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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Megan Nordgrén, Director of Development & Government Relations at NY Sun Works
10:35:56
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3 min
Megan Nordgrén from NY Sun Works testified about their nonprofit organization that builds hydroponic farm classrooms in New York City public schools. She highlighted the program's benefits in STEM education, sustainability awareness, and addressing various educational priorities outlined in the management report.
- NY Sun Works has partnered with over 350 schools, reaching more than 40,000 students annually.
- The program costs $10,000 per year per school and addresses issues such as chronic absenteeism, academic achievement, and food insecurity.
- Nordgrén requested support to help schools fund their program across the city, especially in light of potential federal budget cuts.
Megan Nordgrén
10:35:56
Thank you for your patience, your passion, and your kindness to the wonderful, wonderful students who showed up here today.
10:36:05
What an inspiration.
10:36:07
We so appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight.
10:36:11
I'm Megan Nordgren.
10:36:12
I'm the director of development and government relations with New York's Sunworks.
10:36:16
We are a nonprofit that builds hydroponic farm classrooms in New York City public schools.
10:36:23
In our farm classrooms, we use hydroponic technology to educate students and teachers about the science of sustainability and bring quality STEM education through the lens of Irma farming.
10:36:33
We envision a generation of environmental innovators who are empowered to create solutions to our global climate challenges.
10:36:41
Since opening our first hydroponic classroom in 02/2010, we have partnered with over 350 schools and we are currently reaching more than a 40,000 students annually in New York City and the surrounding region.
10:36:57
And thanks to Gail Brewer's questions this morning to d s about DSF, we should be in another 90 schools, very soon that were funded generously by the city council member and borough presidents, but those are delayed.
10:37:11
But when those do go forward, and we appreciate your support in helping move those along, we will be in, 20% of New York City public schools.
10:37:20
And I just want to quickly talk to you about how our program is, really addressing the critical educational priorities that are outlined in the marriage management report that's on the docket today.
10:37:33
But we are educating our children to become productive, engaged adults with our program, helping students understand their connections to the world around them and how their actions impact their communities and the environment.
10:37:45
We're promoting civic engagement and hands on through and through hands on project based learning, which is exemplified by our program, we are helping to reduce chronic absenteeism, which we know is still a scourge across our school district.
10:37:58
And specifically, we are improving academic achievement through our rich curriculum that's aligned with NGSS.
10:38:06
We're promoting parental involvement through our harvest program and our hands on learning really helps English language learners, helps district seventy five students.
10:38:18
We are also in transfer schools.
10:38:20
In addition to all of those amazing benefits, have a workforce development program that gives students opportunities in career pathways.
10:38:30
And we are helping to address food insecurity by sending food home.
10:38:36
Despite all of that, we are an extremely cost effective program at only $10,000 a year per school.
10:38:43
And as our schools face budget cuts at the federal level, we request your support to help our schools fund our program across the city and our 350 schools.
10:38:56
And thank you so much.