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Asharq Al-Awsat: Environmental Education for a Sustainable Future

The perception of the environment has expanded in recent decades from fighting pollution to the management of natural resources. The increase in the world’s population from 1.5 billion at the beginning of the twentieth century to over eight billion today, together with a major shift in production and consumption patterns, has led to a doubling of the demand on resources. This requires proper and balanced management, coupled with fair distribution of natural resources, to ensure that these billions of people obtain their basic needs.

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Cutting the Ribbon at LaGuardia Community College with Rep. Nydia Velázquez and Pres. Kenneth Adams

We are excited to celebrate one of the first post-secondary education partnerships of its kind at LaGuardia Community College! We commemorated this landmark expansion with LaGuardia CC’s President Kenneth Adams and long-time friend of NY Sun Works Rep. Nydia Velázquez, whose generosity helped create these critical climate science opportunities as well as at 19 other schools in NY’s 7th Congressional District. 

Expanding to the post-secondary level has been a goal of NY Sun Works as students of urban farming at the community college level can dive deeper into the science behind sustainability and make increasingly relevant connections to their long-term careers. This addition to our program also creates a more tangible path to green careers for young Farmer Scientists, incorporating climate-forward thinking into the hustle and bustle of the NYC job market. Harnessing higher level education for future career and academic opportunities connects students to the rapidly blossoming field of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), which has taken root in many cities including the Big Apple. CEA-focused programs at the Community College level help high school students seeking employment break down barriers, pursue their passions, and join the growing green workforce. 

For over thirteen years, we’ve used hydroponic farming to reshape how NYC schools are teaching the science of sustainability and climate change. Through getting their hands dirty, connecting with nature, and growing plants from seed to harvest, students in our program are increasingly prepared to make sustainable choices and tackle a climate altered future. We’ve built Hydroponic Classrooms at over 300 partner schools across the five boroughs and beyond, empowering students as young as PreK and kindergarten to high school juniors and seniors. 

In a city where students often select their prospective career pathways as early as middle school, supporting CEA initiatives as they expand upward through the academic system is critical to creating long-term pathways for young people interested in creating an equitable, sustainable future. In fact, high school students who’ve graduated from our Urban Agriculture Workforce Development Program will be among the first to explore our labs at the community college level, which will empower them to dream, aspire, and achieve sustainably. Our hope is not only that these students will be encouraged by these opportunities, but that they’ll be inspired by local leaders like Rep. Velázquez who have worked tirelessly to understand the city’s need, allocate resources, and show up with feet on the ground when the time comes to make intentional, positive, long lasting change for a sustainable future. 

Students have already planted the first seeds at the LaGuardia Hydroponic Classroom, and we have more exciting post-secondary opportunities in store for this year.

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Capital Funding: How it Works & Why it Matters – Deadlines Approaching

Capital funding is one of the most important ways schools in New York City can create new educational opportunities for their students. While this process is available to all schools throughout the NYC Department of Education (DOE), not everyone is aware of it or how to navigate submitting an application. Putting together application materials for large city grants can certainly be daunting, but we’re here to help schools interested in Hydroponic Classrooms (new, or upgrading existing) connect with their local officials, build the capacity to advocate for themselves, and create new pathways to climate education. The deadline for Bronx schools to submit their application to Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson is rapidly approaching – Due Friday (tomorrow!), January 19 at 5 pm, so the sooner you finalize your submission, the better! Other borough president and city council applications are due in February. It only takes a few minutes, and could be the difference in helping create the next generation of climate scientists, activists, and leaders at your school.

We’ve emphasized its importance, but what is capital funding anyway, and how does it actually work? Each year, members of the NY City Council as well as Borough Presidents receive a budget from which they’re allowed to allocate funds to public school projects throughout their districts. These funds are used in part to build new projects through the School Construction Authority, who have helped to renovate classroom spaces for more than half of our Hydroponic Classrooms throughout the years. These building projects not only help schools create opportunities for their students, but they also improve the quality of their education all around through room renovations and facility improvements. For schools with a limited budget, receiving funding for these projects can be the difference between a traditional and more limited science education, and an innovative, hands-on Hydroponic Classroom experience. And we’re here to help schools to apply. 

More than half of NYC Council members have voiced their support for our program through funding allocations, and we’ve seen a tremendous amount of success in helping schools learn the ropes of connecting with city government, writing grant proposals, and sharing the impact their hard work creates. Our Program Development team consistently meets with partner school administrators throughout the process of building a Hydroponic Classroom, from conception to installation, demystifying not only the capital funding process, but also other potential revenue streams for underserved schools like expense funding, which we apply to on behalf of our partner schools. To create the sustainable future our students deserve, we need all hands on deck, which is why we’ve adopted this multiplicative approach to climate education in hopes of inspiring students and educators alike to plant their roots, get involved, and make a meaningful difference where it’s needed most. 

