Helping Plant Seeds of Change

Marcus Kassick, Community Engagement Coordinator [TerraCorps]

Our 2024/25 TerraCorps members (from left to right Stella, Kira, Marcus)

At a time when the world feels uncertain, TerraCorps members serving with CitySprouts are finding grounding in the soil and in each other. Through their year of AmeriCorps service, these members have supported garden-based education across Boston and Cambridge, deepening their understanding of environmental justice, education, and what it really means to build community.

Stella grew up immersed in nature and now serves with CitySprouts. Originally from Jamaica Plain, Boston, Stella was looking for a way to give back while gaining meaningful experience. “When I found out about TerraCorps, I immediately knew I had to do it,” she said. “I could stay in my city while gaining valuable work experience and giving back to the communities around me—while serving at an organization that shares some of my values: land stewardship, nature education, and equitable access to green space.”

Kira, currently taking a year off from college, discovered TerraCorps through a chainsaw training event where she met past members. “To me it seemed like the perfect fit of experience in environmental or educational work,” she shared, “but specifically meant to be a 1-year experience and a way to further your own professional development.”

Kira teaching!

For Marcus, who also came to TerraCorps through a desire to blend environmental justice with community-based work, the opportunity to serve outdoors and engage directly with youth was a powerful draw. “The chance to be outside, engage with young people, and contribute to something tangible like a school garden felt like a meaningful way to bridge education and the environment,” he said.

Shifting Perspectives and Growing Skills

Each member has found that their perspective on community, education, and the environment has evolved over the course of their service. Marcus shared: “I’ve come to see just how deeply interconnected these areas are. A garden is never just a garden, it’s a learning space, a community gathering spot, and a reflection of who has access to land and resources.”

Kira echoed the importance of intention when it comes to building community. “This year of service has definitely reinforced that community is something that takes a long time and a lot of intentional effort to build,” she said. “It is not something that will materialize or just happen. It must be sought out. It must be made.”

Stella helping out at the Dudley Greenhouse!

The work has also sparked self-discovery. Stella found that she thrives in interdisciplinary roles: “My service looks very different day-to-day and I enjoy that. I’ve also learned that I enjoy problem solving. Garden operations is a very unique job—there are so many different hard and soft skills that go into it beyond knowing about growing. For example, some plumbing and carpentry has come up.”

Kira found a passion she didn’t expect. “I learned that I really love working with young children,” she said. “Their curiosity, their wonder, and their openness are amazing to witness and foster. And it's either totally energizing or exhausting—I haven’t found too much in between.”

For Marcus, one of the biggest lessons was how much effort it takes to serve a community well. “There are so many hurdles and barriers to truly accounting for everyone’s needs,” he said. “Recognizing that has deepened my commitment to equity—something I hope to carry into my future work.”

Moments that Matter

Across the board, it’s the everyday experiences, those small moments of connection and growth, that members point to as their biggest highlights. Stella shared how meaningful it’s been to connect with local organizations and community hubs, like the Dudley Greenhouse and Boston Building Resources sharing that, “Learning about many cool things that exist in Boston/Cambridge that I had not known about or been connected to previously has been a highlight.”

Marcus making seed balls with kids at an event!

For Kira, it’s the kids, and the garden, that keep her grounded. She recalled a moment when a student connected their mushroom anatomy lesson from the winter to the structure of plant roots in spring. “She was so proud that she had remembered,” Kira said. “It worked for this student, and I’d never seen it go that way before.” On another day, despite the drizzle, her students eagerly thinned microgreens and munched on them straight from the soil. “The students just couldn’t get enough,” she said.

In these reflections, it’s clear that service through TerraCorps is more than just a service term—it’s an experience of learning, growth, and relationship-building. Whether teaching garden lessons, solving on-the-ground challenges, or witnessing students’ curiosity bloom, these members are helping plant seeds of change across Greater Boston, one garden at a time.