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Pembroke Mayor's Youth Council earns grant from Georgia nonprofit
pembroke mayor youth councilmembers
Erianna Morgan (left) and Madelyn Walraven, two members of the Pembroke Mayor's Youth Council, presenting  to the City Council Monday night for approval to use Pickett Park. (Photo provided)

GeorgiaForward has announced that the 2025 Youth Placemaking Grant has been presented to the City of Pembroke Mayor’s Youth Council. The $500 grant, awarded to the city, will support a youth-led public placemaking project designed to foster creativity, community connection, and civic pride among young residents.

 

The Youth Placemaking Grant Award recognizes projects that are imagined and driven by youth, incorporating and visioning innovative ideas that have the potential to make a lasting impact on the public. This year’s awarded project, Pembroke Community Garden, stood out for its creativity, community focus, and potential to inspire lasting engagement across generations.

 

“The Youth Placemaking Grant is an opportunity to elevate the voices of young people in shaping the spaces they call home,” said Sadie Krawczyk, Managing Director of GeorgiaForward. “We were inspired by the energy and purpose behind Pembroke’s project, and we are proud to support this next generation of civic leaders as they create something meaningful for their community.”

 

Mayor Tiffany Zeigler also states, “I am extremely proud of the Mayor’s Youth Council and their dedication to making Pembroke a better place to live.   Councilmembers Leah Johnson, Erianna Morgan, and Maddie Walraven worked hard to put together this project from start to finish, including presenting a request before the City Council for usage of the park space.  I am excited to see the finished product and cannot wait for our community to enjoy the benefits it provides”

 

The Mayor’s Youth Council’s project will do more than just reactivate the existing Pickett Park and provide rentable garden beds for the community. According to the grant application, gardening can also have numerous other positive benefits, including social interactions, physical activity, environmental and economic benefits, neighborhood placemaking, and educational and skill development opportunities for the public. Chris Benson, City Administrator further impressed, “We pledge our full support to the Mayor’s Youth Council in their efforts to bring this project to fruition. We are eager to assist in any way possible, whether it be through volunteer efforts, fundraising initiatives, or spreading awareness within our community.”

 

Zeigler shared enthusiasm for the award and what it means for the city’s future: “The community garden provides a great depth of public benefit to Pembroke and focuses on access to fresh, nutritious food, especially during times when food costs have increased so significantly.  Fresh foods promote positive dietary habits and can reduce health risks and diseases.”  

 

The Youth Placemaking Grant is part of GeorgiaForward’s mission to build bridges across sectors, geographies, and generations to strengthen Georgia’s communities. By investing in young changemakers, the program aims to cultivate leadership, promote collaboration, and reinforce the value of place-based solutions.

 

For more information about GeorgiaForward and its initiatives, visit www.georgiaforward.org.