Groundwork Hudson Valley

Climate resilience: gwhv employs nature-based solutions to address extreme heat and flood risks in the most vulnerable neighborhoods. Our projects, including the saw mill river restoration, the yonkers greenway, and the climate safe neighborhoods initiative, have contributed to the climate change resilience of our communities. In 2023, the climate safe yonkers task force worked closely with the local residents and the city of yonkers to ensure equity in the first-ever yonkers climate action plan. In 2023, 9,642 pounds of trash were collected and diverted from rivers and streams across westchester county, including yonkers; 19,500 feet of riverbank were restored; 546 trees were planted, including saplings and mature trees; and 1,796 community members engaged to improve climate resilience.

Youth leadership: we train, employ, and mentor youth in climate adaptation, conservation, and leadership development. Our youth leadership program focuses on building leadership skills and a variety of valuable, hands-on conservation skills that youth apply in a variety of settings in downtown yonkers and in the surrounding region, including municipal housing authority for the city of yonkers, the westchester land trust, palisades interstate park, yonkers public library, and a variety of other sites in the city of yonkers and the Hudson Valley. In 2023, 30 yonkers public high school youths were hired as part of the green team; 8,320 hours were dedicated to working on environmental improvement projects; and 1,152 hours were spent engaging youth in community outreach and civic engagement activities.

Sustainability education: gwhv delivers sustainability education through our in-person and virtual curricula to supplement the yonkers public high schools science classes along with other schools in the region and at the science barge - our off-the-grid, floating environmental education center on the Hudson river. The science barge also serves as a community space and urban farm, providing hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to local organizations addressing food insecurity. In 2023, 288 pounds of produce were grown at the science barge and donated to local organizations and families; 1,161 people visited the science barge during the weekends; 5,175 local students participated in environmental or science education programs, both in school and at the science barge.