For those who know UMES Extension 4-H educator Diamond Nwaeze, an infectious smile exuding energy and confidence comes to mind. Her work ethic and community service has not gone unnoticed, as she was recognized last month with a Citizen Merit Award by the Princess Anne Town Commissioners.
Nwaeze, also a UMES alumna, was hailed as a dedicated volunteer making a difference in the community. A recent accomplishment is her inclusion on the Manokin Park and Green Spaces commission for the Town of Princess Anne.
She began her work in the community as a senior at UMES studying agriculture, specifically research on the black chokeberry (aronia melanocarpa). The Richard Henson Honors program student served in the university’s AmeriCorp VISTA program, where she helped build the first of several community gardens in the area.
“With the first garden at the Garland Hayward Youth Center, we engaged youth with a hands-on learning lab introducing them to the world of agriculture through gardening,” said McCoy Curtis, who was a fellow AmeriCorps VISTA member at the time.
Five years down the road, the garden has expanded thanks in part to Nwaeze, and continues to thrive, he said. The two have joined forces through UMES Extension’s Well-Connected Communities project to help establish community gardens and mini-orchards at the Lower Shore Shelter, the Seton Center and the Todd Family Community Garden, all in Princess Anne.
Nwaeze joined UMES Extension as a 4-H STEM youth development educator in late November 2020. In her new role, she is working toward sustainable processes that can aid the five community-centered gardens in Somerset County and in creating a 4-H garden series for area youth.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, 410-621-3850, gcstephens@umes.edu.
