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The NYCHA Journal has informed and inspired residents since 1970, covering the news, contributions, and uplifting stories of the NYCHA community while providing the latest information on Authority initiatives.

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Program Partners Top Story Youth 

Green City Force Graduates its 21st Cohort of NYCHA Residents

LaToya

Earlier this month, Green City Force (GCF) celebrated the graduation of its 21st Cohort via a virtual celebration held on Zoom. Cohort 21 had one of the most unique and challenging experiences of all of GCF’s Corps Members, committing to serve their community during a global pandemic.  

GCF is an AmeriCorps program that provides NYCHA residents ages 18 to 24 with full-time service projects, training, and education on sustainability and green technologies, as well as a stipend, monthly Metrocard, and assistance with job and college placement. GCF Corps Members help build, operate, and maintain the five Farms at NYCHA Eco-Hubs Powered by GCF. In 2020, the organization launched its Eco-Hub model, an ongoing plan to co-design features at the five farm sites they currently manage to further support education and engagement with residents.   

With the launch of Eco-Hubs, GCF invited alumni of the program to return for a second term of service in a leadership position as Eco-Hub Fellows; eight Eco-Hub Fellows graduated and were recognized at the event. Steven Roig of South Beach Houses in Staten Island was happy to have the opportunity to return to GCF as an Eco-Hub Fellow. In his speech representing the Fellows, he referenced that at the start of 2020 he had four different career opportunities to choose from; however, they all disappeared in March due to the pandemic, and therefore he was thankful for the call from GCF to become a Fellow. 

“I know that life itself will be a continual series of opening and closing doors,” Mr. Roig said. “I know that the doubts will always creep in, but I also know that I’m surrounded by a network of people who, whenever I’m down, will surround me and remind me to give myself credit, to keep going, to keep pushing: That’s the culture of GCF.” 

Mr. Roig’s younger brother, Matthew Roig, also of South Beach Houses, served as one of 34 Corps Members of Cohort 21 and was chosen to speak on behalf of Corps Members. He told his cohort: “With the world shutting down around us, we all got accustomed to staying home and hoped COVID would blow in the breeze, but we became the first cohort to operate during a global pandemic. Throughout all of this, we were tasked with engaging residents while trying to follow social distancing procedures. We showed this grit and service through the countless meals we gave to residents, the hope we gave future generations. They can look outside of their windows every day and see a positive force, a change they’ve never seen before.” (Meet all the graduates here: Meet the Graduates — Cohort 21 Graduation.) 

Cohort 21 accomplished a lot. Their service and events were welcomed and needed in their communities, which were hit hard by the pandemic. While continuing to keeping themselves safe, they provided food during a time of food insecurity. They distributed a total of 28,500 pounds of organic produce to NYCHA communities, most of which was grown at GCF Eco-Hub sites. They held 110 events while adhering to social distancing requirements, welcoming 2,300 visitors to farm stands and over 500 residents to annual Harvest Fests, and they hosted their first-ever virtual cooking workshops. They partnered with NYCHA and NYSERDA to help residents at 18 developments learn more about their new energy-efficient heating systems, engaging over 600 households, and they installed 226 heat sensors.  

group of people in brown uniforms holding produce
GCF Corps Members from Cohort 21 prepare produce for distribution to NYCHA residents.

Joining GCF and the graduates’ families and friends for the virtual celebration were GCF partners, funders, and elected officials. Speakers included Tonya Gayle, Executive Director of GCF; Erin Johnson, Director of Service for GCF; Sideya Sherman, NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Community Engagement & Partnerships; and Edwin Mendez, NYCHA’s Acting Deputy Director of Energy & Sustainability Projects. 

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards gave the keynote address, telling graduates: “You are a group that inspired so many people in your communities, including myself because this program is the very definition of community. Every day you spent in this program was a day uplifting others around you, ensuring your communities were more sustainable and your neighbors were fed. I applaud all of you for answering the call to service and participating in this program. The work GCF continues to do in these times of uncertainty is needed now more than ever; you all are needed now more than ever.” 

To learn more about Green City Force, visit greencityforce.org.