Newark Youth Team Up To Plant Trees, Clean Their Neighborhoods

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Great Oaks Legacy Charter School. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Students from Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (GOLCS) recently led two scholar-driven projects that brought new life to their neighborhoods—a community clean-up in Lincoln Park and a tree planting behind the Downtown Elementary campus on Chapel Street. More than 45 students from GOLCS High School and Downtown Middle School participated—showcasing their commitment to community service, advocacy, and environmental stewardship.

The clean-up initiative was inspired by a civic engagement project assigned by Warren Thompson, Community Organizer for Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District. Thompson challenged students to assess their community through research and photo documentation, then propose realistic, actionable solutions for improvement. As part of the GOLCS Student Advocacy Club, scholars Joseph Oyelowo and Kaysi Charrington took the lead—presenting their findings and outlining both strengths and challenges in the Lincoln Park area. Their presentation celebrated assets like local businesses and community book stands, while also calling attention to persistent issues such as shattered glass, litter, and homelessness.

Their advocacy didn’t stop at words. Twenty scholars partnered with Officer Kristle Felder and Officer Duane Martinez of the Newark Department of Public Safety and Thompson himself to lead a hands-on clean-up that brought their vision to life.

“This project gave me a voice,” said Oyelowo, a GOLCS sophomore. “Instead of just complaining about the issues in our neighborhood, I was able to take action. We set the example that young people can be the change.”

“The students thought critically and proposed action steps that were realistic and doable," said Thompson, who usually gives this project to his college students at Rutgers - Newark. "They didn’t just identify what they liked and didn’t like—they followed through with a plan and took the first step. That kind of follow-up is what builds real change.”

“This event was an important first step in showing how students can make a real impact when they choose to invest in their community,” Officer Felder said. “By coming together, taking initiative, and showing up with purpose, we demonstrated that even small actions can spark bigger change. It’s easy to feel like one voice doesn’t matter, but when students step up and take ownership of their role in shaping the world around them, communities grow stronger, more connected, and more hopeful. This is just the beginning, and this event proved that we’re capable of more than we think.”

Just a day later, 26 students from GOLCS High School and Downtown Middle School continued the momentum by planting six trees along Chapel Street in the alley behind Downtown Elementary. The project was conducted in partnership with the City of Newark’s Office of Sustainability, Newark Downtown District, NJIT, and Glassroots, with a shared vision of transforming the space into a vibrant, welcoming corridor.

As part of the long-term plan, Glassroots will install mosaics along Chapel Street, continuing the beautification process and turning the alleyway into a public art and green space destination for the school community and the surrounding neighborhood.

“At Great Oaks Legacy, we believe in nurturing student leadership that extends beyond the classroom,” said Executive Director Jared Taillefer. “Whether our scholars are cleaning up public spaces or planting new life into the city, they’re doing so with purpose and pride. These projects are part of something much larger—a schoolwide culture that centers student voice and community impact.”

Both events reflect GOLCS’s deep investment in civic engagement, local partnerships, and creating opportunities for students to lead meaningful change. Great Oaks Legacy Charter School continues to model what education can look like when young people are trusted to lead—and supported every step of the way.

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