Sustainable South Bronx

BEST Academy offers two green-collar training programs: BEST Ecology (ECO) and BEST for Buildings (B4B), linking environmental justice to social justice. Participants acquire skills and certifications in ecological restoration, hazardous waste cleanup, landscaping, building retrofits, energy audits and similar areas.

Through in-depth research, position statements, crafting legislation and building city-wide coalitions, SSBX helps to identify environmental policy issues of concern to the community, and spurs the creation of specific initiatives for sustainable development. This area of concern includes Community Outreach & Education, which trains South Bronx community members to become activists and leaders, identifying local problems and creating solutions.  This arm of SSBx teaches students and residents about issues such as asthma and obesity and how to take action.

SSBx coordinates and manages the participation of community organizations in a range of advocacy campaigns surrounding solid waste and energy.  Staff spearheads information sessions with community leaders, acquiring press conferences, meetings with elected officials and testifying at hearings.

SSBx has played a joint community role in the implementation of the South Bronx Greenway, which, when complete, will consist of 11 miles of safe outdoor recreation space along the Bronx and East Rivers. BEST Academy graduates serve as Greenway Stewards, ensuring the survival of newly planted trees, identifying new planting opportunities, maintaining two newly opened waterfront parks along the Greenway, and connecting at the street level with citizens to teach them how to improve their environment through greening the community, while creating new planting spaces and reaching out to schools to provide inspiration and education.