LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Local Girl Scout Builds Garden in Oakland, Earns Gold Award


This garden at Oakland's Fruitvale Head start is thriving thanks to an Orinda Girl Scout.

Just a couple of months ago, a dirt patch with a few withering plants sat in the Fruitvale Head Start garden in Oakland. Now, a vibrant garden and mural stand in the same area.

Erica Stephan, a member of Girl Scout Troop 3219, Orinda Moraga Service Unit, created this garden and mural for her Girl Scout Gold Award Take Action project. The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn.

She was assisted by the nonprofit group, Unity Council, which helps revitalize areas in Oakland and the East Bay. Stephan also collected 178 gently used children's books for the Fruitvale Head Start program.

The mural was created by her and a fellow Girl Scout, Antonia Giles. Erica has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten and is a senior at Miramonte High School in Orinda.