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This Nonprofit Founder is Improving NYC Communities, One Green Space at a Time

See how one woman’s passion and determination, and some seriously dedicated volunteers, are creating eco-friendly green spaces for entire neighborhoods to enjoy.

circle Alicia discovers
abandoned lot in
her neighborhood
circle Alicia contacts
officals and
petitions for funds
circle She and
volunteers
create a park
circle Project Petals
begins to help
other communities
circle Alicia begins
writing grants
for others
circle The Builder’s
Project begins for
High Schoolers
circle COVID affects
volunteering and
neighborhoods
circle The parks and green
spaces are used for
community distribution

circle Alicia begins
writing grants
for others
circle The Builder’s
Project begins for
High Schoolers
circle COVID affects
volunteering and
neighborhoods
circle The parks and green
spaces are used for
community distribution

Alicia White’s mission became clear on a typical weekday commute.

Walking home from work with her sister, Tiffany, the pair were struck by the complete abandonment and neglect of a large lot in their Queens neighborhood. “The weeds were up to my knees,” Tiffany recalls. “And Alicia said, ‘This is ridiculous! Our community deserves to have the same great environments that they do in the city.’”

“It was this ‘aha!’ moment for her,” Tiffany explains. “She saw a problem and felt empowered to make a change. Instead of waiting for someone else to step in, she took pictures, contacted local officials, and got to work.”

Alicia petitioned for funds and found donors to provide landscaping supplies. Together with local volunteers, they cleaned up the area, got it designated an official park, and created a commuter path so people could enjoy the green space on their walk home from work.

What started as a single-passion project quickly grew into a full-time mission. Alicia knew her community wasn’t the only one with underutilized green spaces, so she founded Project Petals to tackle the issue on a larger scale. “It was amazing,” Tiffany explains. “I mean, she’s my older sister. I’ve always looked up to her. But she took charge in a way that was so inspiring for me as a young person to see.”

Word spread and project requests continued to come her way. Alicia put her grant-writing skills to work, advocating for funding, researching available grants, and coordinating volunteers to give new life to neglected spaces throughout New York’s outer boroughs.

…they just really care about the families and the students. There’s no ego there, and that’s not always the case in this industry.” – Andy Henry

As the community of volunteers grew, Alicia saw a new opportunity to help. “She started The Builders Program, a mentorship program that connects high school students with urban planners, architects, designers, engineers — people who make neighborhoods. It gets volunteers involved in a new way and gives young people a front-row seat to see how communities are built. It gives them a chance to ask questions, even get guidance on career paths and help with college applications. It really makes it easier for the next generation of community builders to come along,” Tiffany explains.

Like many nonprofits, Project Petals had to shift when the pandemic shuttered everyone indoors. “So much of what we do is in-person,” Tiffany explains. “But she kept getting inquiries, so we knew she needed to figure out how to be virtual, to get the supplies to people in a safe way without being there in person.”

Alicia was able to use contactless delivery and coordinate volunteers strategically to complete projects safely, getting 2020’s spring projects wrapped up in time for the summer months. “These parks became even more important for people. They provided a spot to escape and get a change of scenery during the lockdown,” Tiffany recalls. “One of the finished green spaces in the Bronx even became a key spot for community mask and meal distribution.”

Now that Alicia has virtual systems established, Tiffany says it’s fueled her desire to expand Project Petals to other cities around the country. “There are always communities that need help and need beautiful spaces. In New York, you can make a lot of noise and reach a lot of people to ask for funding and supplies, but that’s not the case everywhere. So Alicia’s really excited to expand her reach, to help more people and build more green spaces in communities across the U.S.”

Alicia’s story is part of a powerful series highlighting the hope and resilience of small business owners across America. Whether your business is well-established or just starting out, U.S. Bank has the banking tools and support you need to keep your business dreams alive and thriving.