15 years. He has personally experienced the difference it makes with youth in an inner-city community where you rarely enjoy local gardens to the public.
"This garden area we have here at Peary Middle School is something I believe is necessary for students to come visit and provide to relax, meditate and enjoy the subtle sounds of nature," he said. "This is a safe haven for a lot of the children. Some of them really find calmness in being with plants and learning how to grow their own food. This garden is a place where you can find peace if they can't find it at home. Not only was there a lot of cleaning up in the area, but we also pulled weeds throughout the acre, trimmed trees and everything around us to make this the most perfect area that we can make it become."
Students from both Peary Middle School and USC were able to create and collaborate on multiple projects at the garden that they were all able to enjoy.
"This is how we give these children a chance," Washington said. "USC believes in our students and we were able to connect with them in ways that the Peary Middle School students may not be able to back at home. He noticed how being out in the garden creates a peaceful atmosphere in the South Los Angeles community many students need.
Peary Middle School students and faculty were provided with USC Community Kickoff shirts, took a group photo with the team members, enjoyed a pizza party lunch and were surprised with sports equipment to keep, which they used to play an exciting game of dodgeball with all team members at the final hour of this year's Community Kickoff.
To stay in the loop on USC's work in the local community, follow Trojan Outreach on Twitter and Instagram.
The day started by surprising the students and their parents with some special guests, the USC baseball team. Every year, the USC baseball team partners with a local middle school that helps them build relations and support within their community.
The baseball team started off by breaking into five different groups assigned different tasks to help clean up the garden, refurbish the barbeque area, create habitats for butterflies and birds and plant new soil for the plants.
"Having our team being out here gives these students a perspective that we were actually once in their shoes and that it's definitely possible to attend a university," said redshirt junior catcher Kaleb Murphy.
Sophomore pitcher Augie Sylk explained to the students that "it's possible to be able to go to college and excel in sports and excel in whatever you're interested in. There are opportunities all around us and I think giving back to the community will help them see that."
"Just seeing these kids smile, talking to them individually, and getting to know their interests made it all worth it," Sylk added. "I learned that a lot of them liked to play Fortnite and we were able to relate in that way.
"They understood that we care about them and see the potential in them the way they see the potential in us as student-athletes at USC. We are here to help in any way we can because we truly care," said Murphy.
Daniel Ramirez, a seventh-grade student at Peary Middle School, expressed how he really enjoyed planting flowers and vegetables with other students because he regularly works on his garden at home and doesn't get a chance to plant at school.
Laylani Flores, a sixth-grader, enjoyed working with her peers to remove a big plant out of the garden with her friends.
"It took teamwork to see how we would be able to dig a really big plant out to make room for other beautiful plants," she said. "I also enjoyed the food for lunch that we had. I love pizza. I'm also really excited to play dodgeball with the baseball team."
Redshirt junior catcher Zack Sharpley, a chemical engineering major, led a workshop with his group of middle school students on how to test the pH balance of the soil they will be growing vegetables in.
"We were able to test for multiple nutrients of the different pH levels of the soil so they understand how to grow their vegetables in the best possible soil conditions," Sharpley said. "It will be great for them to literally see the fruits of their labor."
This is Sharpley's fourth year participating in a Trojan Outreach event with a middle school.
Matthew Acosta, junior outfielder and pitcher, expressed his excitement to "see the students that are about to leave middle school and head into high school that want to see the students following them enjoy a legacy of a great, nutritional garden that they can enjoy."
Alana Olmedo, a seventh-grader at Peary, enjoyed being able to paint the birdhouses, fill them up with bird food and hang them up on the trees at their garden.
"I think these birdhouses will attract a lot more creatures into our garden that will help with pollination and make our garden grow," she said. "I really hope we can do this again really soon, especially since both of my little sisters are about to start middle school here at Peary and I know they would enjoy the activities we did today."
Henry Washington, Peary Middle School campus supervisor and "The Garden Father" has proudly maintained and sustained their garden for over 15 years. He has personally experienced the difference it makes with youth in an inner-city community where you rarely enjoy local gardens to the public.
"This garden area we have here at Peary Middle School is something I believe is necessary for students to come visit and provide to relax, meditate and enjoy the subtle sounds of nature," he said. "This is a safe haven for a lot of the children. Some of them really find calmness in being with plants and learning how to grow their own food. This garden is a place where you can find peace if they can't find it at home. Not only was there a lot of cleaning up in the area, but we also pulled weeds throughout the acre, trimmed trees and everything around us to make this the most perfect area that we can make it become."
Students from both Peary Middle School and USC were able to create and collaborate on multiple projects at the garden that they were all able to enjoy.
"This is how we give these children a chance," Washington said. "USC believes in our students and we were able to connect with them in ways that the Peary Middle School students may not be able to back at home. He noticed how being out in the garden creates a peaceful atmosphere in the South Los Angeles community many students need.
Peary Middle School students and faculty were provided with USC Community Kickoff shirts, took a group photo with the team members, enjoyed a pizza party lunch and were surprised with sports equipment to keep, which they used to play an exciting game of dodgeball with all team members at the final hour of this year's Community Kickoff.
To stay in the loop on USC's work in the local community, follow Trojan Outreach on Twitter and Instagram.
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