Garden at the Teen Center - Byron Laws

Byron Laws

Name

Byron Laws

Current place of residence

Raleigh, NC, United States

What is your current occupation/work?

I am the Unit Director of the Ralph E. Capps Teen Center. I manage staff and members at The Club-Teen Center. The Teen Center is an all high school Boys & Girls Club in which we focus on career exploration, character and citizenship, and well as healthy lifestyles.

When and where did you work with Maurice?

Summer 2012, Raleigh/Durham, NC

For how long did you work with Maurice?

Two months, 2 times per week. Currently, once a week. 

What kind of work did you do when you worked with Maurice?

While working with Mr. Maurice I assisted with the following.

Community event planning
Built a hoop-house
Garden planting
Garden layout design
Built indoor lighting structures
composting
Tower garden planting indoor/outdoor
Harvest plants indoor/outdoor
Community networking

What kind of growth/transformation happened for you (and/or for the people you served) because of your work with Maurice?

I was able to grow personally and professionally while working with Mr. Maurice. He was able to help me take a personal passion of mine and develop it into interactive program at my job. He has taught me the importance of developing personal relationship that can grow into professional partnerships and vice versa. I have been able to learn what it takes to combat systemic issues from a grassroots level as well as how to engage community stakeholders in supporting a shared vision.

How has working with Maurice benefitted you and/or uplifted you?

I look forward to working with Mr. Maurice weekly. He is consistent with his work and efforts in regards to developing relationships that benefit the community. He has a gift of being able to listen in hopes of being a supporting factor as well as a dedication to encourage those around him.

What would you say to someone who is interested in working with Maurice in the future?

To those who are interested in working with Mr. Maurice I would say this be prepared to learn about plants and growing food, but be excited to learn more about yourself and how you can make a difference in your workplace, and community.

Memories and Stories

One of the fondest memories I have with working with Mr. Maurice is when I started my new job as the Unit Director of the Teen Center. Prior to working at the Teen Center Mr. Maurice and I had met through some non-profit working I was engaging in with some friends from college back in 2012-2013. After several months of little communication between him and I it was a pleasant surprise to see him already engaged as a volunteer at the Teen Center when I arrived. He congratulated me on the new position I accepted and expressed to me how proud he was as well as how much he looked forward to us working together once again. Since then we have been able to start an outdoor garden here at the Teen Center as well as 3 indoor garden systems.

A Few Words…

Mr. Maurice is very knowledgeable in regards to plants and what resources are needed for them to grow in different environments. He is very creative in terms of building structures that are needed for plants to grow indoors.
 

Mr. Maurice work is extremely impactful. His ability to communicate with both youth and adults in regards to teaching them the importance of growing and sustaining food systems is something that I find very impressive.
 

What makes his efforts so compelling is his work ethic and dedication to his passion of helping building a stronger community through food systems. His passion in regards to teaching and working hands-on with people of any age who express an interest in growing food is unmatched.

Anything else?

Mr. Maurice is a pleasure to work with his guidance and mentorship have most certainly been helpful in many ways in my personal and professional development. I look forward to seeing his success throughout the community and at the Teen Center.