Tree Museum Features FoBP

Friends of Brook Park's Harry Bubbins was invited to participate in the Tree Museum.

100 trees give voice to 100 perspectives featured in the Grand Concourse's TREE MUSEUM. Irish artist Katie Holten created this public art project to celebrate the communities and ecosystems along this 100 year-old boulevard. Visitors will be able to listen in on local trivia and the intimate lives of trees offered by current and former residents: from beekeepers to rappers, historians to gardeners, school kids to scientists.

Visitors will be able to start their visit to the TREE MUSEUM at any point along the Grand Concourse. Look for the sidewalk markers identifying trees with stories.

Once the TREE MUSEUM opens on June 21, 2009, visitors will be able to call 718-408-2501 to access the audio guide, or download a podcast of the audio guide here.

FoBP Director Harry Bubbins narrates tree #13, an American Elm.
"I thought it important to have included indigenous perspectives in this project. Gentrification and displacement are a centuries long narrative." Bronx born an raised Harry Bubbins said of his participation in this effort. He was assigned the American Elm at Franz Siegal park. Franz Siegal was a revolutionary who fled Germany after working to overthrow the government there. "My research revealed an Iroquois prophecy with great relevance for today as they predicted the "Dutch Elm disease" now killing most of these trees in this region. It underscores the need for restoration and alternative models of social organizing."

To hear Harry's narrative, call 718-408-2501 #13.

To learn more visit: http://www.treemuseum.org/what.html.
SPEAKERS ON THE AUDIO GUIDE INCLUDE:
Omowale Adewale, Jessica Arcate, Barbara Barnes, Adrian Bejan, TJ Bess, Cheryl Blaylock, Sergio Bessa, China Blue, BombaYo, Lurry Boyd, Bronx Writing Academy Students, Harry Bubbins, Valerie Capers, Sabrina Cardenales, Majora Carter, William Casari, Shephard Chapman, Genesis Concepcion, Charles Day, Peter Derrick, FeSS, Patricia Foody, Omar Freilla, Mark Hill, Clarisel Gonzalez, Sam Goodman, Jennifer Greenfeld, Damian Griffin, Fritz Haeg, Helen Ho, Joyce Hogi, Sid Horenstein, Walter Houston, DJ Jazzy Jay, Mitchell Joachim, James Kane, Michael Kugler, Amilcar Laboy, Klaus Lackner, Juanita Lanzo, Carlos Lazarte, Adrian LeBlanc, Daniel Libeskind, Bill Logan, Uli Lorimer, Lindsey Lusher Shute, Amanda Matles, E.J. McAdams, Kim McLeveighn, Toshiko Mori, Griffith Morris, Francis Morrone, Thomas Navin, Jose Ortiz, Nora Peña, Glenn Phillips, Andrea Polli, Jonathan Pywell, Roger Repohl, Josue Rodriguez, Maria Rodriguez, Eric Sanderson, Kate Shackford, Laurie Spiegel, TATS CRU, Lloyd Ultan, Karen Washington, Dart Westphal, Bernie Williams, Eleanore Wurtzel

Step It Up Paddle, Rally, and Bike Ride

An intrepid crew of us launched from the Harlem River in the South Bronx to head South down the East River to join up with thousands of New Yorkers in Battery Park for the Step It Up action to darw attention to global climate change and demand action from Congress to reduce polluting emissions. With the founder of Forest Ethics we navigated the current in our favor past Hallet's Cove in Queens where we wanted to link up with our LIC bretheren, who were otherwise engaged. Zipping south with the wind at our back we chose to land at the Dumbo Park Beach in Brooklyn, though our eyes cast look to the Manhattan side shore under the Brooklyn Bridge, armed with the awareness of the Public Trust Doctrine that local paddler Rob Buchanan and others have shared with us, knowing we all must advocate ever more for waterfront access and landing and launching rights everywhere in New York City.

