Blog
May 3, 2023
2023 Youth Conference Media Contest!
The Youth Conference Media Contest supports our annual Discovering Sustainability Youth Conference by connecting students attending the conference with their peers in the city and audiences online! Whether you’d like to show off a recent harvest, or give us a tour of your hydroponic classroom, we want to see and share what you love about sustainability and climate science! Submit your entries via Instagram and Twitter, making sure to include our handle @NYSunWorks and hashtag #nysunworks. We can accept any form of digital or physical media, including written poems or haikus, videos or presentations, and photos of plants, systems, or even selfies.
By submitting your entry to our contest, you give us permission to share your content on social media, and on the big screen at the Youth Conference. Winners will be announced after the conference, with more information on prizes to come!
- Only schools attending this year’s Youth Conference are eligible to participate
- Entries must include both our hashtag and social media handle to be counted
- Entries should be submitted before Monday, May 22nd in preparation for the Conference itself
For questions and more information, contact Jake Bronstein, Social Media and Communications Coordinator.
April 27, 2023
50 New Hydroponic Labs to Finish Construction This Summer!
With the end of the school year on the horizon, NY Sun Works has big plans for the coming summer, making good use of the time students spend enjoying their well-earned vacation. With funding secured by Senate Majority Leader and NY Senator Chuck Schumer, as well as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, Ritchie Torres, and Yvette Clarke, we’re bringing our program to thousands of students and future farmer-scientists with 50 new partner schools in Brooklyn and the South Bronx. If you know of a school in Congressional Districts 8, 9, or 15 that would be interested in and benefit from receiving a NY Sun Works hydroponic program through this funding, please let us know.
As we continue expanding our program through large, targeted investments like these, it’s important we consider who our efforts will impact, and the context in which we invest in New York’s communities. While climate literacy and resiliency efforts could use improvement across the board, underserved neighborhoods, particularly those of color, have a significantly greater need for these types of services. Not only are Black and Brown communities frequently excluded from climate and sustainability programs, but quality STEM education is also more challenging to access for those who live and learn therein. Almost all of the 50+ schools joining the NY Sun Works community are located in areas of high need, with some areas facing a severe discrepancy as high as 22 percentage points above the citywide average of 71% on the Student Economic Need Index. Through these new partnerships, we want to introduce new opportunities for learning, growing fresh food, and building community connections all while addressing the ever-pressing issue of global climate change.
New York is at the forefront of the world’s growing urban centers and should set an example for other cities both nationally and abroad in tackling the important issues of today. The Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice recently released its Strategic Climate Plan, reaffirming our city’s commitment to implementing sustainability at all levels. It’s up to all of us as residents and representatives of our communities to embody sustainable values and be the change we want to see in the world. And together, with support from our political leaders and the hard work of communities around the city, we can build a brighter, greener future.
April 12, 2023
Climate Science on Coney Island with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries
“You will be the future sustainable scientists, environmentalists, urban farmers, and climate change activists and leaders that we need for our country, and for our world.”
-Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, addressing farmer-scientists at Rachel Carson High School and IS 303 Herbert S. Eisenberg.
We’re making great strides toward a greener, more sustainable NYC this April thanks to generous funding from Minority Leader and Congressional Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Together, we’re building a pipeline of sustainability and climate science education, giving students the opportunity to learn about our planet and urban farming throughout all of their years in school. With the opening of 12 new hydroponic labs in NY-08, Rep. Jeffries and NY Sun Works will be providing these opportunities for students in Brooklyn, from Bed-Stuy to Brighton Beach.
Last year, Rep. Jeffries was introduced to our program at PS 158 The Warwick Community School, where he saw how our program helps students grow healthy veggies and aromatic herbs from seed to harvest right in their classroom, all while learning the sustainability science behind the issues facing our planet’s climate and how their communities can help. While we were excited to share the many boons of our program, we also knew that together we could achieve more. This April, Rep. Jeffries returned to NY Sun Works partner classrooms at IS 303 Herbert S. Eisenberg and Rachel Carson High School for Coastal Studies, to announce funding for 12 new hydroponic labs in Brooklyn public schools.
