HealthyMindsPhilly met with Xena to learn more about Norris Square Neighborhood Project (NSNP), a local non-profit serving youth through three core pillars: youth development, land stewardship, and cultural preservation.
Xena, NSNP Communications and Events Coordinator, understands that growing food and having access to green spaces are very important to individuals and community well-being. “I appreciate the pleasure of shared family meals, the preparation and enjoyment of seasonal food, and the physical work that goes into having a garden.”
Founded in 1973, NSNP is a vibrant cultural hub in North Philadelphia. The organization provides youth leadership programs, six distinct garden experiences, and various initiatives that foster artistic expression and personal growth.
Youth participating in NSNP programs spend much time outdoors, learning, planting trees, sharing meals, and even hosting a farm stand during the harvest season. These activities connect youth to the community and to each other while also teaching them important skills as they become adults. “The program creates a second home for the youth attending it, and we share our harvest at no cost or low cost with the people in the neighborhood,” shared Xena.
NSNP after school program promotes socio-emotional skills in youth, which are critical for their long-term well-being. For example, gardening reduces stress, improves focus, and fosters mindfulness, while socialization in after-school programs enhances peer relationships, emotional skills, and self-confidence. Together, these activities promote resilience, reduce anxiety, and support overall mental well-being in youth.
Graduates from NSNP’s program can be selected for an advanced internship that helps them gain professional experience and skills in the food production industry.
Part of their success lies in that “we have a great youth program team. The staff, the volunteers, the community, the participants. All of us are people who want to be here and work with each other. We are willing to step up for others and we care about the community.”
NSNP also offers opportunities to adult volunteers who want to garden and make positive changes in the world. “We hold volunteer and garden workdays every fourth Saturday from 10am-1pm, from February through Fall.” They also offer neighbors the opportunity to rent garden plots at their Las Parcelas Garden to grow their own produce.
Learn more about NSNP and their impact on youth and community well-being, their upcoming events, or find out how to support their mission by donating.
