THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF DREXEL UNIVERSITY WILL PARTNER WITH MANTUA CIVIC ASSOCIATION TO CREATE THE MANTUA YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT SEEKS TO CONNECT YOUTH AGES 8-16 IN PLACE-BASED ARTS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP OF COMMUNITY GREEN SPACE. PROJECT FUNDS WILL SUPPORT A COMMUNITY HORTICULTURE EDUCATOR AND A UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN IN THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND OVERSIGHT OF THE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS STIPENDS FOR THE PHILADELPHIA YOUTH AMBASSADOR PARTICIPANTS. THROUGH THEIR PARTICIPATION IN A CURRICULUM OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES INTEGRATING ARTS, STEM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, THE YOUTH AMBASSADORS WILL DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND A DEEPENED SENSE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THIS INITIATIVE WILL ADDRESS AN URBAN COMMUNITY'S NEED FOR YOUTH CIVIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY, AS WELL AS SERVE AS A MODEL FOR FUTURE ENGAGEMENT OF INFORMAL STEM LEARNERS AND YOUTH COMMUNITY LEADERS WITHIN PHILADELPHIA.