Bronx Environmental Activists Meet Bill Mc Kibben

April 14th, NYC Battery Park
Seaofpeople.org

After paddling from the South Bronx past Randall's Island, landing in
Brooklyn and biking to Battery Park with canoes in tow, local environmental
activists met with Bill Mc Kibben, lead organizer of Step It Up and the
author of "The End of Nature". The event was part of a nation-wide series of actions to demand Congressional action on climate change and highlight local impacts.

The campaign to preserve Randall's Island and stop the development of a 26
acre private beach club and amusement facility is gaining momentum and
powerful allies. Advocates are working with the legal team at NYC Environmental Law and Justice Project to stop this park land alienation, and are seeking supporters from schools, in softball leagues, fishing clubs and paddling groups. Also, activists have made it a priority to move forward the southern leg of the South Bronx Greenway to the island to ensure that the Port Morris, Mott Haven and Hunt's Point communities have access to this green resource.

For more information see: http://www.eastharlempreservation.org/docs/Randalls_Island.htm

pictured:
Harry J. Bubbins, Director friendsofbrookpark.org
Tzeporah Berman, Founder of forestethics.org
Bill Mc Kibben, lead organizer of Step It Up and the author of "The End of
Nature", professor Middlebury College




From Rob Jereski:
hi tzeporah,
thanks for a really lovely paddle. it was very fun;)
here below are stanley rogouski's pictures of us w/the man, bill mcK.
harry neglected to tell me that i had schmutz on my eye so just crop
me out of the version you print.

harry asked for each or one of us to write something up on our jaunt.
here are my notes.

i'll write to you in the next day or so about the indonesia project.
see you soon and thanks for all your excellent work.
peace,
rob

city-action-mob-flash paddle.
-reflections on a spring paddle in the harlem and east rivers, passed
randalls island, millers rock, through the roosevelt island/long
island passage and on to d.u.m.b.o.

sun, barges, industrial age overgrown by dominium under steel and
glass, sewage overflow.
trees first buds emerge.
and shopping carts rust at the high tide mark
as harry steers towards the swirls and whirlpool diablos of hells gate.

tzeporah, my wife's best friend growing up, skirts in her kayak like
a pilot fish across the eddies.
into the mountains, rippling canyons, swells we dig our oars,
cultivating human gifts, wisdom and grace.

dawning a sweater on the beach in queens in the shade of new life's
greeting,
the faces of friends who have died and those yet to be born are
carried by the wind
stirring the water's surface.

Director of FoBP receives Community Planner Honor

The Municipal Art Society of New York: The Art of Making New York Livable
The Planning Center
Community Planner Award Recipients Announced
Harry Bubbins of Friends of Brook Park is a 2007 Finalist!
March 23, 2007 Click Here!!

Although we seldom hear about their work in the New York Times, we have likely witnessed, learned from, or benefited from the efforts of community planners. Across New York City, community residents are becoming activists—taking the lead in addressing the planning issues confronting their neighborhoods and proving that they are the experts. The annual Yolanda Garcia Community Planner award, sponsored by the Planning Center with funding from the Citigroup Foundation, was created to shine a light on the enduring work of community planners, applauding their successes and encouraging them to continue their work. Named for Yolanda Garcia, a community activist in the South Bronx., this award was created to commemorate her work and vision. Under Ms. Garcia’s leadership, the residents of Melrose challenged the city, created an alternative to an urban renewal plan, and transformed a neighborhood.

In 1990 the Melrose section of the Bronx was presented with an urban renewal plan that was drafted without community participation, would have displaced long-time community residents and businesses, and would have discouraged high-density growth. At the time, Melrose, which had a population of nearly 6,000 people, epitomized the devastation experienced in the South Bronx during the 1960’s and 70’s—abandoned buildings, vacant lots, and little public or private investment. Remaining residents and businesses were adamant about staying and improving their neighborhood—using their strong roots there to provide an anchor for new growth. Shepherded by Ms. Garcia, We Stay/Nos Quedamos was created to organize the community around creating and advocating for a plan based on community need and derived through consensus.

