One Brooklyn
November 8, 2015
BROOKLYN, NY, November 8, 2015: On Sunday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams unveiled “Growing Brooklyn’s Future,” an initiative with over $2 million in initial investment from his Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) to create hydroponic classrooms to a dozen schools across Brooklyn. He made this announcement inside a classroom at the Academy of Urban Planning, a high school located at the Bushwick Campus which will be transformed into a green learning space through a partnership with New York Sun Works, a non-profit organization that builds innovative science labs in urban schools. Borough President Adams highlighted the potential of urban farming to revolutionize the borough’s relationship with food and the environment, as well as to create thousands of jobs in the emerging agritech industry.
“Brooklyn is getting back to its roots as we move into a greener future, growing healthy food and talented students in the same classroom,” said Borough President Adams. “I am particularly excited that we are launching ‘Growing Brooklyn’s Future’ in communities like Brownsville, Bushwick, and East New York, areas where our children have historically been left behind. In the spirit of One Brooklyn, we are planting seeds of opportunity in every neighborhood, and innovation and progress will flower across our borough from stems of success that are grounded in STEM education.”
Schools receiving $167,000 each from Borough President Adams to build out hydroponic classrooms include: PS 21 Crispus Attucks in Bedford-Stuyvesant; Brooklyn Democracy Academy in Brownsville; Academy for Environmental Leadership, Academy of Urban Planning, IS 383 Philippa Schuyler, and PS 377 Alejandina B. De Gautier in Bushwick; High School for Medical Professions, IS 211 John Wilson, and PS 279 Herman Schreiber in Canarsie; Brooklyn Lab School and Multicultural High School in Cypress Hills; and IS 292 Margaret S. Douglas in East New York.
“Public-private partnerships like these help us revitalize science and sustainability programming in New York City public schools,” said Sidsel Robards, director of development and events for New York Sun Works. “We are honored to be working with Brooklyn Borough Hall on this mission.”
“Chair Julie Dent and I were ecstatic to learn of the FY16 capital budget allocation that Borough President Adams allocated to four schools in Community District 4,” said Nadine Whitted, district manager of Community Board 4. “Through this generous allocation, our youngsters will have an opportunity to learn first-hand about greenhouse technology and other science concepts which will propel them into the 21st century, thus equipping them with the required tools to become more competitive in the worlds of technology, science, and sustainability. I thank him for his promise to educate and equip our students for a brighter future.”
“We have had a successful hydroponics program running for eight years and are elated to expand with the generosity of Borough President Adams,” said Andrew Brown, principal of the Brooklyn Democracy Academy. “Our expansion will include aquaponics, which is a game changer for our students and community. This truly has far reaching potential for our students and their families.”
Borough President Adams presented funding recipients with honorary checks with the seal of Brooklyn Borough Hall, as well as an oversized check, made out to “One Brooklyn,” for “Growing Brooklyn’s Future.”
PHOTOS
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams unveiled “Growing Brooklyn’s Future,” an initiative with over $2 million in initial investment to create hydroponic classrooms to a dozen schools across Brooklyn, inside a classroom at the Academy of Urban Planning in Bushwick; joined by Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna, leadership from New York Sun Works, as well as local principals and students, they held honorary checks with the seal of Brooklyn Borough Hall, as well as an oversized check, made out to “One Brooklyn.”
Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office
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