Bronx, NY – After being nominated by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx), a non-profit community-based organization devoted to solving environmental and economic issues that affect residents of urban areas, has been named a winner of the 2010 Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 2 Environmental Quality Award. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to improving the environment and public health in EPA Region 2, which covers New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and seven federally-recognized Indian Nations.
Sustainable South Bronx focuses on community planning, environmental science, public health research and cost benefit analysis. Programs include the South Bronx Greenway (SBG) which will create bike and pedestrian paths around the Hunts Point and Port Morris Waterfront. The first section will be located in the residential section of Hunts Point peninsula, on Hunts Point Avenue. There will also be trees planted which should improve air quality in the neighborhood. The group’s extensive Greenway work includes working closely with other community groups to ensure that residents of urban areas have expanded opportunities for physical activity, improved economic activity and more jobs.
“This is a great honor for Sustainable South Bronx to be recognized for the work that we have been doing,” said Miquela Craytor, the organization’s executive director. “We are proud to be a leader in pioneering environmental projects that really do make a difference in the community.”
Senator Gillibrand said, “Sustainable South Bronx deserves this honor for the great work they do in making a difference on environmental issues that benefit so many New Yorkers. The important efforts of Sustainable South Bronx are vital in spreading awareness and mobilizing individuals to create practical solutions to the many environmental problems that we are facing.”
The BEST (Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training) Academy which links environmental clean-up and restoration to career development and the economic needs of local residents. Trainees receive hands on training in a variety of subjects including bioremediation, ecological restoration, green roof installation and green roof maintenance. BEST for Buildings (B4B) trains program participants to retrofit buildings so that they are more energy efficient.
Sustainable South Bronx’s education programs include GreenFab which in conjunction with Vision Education and Media and NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program offers students at the Bronx Guild High School after school classes in a variety of technology and engineering skill sets.
The award will be formally presented to officials of Sustainable South Bronx in a ceremony on Friday, April 23rd at the EPA Regional Headquarters in Lower Manhattan.