“I used to take my toys apart. While I did put the pieces back together…it still freaked my parents out,” she said.

Behind this innocent destruction was destiny. With each doll, truck, and train    Dominque disassembled, she built something else…her engineering skills.

“I’m fascinated by this profession,” she said. “At a young age, I decided I wanted to learn about engineering and nothing was going to stop me.”

In high school, Dominique joined the Arizona Chief Science Officer (CSO) Program. The organization, supported by State Farm, gets students involved in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities, while teaching them about careers in these fields.

“STEM is all around us,” said State Farm Senior IT Architect Ines Halloran. “Our mission is to engage with universities and high schools to build a pipeline of future IT talent.”

So, how does peanut butter and jelly fit in?

During a CSO institute, State Farm volunteers used a childhood favorite – the PB&J, to demonstrate the importance of algorithms.

“It’s a step by step process,” said Dominique. “This was an awesome way to explain programming basics. It made us think about a simple process in a thorough, innovative way.”

Students plotted the steps needed to build the perfect PB&J, then shared their algorithms with volunteers – who played the role of a computer. If the algorithm made sense, then the computer (a.k.a., the volunteers), would be able to create this end result:

Students like Clay Hauser and Calvin Rowell say the peanut butter and jelly challenge proves STEM is rooted in everyday life, no matter who you are or where you work.

“It’s not just for scientists with doctorate degrees or highly trained medical professionals,” said Calvin. “Sometimes the most influential workers are those with technical degrees, teaching degrees, musicians, actors. If you want to make something even better, STEM can help.”

From Peanut Butter to Brain Power

The CSO program spans beyond peanut butter and jelly – from classroom to community success. Its unique learning opportunities  inspired CSO students to start after-school STEM clubs, take part in  science festivals, host innovative workshops, and network with State Farm IT employees.

This work has been recognized throughout the country, including the nation’s capital.

By exposing students to new ways of thinking, the CSO program hopes   to develop a diverse talent pool of future STEM leaders.

“I have worked with hundreds, maybe thousands of IT professionals over my 26 year career, and the differentiator is passion and determination to succeed.” said Halloran.

And as for Dominique? The CSO program has inspired her to pursue her passion of becoming a mechanical engineer.

“Right now, it’s a male dominated field, but this program proves gender doesn’t matter when it comes to success,” she said. “If your heart wants to experiment with science, robots or video games – do it. The CSO program taught me anything is possible when you put your mind to it.”

Just like learning to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich...it’s a   simple lesson, with a satisfying result.

When motivating young people to volunteer, it’s a common question. Especially in a virtual world where communicating with thumbs is a growing norm.

But Principal Adam Sharp of Reyes Maria Ruiz Leadership Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, doesn’t mind the thumbs. Especially if they’re green thumbs. “Every school has a niche,” said Sharp. “Whether it’s sports or arts, ours is servant leadership. Look outside and you’ll see – we’re cultivating a new culture.”

On the grounds of the school, there’s a lush garden in bloom. It’s a project made possible after Principal Sharp received a State Farm^TM Good Neighbor Impact Schools Grant through Youth Service America (YSA).

“I applied for the Good Neighbor grant because I wanted a strong curriculum for doing service projects. When we get students out of the classroom and contributing to a greater good, they’re learning through doing,” said Sharp.

The idea to create a garden sprouted a few years ago. With planning and care, it quickly blossomed.

“YSA had a plan and a program for us to implement this,” Sharp said. “As a Title 1 school, many of our students are on free and reduced lunch. We wanted to focus on helping others while promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

As the garden grew, so did opportunities to serve.

“We have a garden club that’s learning to grow and cultivate food from seed to table,” said Sharp. “Students are harvesting vegetables – including some they’ve never eaten. We also have a green house. This way we can keep growing crops – even in the winter.”

Jorge Sandoval is a service-learning teacher. For him, the community garden is part of a larger conversation.

“When we think about food, we also think about hunger and homelessness,” Sandoval explained. “Many of the students have seen homeless on the streets, on the highway. In class we explore statistics, we talk about the causes and solutions. This garden is one way we can give back as servant leaders.”

Student Monica Garcia sums up servant leadership like this: “It’s teaching me to be kind and to think about others instead of myself.”

The 10-year-old is often in the community garden, caring for plants and volunteering to deliver food to families in need.

“It’s about sharing, and keeping people healthy” said Monica. “I understand this now.”

In honor of Global Youth Service Day (April 21-23), Reyes Maria Ruiz Leadership Academy students are giving back by volunteering at a local food bank. They’re also working with the community to plant flowers and bushes that attract butterflies, birds and bees to the school garden. This increases pollination and crop growth.

"Thanks to YSA and State Farm, we've been able to turn an idea into action," said Sharp. "Students aren't just seeing results, they're creating them. Any school can do this. It's about fostering an attitude and ability to serve."

Imagine growing and learning in a secret garden time has forgotten. A peaceful, tropical, edible treasure – the Grimal Grove.

The Grimal Grove in Big Pine Key, Florida was designed by a reclusive, engineering genius, Adolf Grimal in the 1950s. Mr. Grimal carved fresh water ways, ponds, cisterns, and built raised garden beds. He formed a lush tropical garden from limestone rock with his bare hands.

After he died in 1997, the two acre paradise, filled with edible plants, was forgotten and tuned into a place of drugs, violence and trash. The Growing Hope Initiative purchased the property in 2013 to restore it.

“This is a community-engaged, edible park”, says Patrick Garvey, founder of the Growing Hope Initiative. “We grow and sell spices, fruits, vegetable, and crafts built by students and volunteers from the community”.

The Grove also hosts year-around community events such as fruit festivals and youth environmental education and skill building workshops.

Students and volunteers from the community learn how to make, grow, and package fruits and other products created at the park like jams, soaps, and chocolates. Proceeds get reinvested back into the youth program.

“I find many of my students really want to understand where their food comes from,” says Jen Sullivan, Big Pine Academy middle school teacher. “They love to eat the items they grow. Thanks to the Grimal Grove Park, students are also growing fruits and vegetables at our school now and at their homes.”

“I’m using the skills learned at the park to create and grow my personal garden at home,” says Alex Bailey, seventh grader at Big Pine Academy. “I’m growing mint, basil, onions, and tomatoes. I’m even learning how to make chocolate from cocoa trees and forging metal safely from a blacksmith that lives in our community.”

“There is so much to learn and do here at Grimal Grove,” says Trent Halama, a student at Key West Collegiate Academy. “And it will help me better understand and protect our environment.”

“I’m getting my high school friends to work along with the middle school students at the park,” says Annastacia Cassidy, a student Key West High School who is studying to be a food technologist. “We want to make this park productive and beautiful again for everyone to enjoy.”

“Instead of playing video games or watching TV after school, students can now learn and put into practice valuable lessons they learn at the park,” says Jen Sullivan.

“Our youth will be advocates and catalysts in the amazing restoration of a unique, edible community park. We could not have done this without the help of the State Farm Youth Advisory Board,” says Patrick Garvey. “This is a lost piece of paradise and we are bringing it back to life,”