By Ashley Smith, Summer Programs Intern
In the YTA: An Interview with Jamea Johnson
”I knew there was an impact to be made by teaching these kids how to live eco-sustainable lives in highly urban areas.
In this interview, Jamea Johnson, a 2022-2023 Young Texan Ambassador shares the enduring impact of working with the youth in her community. Visit the Young Texan Ambassador webpage to learn even more about the program and access resources to share with your community.
1. What did you do for your cleanup or community project?
Jamea: For my community project, I focused on education. I reached out to someone who works at my local library and she told me they were hosting an innovation station where multiple students from different universities were putting on science displays. I wanted to do something that these kids could actually participate in, so my project partner and I did a recycling and composting project. I created a game where we took three baskets and had paper, plastic water bottles, and aluminum cans, and we had the kids sort these recyclable materials for prizes.
2. How can programs, such as YTA, keep youth engaged and excited throughout the year?
Jamea: More than anything, what kept me on top of my tasks was being assigned a group of other youth to work with because I had other people to fall back on and communicate with. I was able to collaborate with others so that I didn’t have to do all the thinking by myself. I was the oldest person in my cohort grade-wise, so I was able to serve as a mentor to the others while still working with them on our projects.
3. What lessons or skills did you take away from your time as a Young Texan Ambassador?
Jamea: There were some older kids who came through our innovation station at my community project and I found it really easy to connect with and talk with them. Once we did the innovation station, I figured why can’t I take this to another level and start doing it on a regular basis. I started to think about the impact I could have in Syracuse, which has one of the highest childhood poverty rates in the United States. I knew there was an impact to be made by teaching these kids how to live eco-sustainable lives in highly urban areas. I founded my nonprofit, Black Girls Garden, that hosts educational programming for kids. We had a whole week of activities planned for kids attending a spring break camp, and we used these activities to get youth to think about living a green lifestyle.
4. What social media platforms are especially effective for reaching and recruiting youth?
Jamea: Instagram is #1. I’m always on my Instagram; if there’s anywhere I am going to see a post, it’s on Instagram.
About Jamea
Jamea Johnson was a 2022-2023 Young Texan Ambassador. Jamea is a rising senior at Syracuse University studying psychology on the pre-med and pre-law tracks. Jamea is the founder and CEO of Black Girls Garden, a non-profit organization that uses educational programming to teach youth in low-income communities about eco-sustainability and agriculturally friendly living. Check it out on Instagram at the handle @blackgirlsgardenorg.
