Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx), a non-profit community based organization devoted to solving environmental and economic issues that affect residents of urban areas, has been recognized by the Bronx Chamber of Commerce at its annual Go-Green Expo held at The New York Botanical Garden.
The 2010 Green Expo attracted over 70 businesses from throughout the city and more than 400 event registrants. The keynote speaker was New York City Public Advocate Bill deBlasio, who was among those who presented SSBx Executive Director Miquela Craytor with the Sustainable Leadership Award.
Miquela Craytor, also served as one of the expo’s highlighted speakers, leading a discussion on the greenification of New York’s building infrastructure. Ms. Craytor addressed what greenification means to the cost of doing business, staying in business in New York and addressed green business growth and job creation opportunities available.
During the panel discussion, Ms. Craytor spoke about a Sustainable South Bronx project, the South Bronx Greenway, an urban pathway that is now under construction. “The South Bronx Greenway really means for the South Bronx and like communities across the country, that you can invest in urban and industrial areas” she said.
“We must also consider how we can start to work with existing businesses in this industrial area… and improve their business practices to have a strong bottom line that remembers the individuals’ right next door to them.”
During the panel discussion, Ms. Craytor fielded questions on what green jobs really mean, stating “a green job is how we transition from a pollution based economy to one that is built around sustainability.” Last month SSBx dispatched a team of 15 of its environmental and ecological restoration graduates to the Gulf Coast region to lead in remediation to prevent greater damage occurring as result of the worst oil spill in global history.
Sustainable South Bronx participates in a variety of projects to improve the South Bronx environment. These include the South Bronx Greenway, green job training, and green roof installation. Ms. Craytor said that SSBx hopes to also continue to expand its program outreach beyond the Bronx, plus strengthen and expand business partnerships for greater green job creation. This was among SSBx’ accomplishments the Chamber honored the group for.
“Sustainable South Bronx has long been successful in transforming the environment of the communities we live in throughout the Bronx, but now are lending a guiding hand at major environmental disasters in states across America,” said Lenny Caro, president and CEO of the Bronx Chamber. “The environmental and ecological knowledge and talent honed here in the Bronx is truly making a difference nationally. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor Sustainable South Bronx for its outstanding environmental leadership.”
