The New York City Council Dedicates $5.3 Million in the FY24 Budget For Urban Agriculture & Climate Education
August 11, 2023
Amazing news for climate education advocates everywhere: 28 members of the New York City Council, including City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, have dedicated a monumental $5.3 million to bring urban agriculture and climate education to the young people of New York, through the installation of hydroponic labs in public schools across the five boroughs and support of the NY Sun Works programming in our current partner schools.
New York Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora applauded the Council’s decision this month, saying, “I want to thank the New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and City Council Members for making a $5.3 million collective commitment in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget that will bring hydroponic farming technology and climate education to our city’s schools, and help cultivate the next generation of scientists, urban farmers, and climate activists. This significant capital investment to build new labs, through the School Construction Authority, will allow New York Sun Works to provide access to a hands-on urban farming experience that empowers young people to take the reins on sustainability science, climate change, and food insecurity in their communities. We are also grateful to our local elected leaders who allotted expense funding to New York Sun Works to ensure that we continue to support over 100,000 students at established 250 partner schools with existing labs. This transformative commitment will help thousands of students across grades and communities improve their learning outcomes and enrich their academic career.”
A critical component of our program’s approach to implementing urban agriculture technology and climate education in so many schools across NYC is integrating sustainability practices into the local community. City Council members play a vital role in the health and well-being of the neighborhoods they represent, connecting with residents not only on a political level but also on a cultural and personal one. By supporting substantial investments in building educational infrastructure to support the next generation of New Yorkers, our elected officials also support the right of all students to a sustainable future. There can be no doubt about the fact that the students of today will need to navigate lives and careers in a climate-altered tomorrow, and so it falls to leaders like those on the City Council to ensure students have the knowledge and opportunities they need to thrive.
The City Councilmembers who are helping cultivate the next generation of scientists, urban farmers, and climate activists are Joanna Ariola, Alexa Aviles, Diana Ayala, Gale A. Brewer, Tiffany Caban, Eric Dinowitz, Amanda Farias, Jennifer Gutierrez, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Shekar Krishnan, Farah Louis, Christopher Marte, Julie Menin, Francisco Moya, Mercedes Narcisse, Sandy Nurse, Vickie Paladino, Keith Powers, Lincoln Restler, Kevin Riley, Rafael Salamanca, Pierina Sanchez, Lynn Schulman, Sandra Ung, Marjorie Velazquez, and Julie Won.