Through this Brooklyn-focused expansion, we want to strengthen the ties between new and existing partner schools, creating a network of sustainability-minded educators and students who can learn and grow together in NY-08. While building new hydroponic farm classrooms for schools makes a substantial difference in their communities, providing students who love plants, science, and the environment with a safe place to pursue their passions can make a substantial difference in the lives of individual learners. Students engaged in our program have better academic outcomes and higher attendance rates, meaning that even if STEM is not their passion, having a consistent reason to invest in coming to school helps them achieve whatever their academic or professional goals may be.
Connecting students to both their local community and to a brighter future is of paramount importance to our mission of building a sustainable New York. In encouraging farmer-scientists to tackle the sustainability challenges of today, we want them to feel empowered to take action, follow their passions, and be the change they wish to see. New York has long offered opportunities like these to well-connected schools in select neighborhoods, but with the help of Rep. Jeffries, we’re opening new doors to professional and academic opportunities for students who may historically have faced more barriers to entry. Like the veggies and greens growing in classrooms at this very moment, we want students to grow to reach their full potential and do so while feeling safe, supported, and hopeful about their futures.
Click here for more information on how we’re keeping it green with reporting by News 12.
March 30, 2023
Raise Your Voice, Cast Your Vote!
New Yorkers, it’s time to get out and vote! In select city council districts, voting for participatory budgeting is open until April 2nd, and NY Sun Works is on the ballot. Residents of the city age 11 and up are eligible to help allocate $1.5 million toward local community projects, with some districts placing a special focus on climate justice initiatives this year. Everyone of age who lives or goes to school in a participating district is eligible to vote, regardless of citizenship or voter registration status, so please spread the word.
NY Sun Works Hydroponic Classrooms are on the ballot in the following City Council Districts:
District 25: PS 89Q The Jose Peralta School of Dreamers
District 33: Dock Street School and Brooklyn Frontiers High School
District 36: LAUNCH Charter School
District 39: PS 130 The Parkside School and PS 118 The Maurice Sendak Community School
Participatory budgeting is a unique way for NYC communities to speak up, embody their values, and be the change they want to see in their neighborhoods. This year, support for NY Sun Works hydroponic classrooms is on the ballot in multiple districts across the city, and we need your support in showing the need for quality climate education programs. While climate resiliency efforts have made great strides in New York over recent years, there is always more work to be done, which is why it’s so important that sustainability-minded city dwellers make their voices heard.
While effecting sustainable change is of vital importance, participatory budgeting also presents New Yorkers as young as 11 years old with the chance to get involved in real-life political activism. Initiatives like ours wouldn’t be possible without support from government officials at all levels, but the New York City Council has played a vital role in the rapid expansion of our climate education program. Through casting their vote, students take a stand for their right to a sustainable future, a skill that will serve them well in embodying the change they want to see, especially as they approach the legal voting age for general elections. It can also help instill them with the confidence to take a stance on controversial issues, form strong opinions, and participate in discussions surrounding topics that impact us all.
It takes a village to change the world, and New York City is much more than just a village. By combining our voices, New Yorkers can ensure our elected officials know that climate education matters. And what’s more, we can see to it that programs that align with our values receive the funding they need, while introducing the young climate leaders of tomorrow to the sustainability issues facing us today.
March 16, 2023
High School Students Prepare for Futures in Urban Agriculture
We believe New York City high school students are some of the luckiest young people in our country. With a host of iconic educational and professional institutions across a variety of fields and industries, the students of today have more avenues than ever to pursue and achieve goals that lie close to their hearts. However, it’s no secret that children and young adults from low-income communities are often excluded from these incredible opportunities. While technology and innovation have brought about fantastic change, this is one of the modern day’s great educational injustices. So what can we do to solve it?
Last year, we piloted our Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Program, which took 32 students from three NYC public schools in Brooklyn and Queens and equipped them with marketable career readiness skills and official certification in seed-to-harvest hydroponic farming. Our goal is to open new pathways for young climate leaders to enter a growing sector of the green economy. With funding from the US Department of Agriculture, and culminating in an exciting event hosted by NYC Mayor Eric Adams at Gracie Mansion, our program was a resounding success, and we are pleased to announce that this spring we’re continuing to offer professional certification and training opportunities for tomorrow’s urban agriculture leaders.
