I joined the board in 2006 knowing a little about Groundwork Hudson Valley's commitment to invasive vine cutting, outdoor classrooms, and community gardens. I didn't realize how many programs GWHV actually tackles in a single year.
One of my favorite is the Our Folks program. Young people from Riverside High, trained in landscaping techniques and home repair by GroundworkHV staff, are matched with older people in their community who need help maintaining their homes. Both the young and older people benefit and form strong relationships. This winter in particular was important as the Our Folks team helped winterize old homes thereby keeping the residents comfortable and lowering their energy usage and expenses. How fabulous that a program like this strengthens both the environment and community bonds.
GWHV also facilitates dialogue among leaders in business and government with these communities so all feel vested in a healthier habitat for humans and other living things.
I could write more about Science Barge, River, Land , Job Training and educational programs but I will just encourage all to come visit us instead and learn more first hand.
665 Pageviews Read Stories
- EIN 11-3579493
- 914-375-2151
- 22 Main St 2nd floor Yonkers NY 10701 USA
- groundworkhv.org
- Add to Favorites
Promote This Nonprofit
Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Philanthropy, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations
Mission: Our mission is to foster and awaken the potential of neglected communities and neighborhoods by working with them to improve their physical environment. By helping to forge relationships among these communities, local & state government and private businesses through environmental rehabilitation programs, we hope these neighborhoods gain a sense of place, opportunity and pride.
Results: The Science Barge, a self sustaining, hydroponic farm docked in Yonkers on the Hudson River, became the #1 field trip destination in Westchester. Daylighting of the Saw Mill River began Dec 2010. Community gardens and outdoor classrooms continue to grow, Green team jobs training program
Target demographics: All ages of citizens in Yonkers and the greater Hudson Valley
Programs: Youth leadership: gwhvs youth initiatives are highly regarded and designed to create the urban conservation leaders of tomorrow. Activities for high school students include the award winning summer youth employment program called the green team and the school-year, urban conservation corps. Students are educated, mentored trained, and paid as employees over multiple years to develop their understanding and their skills in urban conservation. Service partnerships have been established with yellowstone national park, the appalachian trail, wallkill national wildlife refuge, and the ny harbor parks.
improving parks, greenways, & public space: under this core program, gwhv restores the physical and environmental conditions of neighborhoods in southwest yonkers and newburgh, ny. Activities include vacant property cleanup and renewal, the development of new greenways and transit corridors, the restoration of existing parks and trails, playground renovation, tree planting, and public art, including murals, mosaics and outdoor sculpture. In addition, gwhv works to ensure that these improvements remain vibrant, active, and successful through stewardship and public programs.
science education: gwhvs is a regional leader in stem education for low-income minority students in yonkers and the new york city metro area. Our science barge serves more than 5,000 students each year and is a floating farm powered by solar, wind and biodiesel. It won best science education field trip in the new york area on multiple occasions and a federally-funded evaluation showed an increase of more than 50% in stem retention among low-income students. This year we are adding the ecohouse to this innovative teaching platform, and have a federal grant from the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (noaa) to expand our services to address global climate issues and resiliency. Gwhvs educators are highly accomplished and provide in-class stem services at two public high schools and four elementary schools through a partnership with yonkers public schools.