Community Corner
Helping Hands: Danielle Kelly
At Los Angeles Audubon's Native Plant & Wildlife Garden, Danielle teaches kids about their connection with Mother Earth.
Name: Danielle Kelly, Culver City resident
Volunteer Affiliation: Los Angeles Audubon's Native Plant & Wildlife Garden Education Program
How long have you been a volunteer? I have been a volunteer with Audubon for two years, but I have volunteered with various organizations in Los Angeles County for the past five years.
What needs does your chosen organization fill? The needs the Kenneth Hahn Education Program fill are teaching youth the importance of green space in cities and the role it plays concerning wildlife and environmental issues.
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The program corresponds with the natural science curriculum of schools. It teaches students first-hand about the topography of Los Angeles, the different species of animals that also make Los Angeles their home, and about native plant species vs. invasive plants that were introduced to the area.
The kids learn about how living things are connected to the environment and how we need the environment to be healthy so that we humans can be healthy.
What is the most rewarding part of being a volunteer? The most rewarding part is seeing the kids become engaged in what you are teaching them. Their faces light up when they see a bird or insect that they learned about in class, and they are eager to answer questions or share information about the species being discussed.
Find out what's happening in Culver Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
To top it off, the park gives them an opportunity to have fun, run around, and use their imagination. Their happiness is contagious.
What is the city's most important issue? This is a really hard question because the city has so many issues. I guess I would have to say that the city's most important issue is the bureaucracy surrounding the education system.
Education is the foundation of a society. Without a strong, sturdy foundation, you cannot expect the structure built on top of it to withstand long-term erosion. The future structure of our society depends on the quality of education, taught in our schools now.
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