Newburgh’s Environmental Justice Fellowship has begun its
third year of work with a wonderful cohort of four new Fellows. We invite
the community to meet them all in person 10am-2pm on June 24th at Safe
Harbors Green, 97 Broadway, Newburgh.
The Conservancy is happy to
partner with Safe Harbors of the Hudson and Common Ground Farmers Market on
this event to highlight National Pollinator Week and introduce the EJ Fellows
who will be there with great enthusiasm, information, community surveys and
ideas for getting more people engaged with the Fellowship.
READ MORE: Choose flowering plants for pollinators
While beginning to learn about a range of EJ issues, the
Fellows have been watering and weeding recently planted trees, developing
community outreach and research projects, and mapping out a social media
campaign for the summer and fall. They’re eager to interact with the community
and to hear what Newburghers have to say about environmental restoration and
our urban forest.
This year’s new recruits to the Fellowship - Eileen Corrales,
Emily Alta, Nicole Villachica and Tyrese Billups - will share information and
demonstrations about the importance of trees and how concerned residents can help
care for them.
READ MORE: Fun advice to introduce kids to gardening
“Don’t miss this chance to meet four amazing young adults
dedicated to giving back to their beloved City and actively improving our
environment, public health and community cohesion,” says Kathy Lawrence, Chair
of the Greater Newburgh Parks Conservancy and manager of the EJ Fellowship
Program. “You’ll be inspired by their passion, dedication and knowledge as they
help to write a new narrative for Newburgh - one filled with hope and promise.”
The Conservancy centers its
work in environmental justice strategies, BIPOC leadership and community
engagement, with a focus on overseeing and expanding Newburgh’s Environmental
Justice Fellowship Program (EJFP). We oversee this leadership development
program to help young adults in Newburgh to build their knowledge and
confidence, develop public speaking and leadership skills, and have an
immediate, positive, and tangible impact on the environment.
The EJ Fellowship program began
in 2021 with visionary funding from the Arbor Day Foundation and TD Bank. From
its inception, the EJ Fellowship Program has been a collaborative endeavor of
the Greater Newburgh Parks Conservancy, Outdoor Promise and Newburgh’s Conservation Advisory Council.
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