Nancy Biberman, founder and president of WHEDco, discusses the ways in which the devastated landscape of the Bronx, New York, is being rebuilt sustainably -- through green roof projects, reducing energy costs, and more.
Re: Fantastic Nancy, thank you very much for your reply. That's really great to hear. I think educating kids and involving them in urban greenery at an early age, and helping them understand the ways in which gardens and farms can revitalize their neighborhood, is hugely important and will make a difference to the future of the Bronx. Intervale Green sounds like a fantastic effort. I'm so glad you came back to the site to tell us about it. Thank you!
Re: Fantastic Thanks for your question, Nicole. Like you, WHEDco realizes the importance of educating young people to be stewards of the earth and leaders in their communities. We operate after school and summer camp programs out of PS 218, which is adjacent to our Urban Horizons building. This summer, our staff helped the 6th and 7th graders plant and nurture a garden, and exposed them to other community gardens around the City. We also work regularly to engage young people living in our 2nd affordable housing development, Intervale Green, to help plant and harvest produce grown on the building's rooftop urban farm, which their families can enjoy at the dinner table. In these ways, among others, we're working to ensure that sustainability and healthy lifestyles become more prevalent in the Bronx.
Re: Awareness is a first step Agreed. The road to improvement might be a rough one, but with enough energy and effort, a sustainable Bronx can be made possible. Sustainable buildings, reducing energy costs and emissions--these should be made priorities in every city to achieve sustainability!
Re: Fantastic I agree, it is good to hear this sort of change is underway. I hope it is matched by an equal focus on inproving the economic opportunities for those who live there, particularly in the south bronx. Having worked there for several years in the 1980's I was left with a lasting impression that the great city of New York had simply written off the residents of this area.
Awareness is a first step Though progress is slow, awareness of the situation will go a long way toward improving it, as Nancy points out. The work is also spurred by the fact that it is taking place in one of the most progressive cities in the nation, full of lots of creative thinkers and urban experts.
Fantastic Nancy, I absolutely love hearing about these efforts in the Bronx. To know that there are green roof projects happening there, amongst other efforts, is truly inspiring. I went to Fordham University for college and graduate school, and I'm wondering if the universities and high schools in the Bronx are helping in any way with projects to make the area more sustainable? Further, I'm curious to know if your organization is working at all with high schools to teach about sustainability?
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