In January 2023, we were joined by eight eager elective classes of high school farmer scientists. During our new Controlled Environmental Agriculture elective, students are guided through hands-on studies and practical exams by their hydroponic classroom teachers, and supported by the expert Greenhouse Support Team at NY Sun Works. As a continuation of last year’s summer pilot, they’ll also have the opportunity to visit commercial hydroponic sites like Brooklyn Grange, as well as explore post-secondary education opportunities at community colleges such as LaGuardia Community College. Additionally, participants are invited to the inaugural CEA career and college networking event scheduled for May 24th at the Javits Center immediately following our annual Youth Conference, for professional networking opportunities.
We are incredibly proud of the work students have put into pursuing careers in urban CEA, as well as that of our Education Team who has innovated this new approach to education and professional development. This program is the first of its kind in the city, and as we continue to grow, we hope to also continually deliver quality STEM and climate education opportunities to students and young adults with the drive to tackle sustainability issues.
If you’re interested in bringing our CEA Elective Course to your school, or have any questions about it, please contact Education Specialist and Program Manager Hannah Luna.
March 1, 2023
Senators Schumer, Gillibrand, & US Dept. of Education Partner With NY Sun Works
NY Sun Works is honored to announce that we are the recipient of 2023 Congressionally Funded Community Project (CFCP) earmark funding, thanks to support from Senator and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Ritchie Torres, and Minority Leader & Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Through this allocation, our representatives have reaffirmed their commitment to community building, environmental justice, and educational equity. We’re excited to bring 50 new hydroponic labs to schools in the South Bronx and Brooklyn and reach over 20,000 new students, empowering three congressional districts with new partnerships and opportunities for sustainability and climate science learning.
As we continue to expand our sustainability science program throughout the NY metro area, we depend on partners like Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to call attention to the need for additional resources and educational support in underserved communities across New York. From loud and proud leadership in the City Council to the House and the Senate, coordinating with leaders in the public realm is vital to our mission to systemically address localized inequities and channel resources toward neighborhoods and schools that need them most. Walking the walk is equally important as talking the talk, which is why factoring historic injustice into our approach is paramount to making effective change.
We would like to graciously thank Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for their generous support, and Representatives Jeffries, Clarke, and Torres for their efforts in securing this earmark funding on behalf of the young, future climate leaders of New York. This support from our elected officials helps ensure that we can meet the moment on climate change and help our young people secure the sustainable future they deserve.
February 16, 2023
Rep. Nydia Velázquez Joins NY Sun Works in Celebrating 20 New Hydroponic Classrooms
This week, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez joined NY Sun Works in announcing the expansion of our climate science and sustainability education program in Brooklyn and Queens. Through new state-of-the-art hydroponic farms at 20 schools throughout New York’s 7th Congressional District, we’re teaming up to improve STEM education in NYC public schools, equipping tomorrow’s climate leaders with the learning opportunities they deserve today. Rep. Velázquez, NY Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora, and Director of Program Development Megan Nordgren celebrated the $800,000 investment with principals from the 20 schools receiving new farm classrooms: J.H.S. 050 John D. Wells, P.S. 110 The Monitor, P.S. 67 Charles A. Dorsey, P.S. 132 The Conselyea School, P.S. 145 Andrew Jackson, P.S. 151 Lyndon B. Johnson, P.S. 250 George H. Lindsay, P.S., 299 Thomas Warren Field, Lyons Community School, Benjamin Banneker Academy, Bridges: A School for Exploration and Equity, William Cullen Bryant High School, International High School at LaGuardia Community College, P.S. 76 William Hallet, I.S. 204 Oliver W. Holmes, P.S. 60 Woodhaven, P.S. 120 Carlos Tapia, I.S. 125 Thom J. McCann Woodside, LaGuardia Community College, and P.S. 86 The Irvington.
“We are honored to be part of this historic investment in Brooklyn and Queens to bring this expansion to fruition that will not only enrich the science curriculum in schools but empower and inspire students to pursue careers in STEM,” said Manuela Zamora, NY Sun Works Executive Director. “Congresswoman Velázquez is committed to bringing hands-on 21st century urban farming education, climate and food justice to the forefront to thousands of public school students. Our cutting edge technology teaches students responsible stewardship, the ability to grow their own food from seed to harvest and share fresh, nutritious produce with their community.”
