Be the Change Changing the Landscape for Peace one Garden at A Time
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Jenna Karcher
CoPIs:
Melissa Cruz, Sarat Busari, Quincy Gaillard, Andrea Mesa
College:
The College of Health Professions and Human Services
Major:
Social Work
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Norma Bowe
Abstract:
Newark is the largest city in New Jersey, with a population of 277,140. The crime rate in Newark is considerably higher than the national average across with a rate of 46 crimes per one thousand residents. After conducting a social epidemiology project murder mapping all four Newark wards, garden projects were implemented in the high violent crime areas. Newark has 3.65 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents; National standards call for 325-500 acres for a population of this magnitude. Other high -density cities (New York, San Francisco, Chicago,
Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, Baltimore and Los Angeles) averaged at 7.17 acres per 1,000 residents.
“Be the Change” Kean University is actively engaged in peace efforts by “adopting”
vacant lots in dangerous Newark NJ neighborhoods and turning them into “peace gardens”. These efforts have been highly successful in “bringing unity to the community” as one resident said and creating a dialog regarding peace and non -violence as well as demonstrable drops in violent crimes. These gardens promote visual improvements to city neighborhoods, empower residents to take back their streets and to understand the role that they can have in local issues that affect their quality of life and promote food justice. The pilot studies showed a significant decrease in violent crime in the Garden Impact Area (a radius of 5 blocks in all directions).