Link students adopted and painted four catch basins (aka sewer or storm drains) in the area around the school as part of a citywide program to protect Newark’s waterways and make it more beautiful initiated by the City of Newark Office of Sustainability, Newark Riverfront Revival, Newark Department of Public Works, and the EPA’s Urban Waterways Federal Partnership. The students who participated were enrolled in the Environmental Activism Through Art Elective, under the guidance of Ms. Howard, Link’s fine arts teacher. They studied the art of Berlin-based Raubdruckerin to understand environmental art, and then created their own street mural designs intended to raise awareness about the importance of catch basins and the need for clean waterways. They painted the murals over a three-week period and engaged our neighbors – Newark School of the Arts and Integrity House – in the project. The project will continue with ensuring that the catch basins remain clear of litter and debris. As part of the elective, students were invited to participate in the Science and Leadership Academy at the Newark Watershed in West Milford, NJ learning how water from the reservoirs is cleaned and makes its way into Newark’s faucets.
