Lazar's Step-by-Step Guide for Planning a LoveMyHood Project

Meet Lazar, the genius behind the Morrison Park Math Wall!

At the age of 13, Lazar went door-to-door in his neighbourhood to gather the community’s support to install a Math Wall and accessible table in Morrison Park to help elementary-aged students improve their math skills in a fun, outdoor environment.

After gathering some initial feedback from his neighbours, Lazar applied for a grant through LoveMyHood. Lazar’s grant application was successful, and he quickly got to work leading engagement activities and compiling feedback from over 460 children to develop the Math Wall.

Since completing his project, the Kitchener teen has been invited to share his tips for planning a project, first at the City of Kitchener’s Good Neighbourhood Summitv in 2018, and then as the keynote speaker at the Parks and Recreation Ontario’s MBA 2019 Symposium.

Most recently, Lazar was awarded the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario's Ontario Junior Citizen Award, where he was recognized at a virtual ceremony in August 2019.

Lazar is frequently asked to share his advice on planning a neighbourhood project, so he created a LoveMyHood guide to help other Kitchener residents plan their own projects. Check out Lazar’s Guide to Project Planning and Community Engagement to learn more about Lazar’s Math Wall journey and for his tips on how to get started on your own project.

Inspired by Lazar’s Math Wall? Plan your own neighbourhood project! City staff are here to help and will work behind the scenes to make it easy for you to make things happen in your neighbourhood. Have questions or need help applying for a LoveMyHood Matching Grant? Connect with our team of Neighbourhood Liaisons to get started.

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