Like the rest of her classmates in “Planning for Healthy Cities,” senior Heather McGee was dismayed when a grant application for the landscaping/beautification project in the Spring Hill neighborhood was denied. However, a guest lecturer in one of her other classes alerted her to another opportunity: The Social Innovation Fund, managed by United Way’s Generation IMPACT. 

The fund provides local high school, college, or vocational school students with mini grants to implement innovative projects that address critical challenges in Flagler and/or Volusia counties. Generation IMPACT is a group of young professionals with a common goal of Innovating Modern Philanthropy and Community Transformation in Volusia and Flagler Counties.

McGee, who graduates in May, worked on the Social Innovation Fund grant application during the Fall 2024 and the Spring 2025 semesters.

“We were thrilled when we received a $3,000 grant to construct a garden landscape with two semi-circular benches to provide seating, four native palm trees to provide shade and eight native firebush shrubs to attract butterflies in Spring Hill,” said McGee, who majors in Public Health. “There is heavy foot traffic in the area because of the nearby Resource Center and playground. That’s why we wanted to make the intersection safer and more beautiful. The restaurant nearby, Spring Hill BBQ & Soul Food, even donated two spaces in its parking lot for us to construct this project.”

The new garden area includes a butterfly statue dedicated to Deacon Johnnie Blue and stands adjacent to a crosswalk which depicts the life cycle of a monarch butterfly. It was painted by Stetson students in the “Planning for Healthy Cities” class, muralists Kelly and Courtney Canova along with members of the Volusia/Flagler Boys & Girls Club on Earth Day in 2023. Traffic calming techniques such as street landscaping, murals, sculpture and signage have been shown to reduce vehicle speeds as motorists slow to view such artistic elements.

Students in Stetson’s Public Health program continuously work with community partners — including the Florida Department of Health in Volusia, The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia and the Joyce M. Cusack Resource Center (formerly known as the Spring Hill Resource Center) — to advocate for positive changes in the community from a health perspective. In addition, students in the “Planning for Healthy Cities” class are expected to complete one community project.

Early on, Dr. Shilretha Dixon, director of the Dr. Joyce M. Cusack Resource Center, organized community workshops to receive feedback from area residents about what they would like to see done at the corner of Mathis Street and Adelle Avenue.

“This was a three-phase grant application process, which is why I am very proud of Heather for putting in so much time and effort to secure this funding for our project,” explained Asal Mohamadi Johnson, PhD, MPH, associate professor of Public Health and associate chair of Environmental Science and Studies for Public Health. “She worked closely with a Generation IMPACT board member, Akisia German, throughout the process. Heather, like all of my students, understands how urban planning can affect public health.”

McGee hopes to obtain her Master’s Degree in the future and pursue a career in public health. 

“I like people and I want to help,” she said simply. “This beautification project in Spring Hill was such a good cause and I put all of my efforts into it.”

This project is done in partnership with Spring Hill BBQ & Soul Food, Spring Hill Neighborhood Association, Inc. and West Volusia Audubon Society.

UWVFC Social Innovation Fund,  https://www.unitedwayvfc.org/Generationimpact.

– Renee Garrison