NSYEP equips at-risk youth in grades 6-12th with skills in business plan development, special event management, investigative research and discovery and community service. All NSYEP students will be introduced to S.T.E.M.-based activities through community gardening and urban farming. The urban agriculture industry provides bountiful opportunities for children to explore and discover innovative ideas and solutions that can be applied to career options, inventions and social issues that can improve their lives, communities and environment. By targeting at risk/low-income communities that are identified as Empowerment Zones and/or blighted food deserts, NSYEP will be instrumental in helping communities reduce and eliminate these barriers and iimprove these students quality of life.