By Teja Williams

WASHINGTON (October 25, 2018) – More than 500 students, alumni, and staff participated in Howard University’s 2018 Day of Service held during Homecoming. With more than 26 volunteer project sites, this years’ service initiatives served eight wards in D.C. and focused on homelessness and food insecurities, community beautification, health, education, elder care and violence prevention.  

Several students partnered with the gentlemen of Hustlerz 2 Harvesters in Northeast Washington, D.C. to help improve the community’s garden.  

“I was born in this neighborhood and was traumatized at a young age because my mother got killed when I was only four-years-old so the streets raised me. I went through a lot of trauma because my brother got kidnapped during that time also,” explains Hustlerz 2 Harvesters Co-founder Boe Luther about his connection to the neighborhood and dedication to improving the community. “Going to jail didn’t matter to me until I was sentenced 53 years to life. I told myself if I ever got my sentenced reduced I would never go back to jail and I would give back to my community”.  

After serving 13 years in prison, Luther was released and kept his word about serving his community. 

Hustlerz 2 Harvesters is a group of three D.C. natives who gathered together to improve and serve their neighborhood by creating a community garden. The garden is located at 5314 Dix Street NE, in Washington. This garden grows various fruits, vegetables and plants and is open to all residents of the neighborhood as well as Howard students. Residents are encouraged to stop by the garden to pick fresh produce or even host special events. 

                    “I believe that service is how you pay forward the blessings you receive,” says Howard University student and Day of Service team leader Ayana Evans. “H2H is an innovative space. It was amazing to see what hard work, creative thinking and the goal to create sustainable living has done for their community.”