Crafting for a Cause
At Grades of Green, we believe that environmental education should be hands-on, engaging, and impactful—and our recent lei-making workshop at Lawndale High School was a perfect reflection of that vision.
Students were welcomed into a relaxed, creative space where they had the opportunity to craft leis—each one earning them extra credit. While the incentive sparked initial interest, it quickly became clear that the real reward was the joy of making something meaningful. The room was filled with laughter, conversation, and focused creativity as students immersed themselves in the experience.
Their enthusiasm didn’t end when the workshop did. Many students chose to stay after to continue working, and several even took their leis home to complete. It was inspiring to witness their creativity, attention to detail, and genuine excitement to contribute to something bigger than themselves.
Beyond the fun, the workshop also encouraged students to think differently and to create with purpose rather than consume out of convenience. By making the leis themselves, they took part in a more thoughtful, intentional process that reflects the spirit of sustainability and active engagement that Grades of Green works to cultivate.
The finished leis will be featured at our upcoming Verte Gala, where they’ll serve as heartfelt, handmade symbols of student participation and community connection.
A huge thank you to Lawndale High School for hosting us. We were thrilled to partner with such an enthusiastic group of students, and we can’t wait to showcase their work at Verte!
Tickets for this year’s Verte Gala may be sold out, but you can still support the event! Visit the Verte 2025 webpage to contribute or learn about other ways to get involved.
