Millbrook High School at Lincolnville AME Church

Following their successful installation at the Scanlon residence, our Millbrook High School student team brought their energy and environmental know-how to a familiar site for USS: Lincolnville AME Church. Continuing our focus on stormwater education and sustainable design, this project was all about turning rain into a resource for the church and surrounding community.

Our cistern installation team got to work placing a 500-gallon cistern behind the church, paired with a small herb garden that will be nourished by harvested rainwater. It’s a modest start—but just the beginning of a bigger vision.

Taking inspiration from a similar project with Southeast Raleigh High School, the second group of Millbrook students stepped into the role of designers. Their task: evaluate the roof area of the church, calculate potential rainwater catchment, and create plans for a larger-scale community garden that could thrive using captured stormwater.

Working in small teams, the students presented their garden designs—each showcasing creative layouts, planting strategies, and efficient water use plans. These presentations not only demonstrated a strong grasp of green infrastructure principles, but also showed how students are thinking critically about sustainability, food access, and community resilience.