MALIK [Manhattan]

Malik was six weeks into a backpacking trip when COVID shut the world down. Soon after returning home to New York City he was introduced to the HORT. “I had worked as a private gardener, but during the winter I was looking for something more long-term and meaningful. In the city, people often don’t often have access to green space. Once I saw the HORT’S mission, about connecting people and plants, I knew this was the place I belonged.“

Through the HORT, Malik was assigned to work with City Cleanup Corps. “We’re raking, mulching, weeding, and planting around the city. I love gardening on a professional level; this opportunity has really allowed me to start building a career. I am making higher level logistical decisions when it comes to planning, scheduling, ordering, budgeting, and managing teams of people.”

“I think that the CCC program really has played a pivotal role for me. Being involved in such a unique way with New York, doing urban greening, is just so important. I grew up in Manhattan knowing nothing about plants; I even had an aversion to dirt! But once I connected with horticulture, it has really changed the way I interact with the outdoors and the city, and makes me feel really purposeful in the work that I do.”