Growing Futures manager Alejandro Pulido proposes Downtown Vallejo native garden youth stewardship program

Alejandro Pulido, Growing Futures manager at 4th 2nd, presented a proposal to the Beautification Commission on behalf of his organization for a Downtown Native Garden youth stewardship program intended to pair environmental education with youth development and workforce pathways.

Pulido said the program is “a substance use prevention program that creates a safe space for youth while engaging in nature-based activities to promote positive mental health.” He described a 12-week permaculture and environmental-health curriculum, hands-on skills (planting, propagating, soil analysis) and community-facing work such as signage and native-plant maintenance in the plaza garden and nearby Georgia Street in downtown Vallejo.

The presenter said cohorts would be small (about 12 fellows split across seasonal cohorts), with an expected time commitment of about 12 hours per week. Pulido described sponsored certifications through a nonprofit Pollinator Partnership course and said stipends would come from 4th 2nd and partner sponsors, with one sponsor confirmed and another tentative. He asked the commission to consider mentorship connections from city landscaping staff and to provide letters of support or memoranda of understanding for grant pursuits.

Commissioners and public commenters raised logistics and community benefits. Pulido said most sessions would run after school — typically 4 to 6 p.m. — and that Saturdays would be used when helpful to reduce transportation barriers. He identified the initial focus as the plaza garden in Downtown Vallejo and said other neighborhoods, including areas with lower canopy coverage such as South Vallejo, were potential future sites.

Students and interns who accompanied the presentation described habitat and outreach benefits. Sonia, an intern for 4th 2nd, said the program would provide pollinator habitat by planting native Bay Area species and create educational opportunities for youth and older residents. Mario de la Torre Murietta, a Vallejo resident, urged the commission to support work that would increase pollination and neighborhood beautification.

Pulido also emphasized intergenerational collaboration, noting the plaza garden's proximity to senior housing and the potential for programming to benefit both youth and older residents. He suggested social-media documentation, cohort presentations to the public and follow-up reporting so the broader community can see project progress.

Next steps: the secretary told the commission the native garden grant had received an extension through the end of August and that staff would announce a groundbreaking date when details are set. Pulido requested that the commission consider formal letters of support or MOUs for grant applications; commissioners said they would follow up and explore mentorship and volunteer roles for city staff and partners.

Clarifying details from the presentation: Pulido initially described the program as serving ages “12 to 26” but later noted age and work-permit logistics that referenced a cohort age window of 16 to 26 for certain work-permit requirements. The program structure, stipend sources and some partner commitments were described as tentative and dependent on grant and sponsor confirmation.

The Beautification Commission did not take a formal vote on the proposal during the meeting; commissioners asked staff to coordinate dates, outreach and potential support for the project.