For more information on capital funding, please reach out to our development team, and check out our NY Sun Works Info Sessions which will be held throughout the remainder of January and February. 

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NY Sun Works Partnership Info Sessions

Are you interested in bringing a NY Sun Works Hydroponic Classroom to your school? Join us for an information session to learn more about our program, hear about grants available for Hydroponic Classrooms including capital funding, and ask our team any questions you may have. Registration is now available for Zoom information sessions, please spread the word!

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FEBRUARY

Youth Conference Info Sessions

Who: All NYSW Partner Teachers interested in attending or participating in this year’s 14th annual Youth Conference

When: 

Monday, February 24 | 3pm-4pm | Register Here

Wednesday, February 26 | 3pm-4pm | Register Here

Where: Virtual/Zoom

Overview: If you are interested in learning more about our 14th annual NY Sun Works Discovering Sustainability Science Youth Conference, please join us at one of our information sessions. Our annual conference brings together students from hundreds of partner classrooms across the five boroughs of NYC to share students’ own investigations and action projects through student-led presentations!

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A Wish for Climate Education in the New Year

We’re kicking off the new year like many others: with big hopes for 2024. This year, we resolve to further our aim of bringing climate education to every student and tackling the most pressing issue of our time: climate change. It’s essential that we build the tools and opportunities students need to confidently tackle a climate-altered future. Studies have shown that early exposure to climate science subjects empowers students to strive for careers in sustainability, science, and technology. Our 300+ partner schools are teaching climate science in their Hydroponic Classrooms throughout the school year, but it’s essential that ALL students have access to climate education. We have an opportunity to make this a reality in New York State with important legislation recently introduced in Albany – and we encourage everyone to get involved to make sure it happens.

To that end, we recommend residents of New York State connect with the Climate and Resilience Education Taskforce (CRETF). CRETF has spearheaded critical climate education legislation: Senator Andrew Gournarde’s climate education bill S.278A and Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon’s companion Assembly bill A01559A. These bills propose establishing learning expectations on climate education and environmental justice in all public Pre-K, elementary, and secondary schools. The first interdisciplinary P-12 education bill in NY State, this bill also provides professional learning and ongoing support for educators, establishes an Office of Climate Education and Workforce Development, and centers equity and justice. Please check out CRETF’s Toolkit for Action and consider attending upcoming Albany Lobby Days. Residents of New York State can sign the memo of support, contact their Senator or Assemblymember via Action Alert, post graphics of support on social media, and most importantly, join a lobby day in Albany. Showing up is the first step in making meaningful change, and with feet on the ground and voices in the air, we’re feeling more confident than ever about the future of climate education. We’re growing the next generation of Farmer Scientists right here in New York City, but every child deserves a sustainable future, regardless of where they call home. Every post, donation, signature, and sign helps not just the NY Sun Works community, but the human community.

Like the plants nurtured in each Hydroponic Classroom, we’re growing onward and upward in 2024, with a host of exciting announcements to share over the next few weeks already. It takes a village to change the world, and as we all know, New York City is so much more than a village. Together, we can meet the moment on climate change, and provide the education our young people need to build the sustainable future they deserve. The best time to support a renewed vision for quality climate education was 20 years ago, but the next best time to get involved is right now. Please consider supporting not only our work bringing Hydroponic Classrooms to all NYC public schools, but also broader climate education initiatives that can help empower students not only in the big city, but beyond. With important legislation on the ballot, the time is now for New Yorkers to take action, get in touch with climate leaders, and through our actions, show the young people of today how to be the leaders of tomorrow. 

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Manuela Zamora Named to 2023 City & State Responsible 100 List

We’re honored to share some spectacular news this holiday season, as our Executive Director Manuela Zamora has been named to City & State’s 2023 Responsible 100 List! The Responsible 100 list honors the countless leaders around New York working to create a better world. Alongside city government officials, chefs, lawyers, and a diverse group of fellow New Yorkers, Manuela’s nomination comes as part of our work bringing climate education to the children and young adults of NYC regardless of zip code. Through the use of hydroponic farming, Manuela has guided us toward a new and unique vision for students at our partner schools, bringing nature back into the classroom and healthy, fresh veggies back into family homes all while connecting young Farmer Scientists with where food comes from and how their actions impact the planet. We look forward to another year of growth, learning, and climate science. 

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Climate Action Day Workshop PD: Health, Wellness, & Green Space

Join us in a NY Sun Works Professional Learning session to prepare for your next NYC Climate Action Day! The Climate Action Day focused on Health, Wellness, & Green Space will take place on Wednesday, April 17. This session will give you time to plan! We will share NY Sun Works learning resources, lessons, and units related to engaging students in green spaces and environmental action. You and your fellow partner teachers will brainstorm and come up with the plans to implement this in your Hydroponic Classrooms and schools!

