At NAI Merin Hunter Codman, we believe in showing up for the communities where we live, work, and play. That commitment is exactly what drives MHC REAL Leaders – our volunteer initiative dedicated to making a tangible difference across our community.
Hands in the Soil, Hearts in the Community
Our most recent service day took us to the Pleasant City Community Garden in West Palm Beach, where our team spent the morning harvesting pigeon peas, weeding garden beds, gathering fresh herbs, turning the compost pile, and connecting with the people behind this incredible space.
About the Partnership
The Pleasant City Community Garden is the result of a landmark collaboration between the City of West Palm Beach and Florida A&M University‘s (FAMU) Cooperative Extension Program. Together, they’ve established two community gardens in West Palm Beach – at Pleasant City and Coleman Park – with a shared mission of fostering local food access, sustainability, and community engagement.
These gardens are more than green space. They serve as intergenerational living classrooms, integrating STEM education, nutrition awareness, and environmental stewardship into every activity. First graders plant seeds alongside longtime residents sharing traditional growing techniques. Schools, community centers, churches, and local organizations all play a role. The result is a program that doesn’t just provide food – it builds the skills and community ownership to sustain it.
Why It Matters to Us
In commercial real estate, we talk a lot about community. We see it in new developments, the properties and people we work with, and the businesses we help place in this market. But community isn’t just a backdrop to the work – it’s the foundation of it.
Programs like the City of West Palm Beach and FAMU’s urban agriculture initiative represent exactly the kind of long-term investment that strengthens the fabric of a city. When residents are connected, supported, and empowered, the entire community benefits – and that matters to us both professionally and personally.
MHC REAL Leaders: Committed to South Florida
MHC REAL Leaders is our ongoing commitment to service the areas we live and work in. From community gardens to local nonprofits, our team shows up ready to work – because leadership isn’t just about what you build professionally. It’s about how you show up for the people around you.
