On the scene at UNITE Lancaster 2011

Wyatt Coleman of Lancaster shakes hands with Mayor R. Rex Parris at the Elm Avenue Community Garden

LANCASTER – The City was alive with activity Saturday, as six different community-building service projects launched throughout Lancaster as part of the second annual Uniting Neighbors in a Team Effort (UNITE) Program. The initiative aims to strengthen ties among neighbors and improve the community in areas ranging from beautification to public safety. The AV Times was on the scene at each of the events.

Art in the Garden [Elm Avenue Community Garden]
Planting the Seeds of Life [Elm Avenue Community Garden]
Mural for Equality
The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge
The Agape Block Party
And, Unity by the Numbers

The following are some sights from Saturday.

Youths mix cement for arts and craft as part of the Art in the Garden project. — File Photo: Youths mix cement for arts and craft as part of the Art in the Garden project at UNITE Lancaster 2011.

Mama Vega promotes healthy living through her food line at Planting the Seeds of Life.

Christine Kline, of Lancaster, puts the finishing touches on her work at Art in the Garden.

Wyatt Coleman and grandchildren admire their plot of vegetables at Planting the Seeds of Life.

Isaiah Jones had some fun while Planting the Seeds of Life.

Planting the Seeds of Life at the Elm Ave. Community Garden.

Al Miller sketches a person in the crown at Art in the Garden.

Volunteers help paint the Mural for Equality. — Volunteers painted a “Mural for Equality” as part of the 2011 UNITE Lancaster program.

Mural for Equality organizer Robert Benitez holds up the design that local artist Larissa Nickel sketched for the project.

Local artist Larissa Nickel (in hat) created the design for the Mural for Equality.

Mario Vasquez and Ashli Moody took part in the Mural for Equality.

Reggie Washington motivates Lancaster youth to take the Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge.

(L to R) Kenyon Rose, Dashond Newsome, Kayla Walker, Joseph Walker, and Yolanda English are taking part in the Weight Loss Challenge.

Parris and youths in front of the Wellness Home to be used as the hub for the Weight Loss Challenge.

Agape Youth Choir entertains the audience at the Agape Block Party.

The audience enjoyed the show at the Agape Block Party.

Agape Dancers put their best feet forward.

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