Jackson Public Schools Awarded $50,000 Grant to Install People’s Garden at Environmental Learning Center

Jackson Public Schools (JPS) has been awarded $50,000 to establish a People’s Garden at its Environmental Learning Center (ELC). The project will expand opportunities for environmental education by creating a dedicated outdoor classroom space that integrates core curricula and provides hands-on learning for scholars and the broader Jackson community. The project will feature:

• Twenty (20) raised garden beds supporting pollinator and migratory bird habitats

• Fruit-bearing saplings planted across the site

• A compost area and irrigation system to promote sustainability

• A new pavilion designed to host cooking demonstrations and other educational activities

Completion of the garden is anticipated by December 2025. The space will be maintained by ELC staff with support from community volunteers, ensuring its long-term impact on both environmental stewardship and youth engagement.

The ELC project team includes:

• Jeffrey Gibson, Director 
• Broderwick Cochran, Associate Director
• Jimmy Jones, Head Environmental Technician
• Lynette Luckett, Secretary

“This project represents another exciting step forward in advancing environmental education for our scholars and the community,” said Coach Jeff Gibson, Director of the JPS Environmental Learning Center and Project Director. “The People’s Garden will give students the chance to explore sustainability, agriculture, and conservation through real-world, hands-on experiences.”

The $50,000 grant was awarded through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the USDA’s People’s Garden Initiative and the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program. NFWF provides funding on a competitive basis for projects that sustain, restore, and enhance the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. Since its creation by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest private conservation foundation, working with public and private partners to protect and restore natural resources for current and future generations.