Last week, Pershing Elementary’s learning garden received a makeover, thanks to REAL School Gardens, a nonprofit organization that partners with high-poverty to create outdoor classrooms. Pershing has 500 students with 95 percent qualifying for free or reduced lunches.

CitiGroup employees and community volunteers built new organic planting beds, perennial beds, and a chicken coop. They also painted a colorful mural.

The goal of the garden is to provide hands-on teaching in life science and earth science and promote environmental stewardship.