The organization created by Ms. Garcia, We Stay/Nos Quedamos, is bringing that community’s vision to life through planning, design, construction, and programming. Founded upon principles of community organizing and consensus-based planning, the organization has grown into a community partnership that has produced 700 residential units and over 30,000 square feet of commercial space, all in service of the community vision.

On February 24, 2006, the first annual YGCP award was presented posthumously to Ms. Garcia and We Stay/Nos Quedamos for their accomplishments and continued commitment to improving their community. Yolanda Gonzales, current Executive Director and daughter of Yolanda, accepted the award at a lively celebration.

Although Ms. Garcia had no formal training as a planner, she was an expert on her community and believed in the power of local knowledge. Instead of simply organizing the community around stopping the city’s urban renewal plan, she organized her community to become proactive, marshal resources, identify partners and advocates, and create their own plan. In a planning environment where community is sometimes an afterthought, the work of Ms. Garcia and We Stay/Nos Quedamos is a compelling example of what communities can accomplish when they claim an active role in planning their futures.

This year’s award process included an open call for nominations and a jury-deliberated selection of finalists. Our jury members this year, notable for their deep connections to the world of community planning are: Karen Philips, City Planning Commissioner; Tom Angotti, Director, Hunter College Center for Community Planning and Development; Ron Shiffman, Professor, Pratt Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment; Micaela Birmingham, Director of Planning, New Yorkers for Parks; Yolanda Gonzales, Executive Director, We Stay/Nos Quedamos; and Marc Jahr, Market Director, Citibank Community Development.

This year the Yolanda Garcia Community Planner award will be given to Elizabeth Yeampierre. A certificate for lifetime achievement will be awarded to Wilma Maynard, and certificates of honorable mention go to Damaris Reyes, Harry Bubbins, and Laura Hoffman.

This year’s finalists came from a variety of NYC neighborhoods and have a diverse body of work. However, what they all have in common is their commitment to using a grassroots inclusive process to create positive community change:

2007 Finalists

Harry Bubbins is a member of Bronx Community Board 1 and director of Friends of Brook Park, a nonprofit group focusing on waterfront development and the revitalization of Brook Park in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. A charismatic leader, Harry works closely with a broad based coalition of neighborhood stakeholders fighting for the environmental and social issues that matter to his community. In addition to bringing the community together to advocate and create plans, Harry also brings the community together to have fun - securing canoes and kayaks for use on the waterfront and organizing youth focused gardening and nature appreciation projects. Harry has become active in local land use issues advocating for inclusionary zoning in Port Morris, voicing his opposition to the Randalls Island water park plan and proactively planning for the Bronx Greenway.

...
Born and raised in New York, Elizabeth Yeampierre is the executive director of the oldest Latino community-based organization in Brooklyn—the United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park (UPROSE). Since 1996 Elizabeth has helped shift UPROSE’s mission to one of advocacy and activism, playing an instrumental role in the NYC environmental justice movement. Home to highways, waste treatment plants, power plants and a number of other environmental hazards, Elizabeth has advocated for the fair treatment of and respect for the people of Red Hook and Sunset Park. Some of Elizabeth’s success’ include defeating an application for 520 mega-watt power plant in her community, helping to get the NYS Brownfield legislation passed, and developing a inclusive community planning model for the creation of the forthcoming UPROSE greenway. Elizabeth is also committed to her community’s youth, providing programs aimed at creating a new generation of leaders and activists. Early on, Elizabeth recognized that New York’s neighborhoods of color shouldered a disproportionate burden of the city’s most unwanted uses: power plants; sewage treatment plants; heavily used truck routes; sanitation garages. She leveraged this awareness to begin building the Organization of Waterfront Neighborhoods, whose community-based plan to make the removal of city garbage more sustainable recently became the core of the Mayor’s Solid Waste Plan. Recognizing common problems, identifying creative solutions, and organizing advocacy efforts to turn these solutions into citywide policy, Elizabeth embodies the highest qualities of a community planner.