On Tuesday, August 16, 50 American YouthWorks (AYW) students will gather at the historic, Burdett Prairie Cemetery in the Montopolis neighborhood for landscape rescue and litter pick up. The AYW students are seeking their high school diploma or GED while learning job skills. This is the fourth time AYW students have worked to clean up the Cemetery in the last two years and is a service project they are doing in conjunction with a larger revitalization vision in the Montopolis neighborhood that includes energy efficient, affordable homes and more green space.
The Burdett Prairie Cemetery is located just a few blocks from seven lots where AYW students in the Casa Verde Builders (CVB) program have built or will build, energy efficient, affordable homes for low-income, first time home buyers. The clean up and construction projects, represent an investment that AYW has made in the Montopolis community and in the at-risk youth that may have come from neighborhoods just like it.
The CVB program provides at-risk youth with an opportunity to earn their GED or high school diploma while gaining job skills in green construction and industry recognized certifications and instilling a service ethic through community revitalization projects, such as the ones in the Montopolis neighborhood.
The Burdett Prairie Cemetery is a historic, private cemetery in a low-income neighborhood that has been used for illegal dumping and illicit activities. Over the last two years, much of the overgrowth has been cleaned out, making the inner parts of the Cemetery less secluded. One neighbor said his kids are not afraid of the Cemetery anymore. For pictures of the clean up in October of last year, visit our facebook page.
The Burdett Prairie Cemetery Clean Up will be on Tuesday, August 16, from 8:00 am to noon. The group needs volunteers and tools such as lawn mowers, pruners and work gloves. Since many of the plots do not have headstones, staff will provide an orientation to ensure that the graves are properly cared for. If you would like to volunteer or donate items, contact Rachel Matvy, rmatvy@americanyouthworks.org or 512.744.1904.