Working side by side with members of our staff, High Line Teen Employment Program participants gain more than just work experience and a paycheck—they discover a new community and supportive mentors ready to help them take the next step. One such pair is Mia Fields Peña, a high school senior from the Institute for Collaborative Education on the Lower East Side and second-year High Line Teen Employment Program member, and Yvette Weaver, High Line Horticulture Supervisor. We sat down with them to discuss their passion for the outdoors, what it means to cultivate spaces where everyone can belong, and what they’re learning from one another.

How did you come to work in horticulture?

Yvette: There’s been no time in my life where I wasn’t doing something with plants. One of my earliest memories is weeding my parents’ vegetable garden, and deciding to do that on my own as a four-year-old. All of my family members have ties to plants, too— whether it is working in floral design, growing food, or creating ornamental gardens. Growing up in a multi-racial and -cultural family, cultivating and growing plants was the space where I found that there was a likeness across my family. And working in gardens with these different family members was a way to feel connected to them. So plants have always been a part of my journey. I’ve worked in more corporate settings in management positions as well. But I just knew I needed to be outside, closer to the natural world, and creating something with plants.

And, Mia, you are looking ahead to college. Where did your interest in horticulture, environmental science, and other green careers come from?

Mia: I’m going to start applying to colleges this fall, and I’m looking for schools that have good environmental studies programs because that’s what I intend to major in. My interest came after I had this position at the High Line. Before this job, I never really had an idea of what I wanted to pursue career-wise. The High Line Teens go on these field trips to visit Public Space Alliance sites. One particular trip gave me insight into what green initiatives in the city look like. We went on a trip to South Williamsburg, where we learned about a project called BQGreen. We toured the site with former New York City council member and deputy borough president for Brooklyn, and project lead, Diana Reyna, and deputy director of programs for El Puente, Asenhat Gomez. The BQGreen project looks to create a park that will expand over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway because that expressway cut right through the South Williamsburg neighborhood, which is heavily populated by Hispanic people and other people of color.

I learned about the neighborhood—the history behind it and the people who still live there who don’t have access to green space because of this expressway. I thought it was a really amazing project, to try to cover this area that was polluting the neighborhood and transform it into something people can use and benefit from, physically and mentally. That project inspired me, and helped fuel a passion that I didn’t know existed within me. I wanted to learn more about this type of work and how I can give back to the community—how I can make it healthier. I would love to be able to work in a field that promotes health within communities through the lens of environmental justice. It’s something that we need in the city, because green space is limited here.

Yvette, you’ve said before that gardening supports your sense of purpose and belonging as a Black woman. Can you say why?

Yvette: Well, I think gardens and public horticulture have historically been very dominated by white men. That’s who you always see on the cover of books and who’s giving lectures and talks. Since I came into this field, I think it’s really starting to shift and change. Now more diverse voices are being heard and represented. More visions of gardens are being represented as well. So part of it is about creating a space for other people who look like me. Sometimes green spaces can feel closed off to certain people. I feel like my presence helps to keep that space open. It also allows people who look like me to start thinking about other types of jobs and careers. When young people walk through the park and see someone that looks like them, or someone that could be in their family, working in the gardens, there’s a look on their face. And they want to stop and talk and ask me a question. I love being able to give exposure to young people of color. So that’s part of why gardening ties into my identity. But there’s also a strong Black history of connections to plants and gardens, to horticulture and agriculture. And I think, as a Black woman, that I really got that from my family, especially from the women in my family.

Mia: A lot of what you said, Yvette, really resonated with me because I know something that’s really important for me is representation. Having the opportunity to work with you is really inspiring and important for me in thinking about what I
want to do in the future. And I think that it’s so important for people like us to be in this field because we’re making it more diverse and inspiring younger generations, showing them that they can work anywhere they want because they do belong there.

What’s something that you’ve learned from one another in your work together on the High Line?

Mia: I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to maintain the plants here at the High Line. And really, everything I’ve done this summer is new to me—I’ve volunteered and potted plants before, but nothing that was in a real garden, especially in such a renowned park, too. I’m learning the details of maintenance, like what kind of weeds do you pull? How do you pull them to make sure you get the root out? Where to prune a flower… There are lots of small details that might not be obvious. Each individual plant in the garden has unique needs and requirements to thrive. One of the most important things I’ve learned working with Yvette in the gardens is being mindful of the plants around us. When you go into a space, take the time to observe the plant, the leaves, the stem, the buds, the petals… waft through the larger plants, lift up branches to see underneath. Taking the time to look through each plant as if you are analyzing it through a microscope every day helps you become more familiar with its needs.

Yvette: I’m gaining a new appreciation for the everyday tasks of a horticulturist’s job. In trying to be the best mentor I can, I’m learning how to break out of my routine and find some space to slow down and explain the nuances of my work to Mia. I’m also getting a renewed appreciation for the process of learning horticulture as I see Mia progressing. I don’t want to call anything a mistake; it’s all part of the process. Learning horticulture is hands-on and tactical, you’re getting kind of messy and
getting dirty, but it’s also kind of fun. We’re both lucky in that I think this is one of the most amazing teams—there’s so much creativity, knowledge, and experience in the horticulture department. Folks outside of our organization might not know this but each horticulturist has a section of the park they focus on. While each of us has daily tasks that are focused on our specific sections—which might have a different plant composition or microclimate than other sections of the park—there is so much collaboration amongst this team to make sure the High Line’s gardens create a cohesive, beautiful experience. It’s really amazing how well we all work together and really support each other. And Mia has been able to experience it all—including the whole team jamming into the lunch room together to have lunch and just the chaos of those moments.

Mia: I feel like the horticulture team is not just a team—it’s a community. Coming into this residency, I thought I would just get to know Yvette. But now I’ve met everybody on the whole horticulture team. And they have conversations about their gardens, they share information with each other, and they find this familiarness with each other through their love of horticulture. That’s really valuable. And it’s nice to work in a setting where you don’t just feel like you’re working by yourself—you really have a sense of community and feel like you’re supported here.

Yvette & Mia work together on the High Line.Photo by Rowa Lee

What makes you feel like you belong on the High Line?

Yvette: I’m going to go back to the hort team. It’s great coming in every day and seeing these faces and the joy that everyone brings. And then the dedication—the team is so dedicated, to the work and to each other. For me, it’s like coming home in many ways. There’s community here, especially amongst those of us who are working outside every day. There are small connections as we’re passing each other, with waves and hellos. And “I’ve gotcha,” or “Let me help you out.” And the cheering on that everyone does for each other is really very special and super supportive.

Mia: On top of the horticulture team, I also have the teen program staff members and other teens that I find support in. For one of the week-long intensives in the winter, the youth program managers talked to us about what inspires them, why they want to work with youth, and why they want to support us. It was a really great experience for me because it showed me that they’re really passionate about their work, and that they really want to see us develop through this program. Their literal job is to provide opportunities to help me grow and to help me experience things that I wouldn’t otherwise have access to. That makes me feel like I belong—because people want me here and want to see me thrive.

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This article originally appeared in the High Line Magazine, a publication available to High Line members. Make a membership gift and stand with the park and all those who love it. Whether you’ve never given before or if you’ve been with us since the beginning, the High Line needs you now.

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