Oglesby Elementary

Oglesby Elementary is located in the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood on the South side of Chicago. Montessori-style education has been integrated into the school and currently serves as an option for students up to the 6th grade. In early 2014 Montessori teachers initiated our school garden, as hands-on and experiential learning is integral to the Montessori style. However, we recognize that the garden has the potential to benefit the entire school and the surrounding community.
Our neighborhood has a 30% poverty rate (15% are in extreme poverty); 99.2% of our students are considered to be from low-income families. Auburn Gresham and surrounding neighborhoods are located within food deserts. The goal of our garden is to serve as a source of fresh and healthy food for our students, to teach them gardening skills so that they are empowered to grow food on their own, and to have the garden be a space where students can connect with their community. This grant will help us achieve this goal.