Welcome to the “Putting Positive Youth Development Research into Practice” Blog page! My name is Diya Mandal, and I am the intern this summer working with the 4-H department at CCE Monroe. The 4-H educator and I will work diligently through the month of June to develop a successful “Cultivating Community” program for the youth in Monroe County, that will run for 6 weeks though July and August. The basis of this program is to give the youth in Rochester a work opportunity where they learn skills of gardening, agriculture, health, nutrition/cooking, community service, and professional development, and then implement these skills to better community gardens. I will also be working with Kristen Elmore on a research perspective of this program, by ultimately gathering data and evidence to prove the true significance and importance of this program on the youth’s lives and on the greater Rochester community.

I am very excited to see all of the wonderful things this program brings, and to understand the true underlying implication of a program like this.

Follow along under “Blogs” to hear about our weekly adventures.