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New York State Marine Educators Assoc. Coastal Cleanup
It’s My Estuary Day!
New York State Marine Educators Association (NYSMEA) sponsored a beach cleanup at Kaiser Park in Coney Island on Sunday, May 21, 2023. More than one hundred youth participated in the clean up, including students from John Dewey High School’s Photography program.
With a grant from Joy of Giving Something Foundation, NYSMEA purchased an underwater ROV, which was launched at Kaiser Park beach. Video from the ROV was livestreamed to large-screen TVs set up along the shore.
After the beach cleanup, participants were treated to a cookout, and invited to engage with more than a dozen vendors including New York Aquarium, City Parks Foundation, Big Apple Divers, and the American Littoral Society.
Lower Manhattan Community School Student P.S. Art winner
Congratulations to Lower Manhattan Community School photography student Greta Sanchez Guss, whose work has been selected to be part of P.S. Art, a city-wide initiative that celebrates the visual arts in New York City’s public schools. P.S. Art is an initiative of The Office of Arts and Special Projects in partnership with The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to CDC restrictions, the annual June reception at The Met has been canceled. However, the exhibition will posted virtually on the P.S. Art 2021 website, as well as The Met’s website.
Greta’s photo “Subway” was selected from a pool of almost 800 submissions. We congratulate her on her exemplary work.
Concrete Safaris is awarded JGS Equipment Grant
East Harlem-based community organization Concrete Safaris has been awarded an equipment grant from Joy of Giving Something, Inc. to support youth photography for more than 150 young people in afterschool workshops, internships, and summer programs. Students will be offered weekly workshops modeled on the PhotoVoice methodology which encourages participatory photography through community engagement. through a series of research questions. Founding Executive Director Mac Levine envisions a group of participants formulating research questions related to environmental health. “They will then learn how to use the digital cameras and walk in the neighborhood to take photos in response to that question.” Photos will be curated collectively, and presented in exhibitions in the gardens at Jefferson Houses in June and August.
“Our long-term vision,” says Levine, “is to host an event at an East Harlem gallery or other accessible space, raising funds for the youth photographers to support long-term educational goals and also for the program itself.
For more information visit their website at ConcreteSafaris.org.