NY Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora released the following statement today after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency selected the nonprofit as one of only three organizations in New York and New Jersey to receive $100,000 grants to support climate education.
"I thank and applaud the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for making a $100,000 investment in students who are living in heavily climate-burdened communities of New York City. This grant will allow NY Sun Works to deliver our urban agriculture and climate education program to 8 partner schools — four in Brooklyn, two in Queens, and two in Manhattan – building students' proficiency in inquiry-based climate and sustainability science, enhancing their understanding of urban agriculture's role in sustainable communities, and expanding teacher knowledge of climate and environmental science.
"This significant commitment will support the hands-on urban farming experience and teaching of sustainability science and climate education for NYC youth while also expanding access to fresh, healthy produce for students and their families. This funding will help an estimated 1,600 students grow vegetables and herbs - seed to harvest - year round in the classroom, while improving their learning outcomes and enriching their academic career."
"The severe heat wave happening in New York City today only underscores the fact that climate change is the most existential crisis of our lifetime. Students, teachers and educators are hungry for more sustainability science curriculum in their schools – and NY Sun Works is the only organization in New York bringing both state-of-the art hydroponic systems and comprehensive sustainability science curriculum into the public school classroom at scale. Our transformative program is proven to increase climate and environmental literacy for teachers and students. With the help of our supporters at the EPA, we are empowering a new generation of Farmer-Scientists bound to build more sustainable communities for us all."
The following is the list of the 8 partner schools this funding will reach:
| School | Neighborhood |
| M048 Michael Buczek Elem. | Hudson Heights, Manhattan |
| PS 20 Anna Silver | Lower Manhattan |
| Q171 Peter Van Alst Elem | Astoria, Queens |
| Q010 Horace Greeley MS | Sunnyside, Queens |
| K190 Sheffield Elem. | Brownsville/East New York, Brooklyn |
| K219 Kennedy-King Elem. | Brownsville, Brooklyn |
| K312 Bergen Beach Elem. | Bergen Beach, Brooklyn |
| K938 | Cypress Hills, Brooklyn |
For more information:
NY Sun Works
+1 212 757 7560
[email protected]
https://nysunworks.org