How a Queens school transformed a local playground — and its students’ lives

At a Queens high school, a class focused on community service projects is transforming a local playground and the lives of its students. Voyages Prep, a school serving older students who fell behind at other institutions, partnered with Hire Cause, a nonprofit that uses hands-on projects to develop career skills. The elective course, created with Hire Cause, saw students decide to renovate Playground Ninety, a run-down basketball court in Jackson Heights.

Through fundraising efforts such as bake sales, a basketball tournament, and a carnival, the students raised about $2,100. They then won $50,000 in a worldwide "Every Court Has a Story" contest, marking the first time a student-led entry won. The renovation of the playground, completed last month, included a repaired basketball court and a mural representing Jackson Heights' diversity and New York City's rivers.

The project has not only improved the students' community engagement but also motivated them to attend school, as evidenced by Kamrin Jones, a 19-year-old student who went from seeing the project as an obligation to finding a newfound passion. The class, rooted in social change and justice, has helped students like Jones see the connection between their classroom learning and the broader community, providing them with a sense of purpose and proof that they can achieve more than they thought possible.