Atlanta, GA - Marcus Penny, a native Californian, is currently studying Psychology at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Recently Marcus has become active with several different local, national, and international initiatives involving the promotion of sustainable living and environmental justice. These initiatives have helped to lay the foundation upon which the two organizations he helped to found (S.E.E.E.D and L.R.A.M) are built. Alongside a strong team of students and recent graduates, Marcus plans on rising awareness on environmental justice issues and how they affect underrepresented communities.
Awards
Recipient of the Fellows Fund micro-grant award for:
The Urban Gardening & Resiliency Oasis (U.G.R.O.) Program
Atlanta, GA- Georgia Conservancy
The Urban Gardening and Resiliency Oasis (U.G.R.O.) aspires to directly address the issue of food deserts in Atlanta by offering an opportunity to learn about agricultural development in the urban context. In addition this program is designed to work with local schools and community organizations to create a student-focused program that utilized environmental sustainability as a means to accelerate mentor enrichment and student achievement. The initiative aims to create a Community learning center that focuses on Urban Agriculture for the residents of the Oakland Community in West Atlanta, in partnership with 100 Black Men of Atlanta and the BEST Academy and the Outdoor Alliance for Kids to 1) bring outdoor exposure and education to students in elementary school, 2) Provide food for the Atlanta Food Bank to be given to Atlanta Homeless, 3) Further the advancement of the Outdoor Activity Center as a location for outdoor education, 4) Continue the mentorship pipeline provided by AMPS-ATLANTA, 5) Continue to educate and train high school and college students on several different aspects of developing a sustainable economy through community service based leadership exercises in the AMPS-ATLANTA Program, 6) Further develop leadership skills as community organizer but helping to empower individuals to provide for one of their basic human needs, 7) Create and Decorate 5 Rain Barrels.