Since 2010, The Central City Project (CCP) is Allentown Central Catholic High School’s commitment to the City of Allentown. For 95 years, ACCHS has had a vibrant Christian presence in Center City Allentown. As demographics have changed, a majority of ACCHS students no longer hail from the immediate community surrounding the school. The CCP is an opportunity for students from communities outside the city to interact with the local neighborhood’s people, institutions, and events.

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One of CCP's most successful projects is the student maintained Amy Sullivan Memorial Garden. This urban garden allows students to be a part of all phases of growing: from planting seeds and tending to growing plants in the school library, to transplanting into the garden in May. During the summer months, students weed, water, stake, and harvest the produce. Vegetables from the garden is given to Food pantries in Allentown. They are also used to make Viking Salsa which is sold to raise funds for other social projects.  

 

The CCP desires to integrate the curriculum of the high school with hands-on learning. Specific projects augment the education taking place in the classroom. This is accomplished in four distinct ways:

 

1)    Through involvement in the Arts and Cultural opportunities that the city offers
2)    Through mentoring both Catholic and public Elementary School Students
3)    Through engagement in various aspects of Social Outreach with the local residents
4)    Through improving the internal and physical well being of ACCHS itself