The students on the YFJ team at Marion-Sterling School were concerned about the rivalries and territorial issues that exist in their community, especially between different schools in their area.  Most of the problems arise between students who live in the same neighborhood, yet attend different schools. Parents and students fear for their safety when they walk through "territory" that isn't their own, even if it is simply down the block or across the street.  Students report being beaten up if they happen to cross the “boundaries” between territories.  This issue extends to schools, where the teachers aren't always equipped to handle the problems students bring in from outside the classroom.

The YFJ team wanted to help bring the community members, especially the students, together.  To help create harmony between schools that might otherwise be rivals, the YFJ team decided to reach out to a neighboring school, Carl and Louis Stokes Academy, and create a community place.  The YFJ team got students from both schools to come together in a community reading garden located between the two schools.  The students separated into pairs – one student from each school.  These pairs worked together to help liven and refresh the garden with trees, flowers, benches and a walking path.  After the garden was finished, the students from both schools talked about their supposed rivalry issues and agreed to work together to end them. 

Continuing in the spirit of harmony, the schools met again for a Mock Olympics competition.  Instead of school-on-school rivalry, teams were created with a mix of students from both schools.  The YFJ team was able to get the entire community involved in this project.  Local churches, a hospital, and college helped bring together this sense of community at the Olympics.