At just 16 years old, Liberty HS student and incoming Northampton Community College freshman Jada Amirah Lewis is leading a movement rooted in sustainable agriculture, youth empowerment and social justice through her organization’s initiative, Amirah’s Hope Hydroponic Garden. Lewis is bringing innovative solutions to help combat food insecurity with bold leadership and vision beyond her years.

Born in Allentown, raised in New York City, and now back in the Lehigh Valley, Lewis’s journey is one of full-circle purpose. Her passion for hydroponic gardening began at the age of 7, when she first encountered the technique at her charter elementary school. That spark has grown into a global advocacy mission one that is now capturing the attention of leaders, the nation of Sierra Leone leaders and the United Nations, some educators, and young change makers across the country.

About Amirah’s Hope Hydroponic Garden

Amirah’s Hope Hydroponic Garden is a youth led global initiative aimed at solving food insecurity through innovative, accessible hydroponic systems. The project centers on youth education, hands- on sustainability and community collaboration, providing a foundation for long term solutions for youth both locally and globally.

Lewis recently joined Bethlehem Mayor William Reynolds for a walk around city hall and to discuss her goals and community-based initiatives:

• The founding of Liberty HS’s first Agricultural Club, led by Jada’s advocacy.

• Integration of mini hydroponic systems into elementary, middle and high school classrooms.

• Collaborations with engineering and STEM programs to support sustainable urban agriculture.

• Outreach to local businesses and nonprofits to adopt hydroponic systems and support sustainability education.

• Hosting expert-led discussions and conferences on food insecurity, agriculture and youth-led innovation.

• Mobilizing youth leadership, with plans to welcome sports figures, celebrity guests and global youth ambassadors, including representatives from the Sierra Leone Youth Council.

• Petitioning for local and statewide policy support to fund and implement school based hydroponic programs.

Lewis is no stranger to advocacy and impact. She is a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for her 5,000-plus hours of community service, and the youngest African-American baby held by former President Barack Obama during his 2009 presidential run through Pennsylvania. That photo went viral and the promise of that moment has never left her community.

Her efforts have already gained recognition in places like Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Mayor officially named a day in her honor: Amirah’s Hope Day, a city-wide youth initiative that calls for service, hope and positive action, and a proclamation from then Borough Hall President of Brooklyn Eric Adams.

Lewis is also blazing her own academic trail. At only 16, she has been accepted into Northampton Community College, studying psychology with a dream of becoming an FBI forensic profiler. Her long term goal? To bring change through science, justice and youth powered movements.

She was also scheduled to appear as a featured youth speaker at Nurture Nature Center in Easton, with plans to expand Amirah’s Hope Hydroponic Garden throughout Easton, Bethlehem, Allentown and surrounding Lehigh Valley communities.

“I’m not waiting for the change. I’m becoming the change,” said Lewis. “This garden is more than just a system. It’s a symbol of what we can grow when we sow seeds of action, education, and hope.”

Lewis is actively seeking signatures to support her petitions and welcomes collaboration from elected officials, educators, business leaders and youth organizations.

Follow Amirah’s Hope Garden and Jada’s journey on Instagram @amirahshopeorg

Contributed article