CienciaCoLab – 2022 Edition
A group of six resident leaders from four municipalities (San Juan, Trujillo Alto, Ponce, and Yabucoa) participated in CienciaCoLab 2022. Each one completed a proposal and received seed funding for their projects. Three projects have been completed, while another three are in progress.
Completed Projects
VerConCi Community Garden (Orchard with Science)
Lohary Munet Piñeiro, a community leader in Villa del Carmen, Playa de Ponce, Puerto Rico, created the VerConCi Community Garden (Orchard with Science). The garden provides fresh and healthy food, opportunities for intergenerational socialization and recreation to mitigate isolation, promote emotional and physical health, and reduce the impact of heat in the community. It has been in operation since late 2023, with over 120 plants that provide food, herbs, and medicine for residents. The project has involved hundreds of volunteers from local schools, the police, churches, and the community to prepare recycled tires for planting, sow seeds, harvest food, and prepare community meals. Learn more about Lohary.
Workshops and resources for the community
Mirta organized a series of four workshops for seniors at Renaissance Square Condominium in San Juan, Puerto Rico on mental health, healthy eating, health and housing rights, and how to prepare for natural disasters. She also organized a health fair to promote independence and improve the quality of life for these adults. The workshops, held at the end of 2023, had 84 participants, while 62 people attended the health fair. Nine entities, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and health companies, offered services and information at the fair. Learn more about Mirta.
Educating the Heart
Sister Faustina carried out "Educating the Heart" when she was director at the Ferrán and Punta Diamante Services Center. This health education project aimed to improve hypertension management in communities in Ponce, Puerto Rico. “Educating the Heart” reached over 287 participants in 11 communities, distributing over 263 blood pressure monitors and offering more than 10 workshops on topics such as the proper use of monitors, exercise and physical activity, and cooking lessons to promote a suitable diet for hypertension. Learn more about Sister Faustina.
Projects in progress
Aslín Díaz Estrada, a community leader in the Deaf Community in Puerto Rico, plans a series of workshops and literacy classes to address communication barriers between Deaf and hearing individuals and to raise awareness about the rights of Deaf people among service providers in Puerto Rico. Learn more about Aslín.
Lenis Rodríguez Amaro, a community leader in Camino Nuevo, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, plans to create an accessible park to promote the social, physical, and emotional health of children with disabilities in the Camino Nuevo community in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. This project is being developed in partnership with SER de Puerto Rico, the main non-profit organization in the archipelago that offers rehabilitation, education, psychological support, and services for people with disabilities and autism. Learn more about Lenis.
Lucía Santana Benítez, a community leader in the Manuel A. Pérez Residential in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is in the process of creating “Huerto Liberación” (Liberation Garden), a community garden for the residents of Puerto Rico's second largest public housing complex, with the goal of providing fresh and healthy food and offering learning and leadership development opportunities for youth. A water tank and a motor for a hydroponic system have been acquired, and a physical site for the garden has been identified. Learn more about Lucía.