NMG Case Study: Neighborhood School Partnership
Winterfield Community Garden
Grantee: Winterfield Neighborhood Association
Amount Funded: $10,788.00
Project: The Winterfield Neighborhood Garden has been a unique opportunity to engage residents, students, school staff in a culturally
diverse neighborhood by working together planting flowers, fruits and
vegetables in a garden that also acts as an
educational tool for stu-
dents at Winterfield Elementary. The community benefits from the easy
access to healthy, fresh produce while also promoting healthy lifestyles.
Community Match:
Volunteer Hours: 648 hours from neighborhood residents and school
staff
Partnerships:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Communities In Schools
Mecklenburg County Health Department
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Keys to Making It Work:
Strong Partnerships
The Winterfield Neighborhood Association sought out partnerships with the surrounding neighborhood associations,
engaged Winterfield Elementary School and included them in
the planning process. They also sought out partnerships with
subject matter experts with the community gardening professionals with Mecklenburg County and the NC Cooperative
Extension.
Effective Planning
The Winterfield Neighborhood Association formed a Community Garden Committee consisting of neighborhood and
school leadership. This committee researched the financial
and resource needs to make the community garden happen.
Community Impact
Stronger bonds created across neighborhood boundaries, bring
members of different neighborhoods together
Increased relationship with the school, creating a true sense of
community in the neighborhood
Created a hands on learning opportunity for the elementary school
students that will be sustainable for future generations
Sustainability
Maintained a relationship with Mecklenburg County for gardening
education
Applied for and received a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield to
maintain and expand the garden