Newark Youth Clean Up Vacant Lot In City’s South Ward

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of a Patch Newark community member. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Twelve students from Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (GOLCS) recently teamed up with the Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) to clean up Newark's South Ward as part of the city’s "Slam Dunk the Junk" initiative.

The students helped clean up a vacant lot on Astor Street and the surrounding area by picking up trash, raking leaves, and revitalizing the space to enhance their neighborhood.

“It feels good to be outside doing something productive for the community,” said GOLCS 10th grader Savani Robinson. “Not a lot of people take the time to clean up trash, so this really makes a difference. Plus, we’re having fun while doing it.”

Robinson and her classmates are part of a young women’s leadership group led by Ms. Kaylarose Scott, a first-year educator at GOLCS. In just two months, Ms. Scott has built a group of 12 young women who meet three times a week to develop leadership skills and positively impact their community. The group incorporates Social Emotional Learning (SEL), focusing on self-awareness, accountability, building community, and academic success.

“We pair social impact with academics to make a difference,” Ms. Scott said. “I’ve seen tremendous progress in two of my students—one is now on the honor roll, and another is close to reaching that goal. The group has been truly transformative.”

GOLCS 10th grader Omaiah Barrett has experienced the group’s impact firsthand.

“Being in Ms. Scott’s group has taught me how to connect with my classmates,” Barrett shared. “I’ve learned about the different personalities and challenges people face. This group has helped me open up and not be so closed off.”

The cleanup was organized by LPCCD Community Organizer Warren R. Thompson Jr., in collaboration with the Newark Public Safety Collaborative (NPSC). “It is a source of pride to witness young people engaging hands-on in community involvement and developing civic pride in our Lincoln Park neighborhood.” states Thompson.

Through the NPSC’s Data-Informed Community Engagement strategy, LPCCD works with Rutgers University - Newark to address high-need areas like Astor Street, where the cleanup took place.

“This event teaches these young women about the importance of being part of a community,” Thompson said. “Learning this responsibility at a young age is crucial. As they grow older, they’ll understand the value of community involvement and the role they play in its well-being. This cleanup helps them understand the vision and mission behind our work.”

Looking ahead, Ms. Scott hopes to continue making a positive impact through community service projects.

“Getting the girls out in the community is extremely important,” she said. “I’d like to do some sort of community service project with my scholars every month. They’ve never done something like this before and they’re really enjoying it. It is fostering their ability to come together as girls.”

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