From the president
As President of Bethel University, I support the nomination of Preston Meyers (History and Social Work majors) for the 2025-2026 Newman Civic Fellowship award. Dr. Claudia May, Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL - Bethel University), steered this nomination. In her roles as Professor and Executive Director of the CCEL, Dr. May taught and supervised Preston Meyers when he accepted a community work-study position. During the summer of 2024, Preston worked alongside community partners as they tended to residents’ gardens and cared for urban environments. In conjunction with his peers, Preston devoted 40 hours a week to enriching community-led garden projects supervised by the non-profit organization Urban Farm and Garden Alliance and the CCEL. Dr. May notes that Preston saw the value of a community growing vegetables and flowers to share with Rondo/Frogtown/University-Summit/Midway neighbors. She recalls that Preston listened to stories delivered by those who took pride in nurturing the land for all, embraced elders’ knowledge, and witnessed children caught up in the wonder of nature as they learned how to garden. With the support of family, friends, former football teammates, and community partners, Preston aspires to connect deeply with the communities he encounters.
Personal Statement
My first year with the Urban Farm & Garden Alliance (UFGA) was more than just the gardening description I had in mind. I got the wonderful opportunity to work alongside some amazing mentors who have been engaged in the Rondo and Frogtown Neighborhoods of St. Paul. The work they have done and the effort they put into their mission and craft were inspiring beyond belief. I felt a sense of pride in our roles with UFGA, even in the long and hot summer days in Minnesota. We also got linked to some amazing community members who have a passion for urban gardening and connecting the land back to St. Paul. It is extremely satisfying and inspirational to see spaces and neighborhoods that are filled with Green Gardens, such as at Victoria Rondo or Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church. Highlights include the connections I made with my colleagues and mentors, plus our inspirational work to give people a chance to make a conscious decision to grow locally and support St. Paul residents. It is why I fell in love with this community work-study, and why I applied for another year with the UFGA.