NAZA STEAM INITIATIVE - AFTER SCHOOL - WRIGHT MIDDLE

Bilingual and limited English speaking students are having the opportunity to experience new technologies in vertical farms - no soil, just water and nutrients.

The goal is to build a hydroponic system using engineering concepts from STEAM.

The ulterior goal -- is to help them realize they have the responsibility and capability to learn how to produce their own food. So whatever circumstances they may face in life in the future... they would have acquired a skill, that is now planted in their brain and cannot be erased.

The following individuals support this powerful program --

Denise Rocha - Program Site Coordinator

Teacher Maria

Rafael - student

Rachael Woods - Sustainable Living Educator, Urban Green Lab

Metro Nashville Public Schools along with Michael Miller - Academic Initiatives Manager, Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA) synchronize their resources to make sure this program is a reality.

The students in this program have many social, academic limitations. But this program is establishing the base so these kids will become the future farm engineers.

In a few minutes, they understood you can plant in water --

They prepared the first part of the process - germination.

The goal -- by Thanksgiving, each of these 26 students will harvest a crop of lettuce and cilantro -- to take home!!!