Whether standing in line for food support, banking needs, transportation needs, waiting outside the dentist and optometrist offices, or simply stopping to chat with a neighbor on the street, I realized that we spend a lot of time outside and that our downtown could use a little spruce up. We were into month three of the pandemic and coming to the realization that this situation was here to stay…

It all started with an initial call to Fidel Maltez, head of DPW who within hours had not only agreed to fund supplies but had also filled in a lot of the tree pits with decorative mulch instantly transforming the downtown area. We in turn reached out to Dan Cortez, liaison for the police department for the downtown area. Within days, I recruited two Chelsea volunteers, Fidel had coordinated with our food distro team and one of their crew members turned wooden pallets into heavy duty planters.

Off we went to Home Depot where we scooped up the most colorful flowers we could, along with soils, mulch and tools.

To date, we have created and distributed over forty planters along Broadway in downtown Chelsea. Along the way, we have requested that the store owners help to water the planters, which has increased community engagement with the store owners which has resulted in increased trust and communication. We are also showing by doing that where there is a will there is a way….I cannot tell you how many times I have heard positive comments from people walking by about the flowers whenever I am out watering the plants. It is truly a rewarding experience on all levels and we hope to create a sponsorship opportunity next year so that we can continue the program and continue to employ Chelsea residents while also beautifying the downtown.

If you are interested in participating on any level, please reach out to me at devra@chelseacitystudio.com or to Fidel at FMaltez@chelseama.gov.