Through a joint venture facilitated by the City of Milwaukee, Corpsmembers teamed with Ecolotree, Inc. and Groundwork-Milwaukee to install phytoremediation at a vacant city lot in the Harambee neighborhood that was contaminated with heavy metals and other chemicals used by the former plating company that had operated at the site. Phytoremediation technologies utilize plants that are engineered to extract contaminants from soil and sediments. Corpsmembers installed Poplar trees that will clean up the property by removing the chemicals from the groundwater table ten feet below the surface.
Training crews teamed with Johnson Controls employees to beautify the landscape and playground of the Cyberschool, a K-8 Milwaukee Public School located at the Parklawn public housing development. Nearly 50 employees from Johnson Controls offices throughout the United States joined MCSC for the event.
MCSC hosted a delegation of dignitaries from Chihuahua City, Mexico on July 29th who joined crews to work alongside Corpsmembers and observe how disadvantaged young adults in Milwaukee are investing their energies to improve their community. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the visit by the Mexican delegation is in search of successful strategies to divert its young adults from gangs and crime.