$10,000 Scholarship To Be Awarded To NYC Public School Students
NYC Parks, Rockefeller Foundation, the Bette Midler Family Trust, and the Municipal Art Society Open Nominating Process to Honor
Environmentally-Minded Public High School Seniors
On Friday, October 5, NYC Parks Commissioner Veronica White, New York Restoration Project Executive Director Amy Freitag, Rockefeller Foundation Associate Director Edwin Torres, Chair of Green Belt Movement-U.S. Mia MacDonald, and Municipal Art Society gathered
to announce the inauguration of the Dr. Wangari Maathai Award for Civic Participation in Sustainability. The announcement was made in Morningside Park, in front of the Dr. Wangari Maathai Tree.
This annual $10,000 award will be given to one female and one male public high school senior. The winners will have demonstrated evidence of their academic and extracurricular commitment to environmental stewardship within the urban context through their development
and execution of sustainability-themed projects (for example, recycling, energy monitoring, parks stewardship, greening). These projects will also have promoted the spirit of civic engagement in fellow students and the community at large. The award is intended
to be put to use by the student for their first year of college.
Applicants for this award must:
• Be a senior in NYC public school intending to attend college in fall 2013
• Demonstrate commitment to and activity in civic engagement
• Demonstrate commitment to and activity in sustainability projects
• Provide evidence of having completed a sustainability project in high school that shows evidence of leadership, commitment to sustainability, mobilization of others
Dr. Wangari Maathai is the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize (2004). Dr. Maathai was a visionary environmentalist and founder of the Green Belt Movement, a tree-planting campaign to promote sustainable development, woman's empowerment, and democracy
in Kenya. The Green Belt Movement is a non-profit grassroots non-governmental organization based in Kenya. The mission of the Green Belt Movement is to mobilize community consciousness using tree planting as an entry point for self-determination, equity, improved
livelihoods and security, and environmental conservation.
Since Dr. Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, more than 45 million trees have been planted in Kenya to reduce erosion and improve the environment and impoverished communities. Through tree-plantings, Dr. Maathai envisioned enhancing the environmental,
social, and economic climate in Kenya. By planting and caring for trees, Kenyan women have played a direct role in improving their local communities, have understood the various benefits of trees, have taken ownership for conserving their natural resources,
and have served as stewards of their environment. In 2004, Dr. Maathai received the Nobel Peace Prize for her commitment to sustainable development, democracy and peace.
In March 2012, a pine tree (Pine limber vanderwolf pyramid) was planted off of Morningside Avenue between 120th and 121st Streets in memory of Dr. Maathai.
Applications may be submitted through milliontreesnyc.org from today through January 4, 2013. Eligible applications will be reviewed by a panel representing the Rockefeller Foundation, the Midler Family Trust, NYRP, and NYC Parks.
Awardees will be notified in February 2013. The award will be administered by the Municipal Art Society and given at their annual meeting in late February 2013.
SUSTAINABLE PARKS CORNER
Caught Green Handed
GreenThumb’s Chief Financial Officer Gina Townsend has implemented a variety of environmentally-friendly purchasing policies at GreenThumb. Gina bought plants known for their ability to clean the air for everyone in the office and has convinced co-workers to
use reusable shopping bags. Gina also goes out of her way to purchase biodegradable items. She has worked in City Government for 34 years. Gina was nominated by the Green Guru at 49-51 Chambers Street, Roland Chouloute.
Parkies – Catch someone “Green Handed” at your work location! E-mail [log in to unmask] with your nomination.
Green Tip of the Week
Make your own green cleaner using vinegar and baking Soda. Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in one cup baking soda and then one cup hot vinegar. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then run hot water down the drain.
QUOTATION OF THE DAY
“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”
Indira Gandhi
(1917 - 1984)