Reaching thousands of students each year, partner schools receiving this investment will also benefit from ongoing professional development training to help ensure STEM educators can easily incorporate NY Sun Works curriculum into their new classrooms. The curriculum, which aligns with NYC and NY State standards, covers topics across different science disciplines through the lens of sustainability, environmental education, and climate awareness. Additionally, indoor farming experts from NY Sun Works will visit each classroom weekly to guide and support teachers in maintaining their hydroponic systems and the budding plants therein.
“I’m proud to have fought to bring these funds to my district to enhance access to STEM education and provide students with the opportunity to learn more about local food production, healthy eating, climate, and sustainability,” said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-07). “Greenhouse Hydroponic farming is not only a financially wise investment, with excellent educational returns, but will also create a sound foundation in young students of self-sufficiency, respect for the environment, and a desire for healthy living and nutrition.”
By bringing our program to more schools, we hope to further integrate the sustainability mindset into NYC communities, engaging families in the classroom experience through take-home harvests of fresh produce, while providing the climate resilience opportunities communities of color are so often excluded from. In a post-COVID world, we need to re-engage our young people in the learning process, and hands-on, project-based learning is a perfect way to do exactly that. With partners like Rep. Velázquez, we have full confidence we can make our dream of a greener NYC a reality.
February 1, 2023
Bronx Week: Addressing Learning Loss & Food Insecurity with Borough President Vanessa Gibson
It’s no secret COVID-19 had a drastic effect on the American education system. With classes nationwide suspended followed by months of remote & hybrid learning, educators have grappled with the persistent problem of adapting the classroom experience to our rapidly changing world. While schools composed of students of all grade levels and socioeconomic backgrounds have faced this challenge, those serving large populations of low-income students saw more significant drops in attendance and in-school engagement, as well as decreases in their students’ food and housing security. The Bronx is one such community, where residents have historically been underserved in the areas of climate education and food access, with food insecurity at the highest of all the five boroughs. Additionally, attendance & enrollment in Bronx public schools has fallen significantly short of citywide averages over recent years, a problem the pandemic has only exacerbated. At NY Sun Works, we believe local problems often require local solutions, which is why we’ve doubled down on our efforts to connect communities in the Bronx with fresh produce and an engaging educational experience through the installation of 20 new hydroponic classrooms thanks to funding from Borough President Vanessa Gibson and the Bronx city council delegation.
Through a hands-on, project-based approach to learning, our program helps alleviate the learning loss brought about by the pandemic, engaging students in the classroom experience and encouraging them to adopt the mantle of farmer scientists. For many children & young adults who’ve spent their lives immersed in urban environments, food starts on a shelf at the corner store. Growing food seed-to-harvest directly in the classroom provides the unique experience of connecting with where food truly comes from and fosters a bond as students nurture a living, growing thing. This philosophy of learning is additionally effective at uplifting students of color, who often see the impact of climate change and food inequity in their communities sooner than others. With a consistent reason to re-invest in attending and engaging in their schooling, students in our program have seen improved educational outcomes across grade bands and learning styles.
“It is an unfortunate fact that Black and Brown communities are by far the most affected by climate change and systemic environmental injustice in our city,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “If we are to undo the mistakes of the past, then we must do everything in our power to ensure our youth are also a part of the solution.”
Thinking beyond education, the Bronx faces some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the nation, with food deserts continuing to impact residents’ ability to access fresh food. Urban farming techniques like hydroponic farming allow us to connect local communities with a sustainable source of leafy greens and healthy veggies. Because our systems are built inside NYC classrooms, they are also able to produce a yield year-round, unlike traditional outdoor farming techniques. Using just a few vertical farming systems, students, teachers, and families can enjoy a regular supply of fresh, local produce at no personal cost.
“We are honored to start the year in the Bronx with staunch champions like Borough President Gibson who has funded 13 labs for a total of $1.7 million, the entire Bronx city council delegation that funded an additional 6 labs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This expansion will not only bring hands-on hydroponic farming curriculum to hundreds of students in the Bronx but also empower them to take action, become advocates and be part of the solution to our growing climate crisis,” said Manuela Zamora, NY Sun Works Executive Director.
