We Grow Vegetables… and Students!
One student at a time, one classroom at a time, one school at a time.
Mission
Green Bronx Machine builds healthy, equitable, and resilient communities through inspired education, local food systems, and 21st Century workforce development.
Dedicated to cultivating minds and harvesting hope, our school-based model using urban agriculture aligned to key school performance indicators grows healthy students and healthy schools to transform communities that are fragmented and marginalized into neighborhoods that are inclusive and thriving.
Vision
We believe that healthy students help drive healthy schools, and that healthy schools are at the heart of healthy communities.
We envision growing healthy communities where those who are “apart from” will become “part of” new solutions that benefit 100% of society; a world where people do not have to leave their community to live, learn and earn in a better one.
Together, we can grow something greater! Ready, set, GROW!
Impact
We are proud to be debuting partnerships with some of the world’s most-recognized companies and organizations, including a full-service school model that can easily be replicated. Our plans also include adding program staff, expanding our geographic footprint and communities we serve while continuing to scale our organization. We are ready and hard at work, each and every day. All of this happens because of support from people like you!
Your Dollars at Work
History
Green Bronx Machine is an impact driven, for-purpose organization with 501(c)(3) status rooted in the belief that we are all Amer-I-Cans! Green Bronx Machine was born via collaboration between life-long educator Stephen Ritz and his students who observed that as waistlines expanded, engagement and opportunities in school decreased, school performance suffered, and hope and ambition became minimized. Originally an after-school, alternative program for high school students, Green Bronx Machine has evolved into K-12+ model fully integrated into core curriculum. Our students grow, eat and love their vegetables en route to spectacular academic performance. Over 165,000 pounds of vegetables later, our favorite crops include healthy students, high performing schools, graduates, registered voters, living wage jobs and members of the middle class. Our work, vision and mission are as organic and locally grown as it gets – straight from our classroom to our community.
2020 – 2021 School Year
2019 – 2020 School Year
We are proud to have stayed true to the needs of our communities and to the focus of our mission and vision. Green Bronx Machine pivoted to respond directly to the dire needs of our communities. We found new and innovative ways to get healthy foods and school supplies to our neighbors and students. We delivered lessons to our students, who never stopped craving the benefits of healthy food and engaging academic curriculum. We also worked to continue supporting our schools outside of the Bronx, and went above and beyond the standard “Zoom” meetings and virtual support that became synonymous with 2020.
CONTACT
We love to hear from friends. Odds are we are with our students at this very moment, but would love to start a conversation when we are able. We look forward to hearing from you and promise to get back to you just as soon as we get our heads out of the lettuce.
Fill out the contact form below or email info@greenbronxmachine.org