Three years ago, program Director, Amy Sammons, of Mentoring Plus located in Newport Kentucky, reached out to Campbell County Extension Horticulture agent for resources. After initial meetings and conversations, an organic partnership blossomed, and plans were drafted to implement a youth program for at risk youth in the urban sector of the county that would meet their mission, which is to empower disadvantaged youth and their families to fulfill their potential and to contribute to the well-being of community by forming relationships based on mutual trust, compassion, and respect (site: https://mentoringplus.org/who-we-are/).  

Hydroponics was one of the first programs implemented which is still growing strong and has given youth opportunity to engage into a science and learning opportunity that they would have never been exposed to if it wasn’t for the Campbell County Extension. Currently Campbell County horticulture meets four times per month with eight youth for gardening group. The garden today is a safe place for the youth to gain horticulture knowledge and skills but also a place to improve self-confidence, self-respect and engage in teamwork opportunities. Because of this program, the youth have been given freedom to design this urban space, which have given them pride and ownership, ultimately leading them to learn responsibility. Program Director Amy Sammons, has expressed how grateful this program has been to the urban community because this has given the youth new life skills that they typically don’t learn at home. Some have even shared their new knowledge with their families, and one family is now starting to grow their own urban vegetable garden at home. Campbell County horticulture has planted a few new seeds of curiosity in the urban community of Newport with youth at Mentoring Plus and will continue to grow more curious urban youth!