Andrea Estrada is making her way through Highbridge Park with tools in hand. She hopes that each clip will help to reduce the effects of climate change.
Estrada stated that he has an interest in urban ecology, as well as environmental justice.
Estrada and the rest are part of the HOPE Programmes Intervene Initiative.
What You Need to Know
- The HOPE program is a Bronx-based company that offers special paid internships in green jobs.
- Interviene Initiative horticultural crew cleans and restores park spaces
- The program’s goal is to reverse the effects of climate change in vulnerable communities
The Bronx-based environmental organisation has been around 37 years. It offers education, internships, and job placement. The 10-week training program is a 10 week long. Participants are paid to learn about ecological conservation in class and then to put it into action in the field.
It’s creating more solutions, creating new jobs that allow job hunters to be able build a career in this field to really make a difference and mitigate the effects of climate change,” said ReneeRuhr. Ruhl, Intervines project manager.
One outing saw the group remove invasive plant species, vines that wrap around trees, and compromise their health.
The goal is to restore forest areas in communities that have historically had limited access to adequate parks.
Education and awareness are a large part of our work. Ruhl stated that many times, we just walk around, see green, and think it’s good for us.
Estrada says she is happy to do her part to help the environment.
Estrada stated, “I believe it is very important that the communities most affected by climate changes, which are low-income and working class, be at the forefront for the solutions.”
