Green City Force Graduates its 22nd Cohort of NYCHA Residents

In March, Green City Force (GCF) celebrated the graduation of its 22nd Cohort via Zoom, 22 members who began their service to NYCHA communities during the 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 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.

Annel Cabrera-Marus, Chief Program Officer at GCF and moderator of the graduation ceremony, said that the graduates are working hard to build a greener city: “We know that climate justice is linked to housing, food, economic, and racial justice. You’re the force to make that happen.”

Tonya Gayle, Executive Director of GCF, wished the graduates the best of luck and said, “If you ask me what’s my favorite day of the year, it’s not my birthday or any holiday, it’s graduation day.”

GCF partners, funders, and elected officials joined graduates’ families and friends for the virtual celebration. Speakers included GCF Board Member Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, NYCHA’s Director of Health Initiatives Andrea Mata, and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. 

Andrea Mata noted that NYCHA is ready to help the new graduates: “NYCHA values your leadership in health and sustainability. Thank you for the contributions you have made in the past year, and please let us know how we can help support your future work to advance health equity and environmental justice. Investment in your leadership is one of the most important investments being directed towards NYCHA communities.”

Despite the pandemic-related challenges, Cohort 22 members were able to distribute 17,000 pounds of organic produce for NYCHA residents. They also collected 3,300 pounds of food scraps for compost and held 187 events, including farm stands, harvest festivals, cooking demonstrations, and virtual events.

GCF Board Member Ibrahim Abdul-Matin said that the results are a testament to hard work, perseverance, and serious commitment: “You cannot show me a generation that had a global experience such as yours. Some of the biggest challenges we face nowadays are environmental, and you all were trained to tackle them. The world needs your ideas. You’re crucial. The city will not be successful without you.”

Eco-Hub fellow Jason Lorenzo is 21 and one of the youngest GCF members; according to mentors, he immediately stood out as a young leader.

“One constant theme for me during the last year was perseverance,” Mr. Lorenzo said. “For me, perseverance was finding my calling. People didn’t believe in my future, and then the opportunity presented itself. I learned at GCF how to find my passion and purpose for what I want to do in the future. Perseverance is not one long race – it’s many short races, one after another.”

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson gave the keynote address: “You are showing what it means to be a leader, what it means to be driven, what it means to be challenged but defy those challenges. There is so much opportunity on NYCHA grounds, so much underutilized resources that we need to develop and capitalize on. And the best way to do that is by creating urban farms and ‘greening’ our communities. Not only does it create jobs, build stability, provide economic development, but it also allows many of the participants and the residents at these developments to be part of growing fruits and vegetables, health and wellness. Health is wealth.”

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