When Hannah Segal ’09 and Adrian Hodos ’09 decided to give back to the community, they organized a small organic garden at a nearby women’s correctional facility. Now, thanks to their passion and leadership — and a $10,000 grant from Pepsi-Cola — students throughout The Claremont Colleges can cultivate relationships and food at California California Institution for Women.
The money for the CIW Prison Garden Project is provided through Mountain Dew’s “Energize Your Community” contest, which empowers social justice by donating funds to worthy grass-roots organizations. Of the hundreds of applicants, 10 received grant money as finalists. Indeed, the Garden Project is one of two Scripps winners; ImMEDIATE Justice, led by Laney Rupp ’09, claimed its top spot with a commitment to sex education in underserved Los Angeles areas.
“Women inside of California’s prisons have limited access to healthy food and exercise,” says Hannah. “Now we can expand the garden and grow enough food that every woman incarcerated will have some. It also means our group can spend more time gardening and less time worrying about fundraising over the next year — we’re going to buy a greenhouse and more fruit trees and expand the area of the garden.”
“My team and I are thrilled to win,” adds Laney, noting that their funds will go to a series of workshops led by influential reproductive rights activists and film industry professionals. “The grant will further allow us to buy our own equipment and ensure the sustainability and mobility of the program long after the pilot summer program ends. We have much gratitude to the Scripps community for supporting our project.”
That support came about through campaigning — banners and flyers for the projects dominated free space around campus in early May — and word of mouth. The success will ensure the continuation of each enterprise even though their founders have graduated.
“The support of faculty, students, and other members of the Scripps community were crucial to our success,” say Adrian. “It was exciting to see the Scripps community come together to support this project.”