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Tackling Energy on the First Official New York City DOE Climate Action Day!

Energy is what makes our bodies move, plants grow, and technology function. It plays a vital role in everyday living, and yet so little time is spent teaching students where the energy that powers our lives comes from, and how to manage it wisely. This year, the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Energy & Sustainability is taking on this topic and more with the introduction of Climate Action Days! Held four times each school year with themes including Energy, Water, Waste, and Green Space, Climate Action Days give students and teachers new opportunities to learn about the science behind sustainability and unite their communities in the name of climate education. This year’s first Climate Action Day is December 6th, and with a focus on energy, we’re thrilled to support this new and exciting occasion. 

Our spectacular Education Team has created a variety of tools and resources to help schools dive into the topics of conservation and responsible use of energy. In preparation for December 6th, we’ve shared resources including climate action-focused activities and lessons at our Election Day Professional Development Sessions, ranging in complexity from easy and accessible to involved and in-depth. These resources are tailored to each grade band ranging from K-12, in the hopes that challenging students’ presumptions about their energy usage and daily habits will inspire the critical thinking that leads to sustainable living. We want teachers to feel prepared and in-the-know, and begin the planning process early to ensure fun yet rigorous opportunities for climate education. 

Not only do we want this to be a day about education, but true to its name, we also want it to be about action. Through the activities shared, students and teachers will approach the subject of energy with inquisitive minds, with opportunities to improve their school’s relationship with energy on multiple levels. At the elementary school level, activities include learning about their school building’s energy rating and finding simple solutions to increase that rating. Similarly, high school students have the opportunity to research solar-powered cell phone charging stations and fundraise to purchase and build one at their school. These small but meaningful moments of collective climate action can make lasting change if done with consistency throughout the New York City DOE. By putting our full weight behind the first of many such days to come, our goal is to inspire a passion for climate education that extends beyond the Hydroponic Classroom. 

With more Climate Action Days on the horizon, we hope this will be the first of many celebrations that will empower the next generation of climate scientists, activists, and leaders. We’re excited to team up with the NYC DOE Department of Energy and Sustainability, as well as all our fellow sustainability partners throughout the city. Partner teachers who have not received our Climate Action Day resources should reach out to their respective Education Team members for access before December 6th. If you are a NY Sun Works Partner School and plan to participate in Climate Action Days, please tag us in social media posts using “@NYSunWorks” and use the hashtag #ClimateActionDays. For more information about Climate Action Days, visit the Sustainability Info Hub on the DOE’s official website.

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NY Sun Works on Climate Action and Education at the Harvard Graduate School

This month, NY Sun Works was honored to be invited to the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the 2023 Think Tank on Global Education (TGE): Climate Change Edition! Our Executive Director Manuela Zamora and Director of Education Liz McKoy traveled north to lead a session on Climate Action Partnerships, accompanied by Principal Irene Leon of PS89 Cypress Hills Community School in Brooklyn, one of our very first school partners. Chaired by Harvard professor and scholar of global citizenship education Fernando M. Reimers, this annual think-tank invites leaders in education to learn about, develop, and deliver powerful instruction based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Underscored by an urgent need to reimagine education in the wake of a global pandemic that forced teachers around the world to bring learning beyond their classrooms, our goal at this think-tank was to share the lessons we’ve learned from over 13 years of partnering with schools and teachers. With learning loss impacting students across ages and grade bands, the need for an authentic, relevant, and meaningful school experience is present now more than ever, and our Hydroponic Classrooms have proven effective at offering just that. Over 90% of NY Sun Works partner teachers surveyed shared that students in their classrooms are interested in and eager to engage with core sustainability science concepts. By offering students the chance to get their hands dirty, learn by doing, ask questions, and discover their own answers, we’ve been consistently able to re-engage those who otherwise may have academically struggled. 

One of the unique strengths that has helped shepherd our success is the adaptability of our program to the diverse landscape of New York City schools. With more than 300 school partners across all five boroughs as well as metro NJ, we’ve been able to reach and support learning communities of all shapes and sizes. With NYC, NY State, and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in mind, our curriculum is designed to meet students where they are and empower them to connect with the climate in a way that best suits their learning styles. By cultivating plants of their own, students are encouraged to emotionally invest in their school experience as they nurture their very own living things. Not only do students grow their own crops, but they also reap the benefits of their work through in-school harvests that invite parents and other community members to join in, creating a full cycle of learning and reciprocity. 

By speaking to our experience building sustainable partnerships in the largest public education system in the United States, we hope to inspire others to tackle the most pressing challenge of our time: climate change. Only through equitable, accessible opportunities for education and growth can we build the sustainable future our young people deserve. While we’ve been working hard to bring nature into the classrooms of NYC, we were thrilled to join others making a difference in communities of their own and feel inspired to continue driving meaningful change in the communities where it’s needed most. 

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