We are excited to expand our hydroponic classroom program and continue to address systemic issues like those present in the Bronx & across the city. Our goal is to foster a broader community of students and educators equipped with the tools to make a difference with sustainability issues at heart. We’d like to thank Borough President Vanessa Gibson for her work and support in bringing 13 new hydroponic labs to Bronx schools this year, as well as Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, the Gray Foundation, COFRA Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Bronx city council delegation who have lent their support in bringing sustainability and climate education to the Bronx.
January 19, 2023
NY Sun Works Joins Councilmember Schulman & Superintendent Pate in Distributing STEM Hydroponic Kits
NY Sun Works was honored to join NYC District 29 Councilmember Lynn Schulman and Superintendent Tammy Pate in distributing over 600 of our iconic STEM Hydroponic Kits to students in three Queens schools. P.S. 54Q, P.S. 144Q, and P.S. 99Q were all chosen by Councilmember Schulman, who generously funded the kits. During her visit, the councilmember asked students about their goals for the future, and shared the joys of learning about hydroponic farming. NY Sun Works’ Director of Program Development Megan Nordgren also discussed urban farming and sustainability topics with curious learners K-5, who eagerly confided dreams of careers in STEM fields such as electrical engineering and pediatrics.
As we continue to expand our program, partnering with new schools across the wide range of NYC neighborhoods, we feel strongly that accessibility must be and remain a core component of our mission. While small in stature, these STEM Hydroponic Kits contain the materials for up to three students to share and grow their own seedlings in a passive hydroponic system. Additionally, they come equipped with 10 to 13 lessons of accompanying curriculum, dependent on the grade band and accessible via our online Learning Center. With the ability to provide delicious, delicate greens like green basil and pole beans, the kits provide students with unique opportunities to study plants on a deeper level, as well as sharpen important skills in observation and data collection. Said one 4th-grade student at P.S.54Q, “I’m excited to see the steps of how a plant can grow without soil!”
We are deeply grateful to Councilmember Schulman for allowing us to share the magic of climate science and hydroponic farming with students in her community. Our STEM Hydroponic Kits are available to all NYC educators, regardless of whether they are partnered with NY Sun Works. The kits can be ordered in multiples of 35. And requests for our final round of STEM Hydroponic Kits until the fall can be sent to Madeline on our Program Development Team this week.
January 5, 2023
Specialized Professional Development Opportunities in the New Year
The NY Sun Works Education Team is honored to provide partner schools and teachers with resources to support learning about sustainability science, urban agriculture, and hydroponics year-round. With the start of 2023, we are excited to share our NY Sun Works Professional Learning Programming opportunities for the second half of this school year!
Kicking off the spring semester of professional learning opportunities, we will be hosting three separate but specialized professional development events January 30th. Our middle school educators will have the opportunity to join our “Climate Change and Ecojustice for the Middle Grades’‘ virtual PDs at 11 am or 2 pm where they will hear from two climate education experts and will workshop how to effectively implement environmental justice and advocacy in greenhouse classrooms, call students to action, and incorporate climate education into middle school science standards. In addition, high school partner teachers can attend “Fishing for Knowledge – High School Professional Learning,” our in-person PD event at the NY Harbor School on Governors Island to learn about advanced aquaponic & hydroponic techniques, as well as how to address social justice issues like food insecurity. Further, special education teachers are invited to join our “Hydroponics in Special Education Settings Round Table” PD where teachers from D75 schools and other special education settings will collaborate and discuss best practices for integrating hydroponics and NY Sun Works curriculum into their classrooms. These opportunities are just the events for January – we have many more professional learning opportunities planned for the rest of the semester! Teachers will continue to receive information about these events via email and can also check the upcoming events page on our website.
We’ve significantly expanded our professional learning offerings for this Spring, with new professional learning sessions, workshops, and events on topics including: classroom management in the greenhouse classroom, incorporating environmental justice and advocacy into curriculum, engaging diverse learners in the greenhouse classroom, supporting students in designing and implementing their own scientific investigations, and more! We look forward to seeing our amazing partner teachers at these sessions and to continuing to support the incredible work teachers are doing in their hydroponic classrooms
Please visit the upcoming events page on our website to see the most immediate events or use the registration links sent in our “PD Newsletter” email to sign up for all upcoming professional learning events! We will continue to send out these updates. Feel free to email Becky Higgins, Professional Learning Manager, at becky@nysunworks.org with any questions or registration needs. Thank you!
