Podcast Summary
Transforming schools into healthy food hubs: An innovative educator is combating childhood obesity and improving academic success by growing food in schools and urban gardens, providing healthy meals for students, creating jobs, and developing a nationally certified workforce.
Educator Steven Ritz is making a significant impact in combating childhood obesity and improving academic success by growing food in schools and urban gardens in the South Bronx. Ritz, an elementary school teacher, has transformed his classroom into a model for healthy eating and sustainable agriculture, generating enough produce to feed 450 students daily and training the youngest nationally certified workforce in America. His initiatives have led to increased student attendance, job creation, and the development of the first National Health, Wellness, and Biodiversity Center in a reclaimed school library. Ritz's work has been recognized globally, and his TED Talks and documentary are used for teacher training and workforce development. Additionally, Ritz's commitment to healthy eating led him to lose over £100 pounds by eating only what he and his students grow in school. This inspiring educator is making a difference in the lives of underprivileged students and rebuilding his community through food.
Personal transformations lead to big impacts: Small changes in diet and lifestyle can lead to significant health improvements. Indoor farming in communities with limited resources can boost academic performance and promote local agriculture.
Personal transformations, whether it's about health or education, can lead to significant improvements in individuals and communities. Steven Ritz, known as the "Green Bronx Machine," is a prime example of this. He transformed his health by making small changes in his diet and dropped over 100 pounds. In the South Bronx, a community with limited resources and access to healthy food, Ritz is now growing food indoors year-round, aligning it with academic performance, and changing the community's mindset. Previously, the South Bronx had some of the lowest attendance rates and health outcomes in the country. Now, through Ritz's efforts, the community is becoming a hub of local agriculture and academic success. This shows that small changes and personal transformations can lead to big impacts. To learn more about these initiatives and other inspiring shows, check out Voice Change Media at voicingchange.media.
A Nutritional Crisis in the South Bronx: The South Bronx community relies on fast food, leading to health issues and a lack of access to fresh food, contributing to a nutritional crisis. A former basketball player and current teacher found a way to make a difference by giving kids a voice and introducing gardening, leading to unity and education.
The South Bronx community relies heavily on fast food establishments like McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts due to their affordability and accessibility. However, the lack of access to healthy, fresh food contributes to health issues such as diabetes, and many children in the area are labeled learning disabled due to the lack of proper prenatal nutrition. The community faces a nutritional crisis, and the food available is often referred to as "Frankenfoods" - highly addictive, manufactured edible synthetic substances designed for long shelf life and convenience. The speaker, a former basketball player and current teacher, found his passion in transforming the community by giving kids a voice and unifying them through academic pursuits, leading to the accidental introduction of gardening and the growth of actual plants in the South Bronx decades later. The speaker's rebellious nature and belief in the power of words drove him to make a difference in the community, starting with the most marginalized kids and growing something greater through unity and education.
From consumers to producers: Empowering students to create change: Educator Edgar Villanueva advocates for transformative change in education, enabling students to move from passive consumers to active producers, telling their own stories and envisioning new possibilities.
Educator and activist, Edgar Villanueva, believes in transformative change instead of incremental improvements in education, particularly in underprivileged communities like the South Bronx. He has spent his career creating opportunities for students to engage with their communities and pursue success beyond the status quo. Villanueva, who once led students in creating closed-loop subway token systems and organizing science fairs and writing competitions, aims to move students from being consumers to producers, allowing them to tell their own stories and imagine new possibilities. He has faced challenges in a system resistant to change but has found momentum through the efforts of other educators and activists. With a focus on food and nutrition, Villanueva has tackled the issue of childhood obesity and malnutrition, which he sees as a major threat to the first generation of children who may not outlive their parents due to diet. His daffodil story, which began with leaving bulbs on a heater and grew into a larger movement, illustrates his ability to create significant change even in the face of adversity.
The Power of Love, Belief, and Community: Love, belief, and community can transform lives, even in the most challenging circumstances. With the right support, everyone has the potential to bloom and overcome adversity.
The power of love, belief, and community can transform lives, even in the most challenging circumstances. The speaker, who started as a teacher and eventually led a project to plant 25,000 daffodils across New York City with at-risk kids, discovered the impact of providing love and opportunities for growth. Despite the kids coming from difficult backgrounds and environments, they all graduated, many going on to work with organizations like Sustainable South Bronx. The speaker's commitment to believing in them and creating beautiful, aspirational spaces helped them develop self-love and achieve success. The story serves as a reminder that with the right support and belief, everyone has the potential to bloom and overcome adversity.
Transforming communities through multi-faceted approaches: Investing in underprivileged communities through multi-faceted approaches like creating jobs, gardens, and education can help break the cycle of social issues and create positive change.
Addressing social issues like drug addiction, obesity, and education in underprivileged communities requires a multi-faceted approach. The speaker emphasizes the importance of tackling these issues head-on, rather than relying on outdated solutions. He shares his experience of transforming vacant lots into gardens and employing local kids as laborers, which not only provided them with a source of income but also instilled a sense of pride and accomplishment. The speaker believes that civilized nations should prioritize feeding and educating their children to prevent the "cradle to prison pipeline." By loving and investing in people, we can help them learn to love and value themselves. This approach not only benefits individuals but also creates positive change in communities.
Using Gardening to Teach Soft Skills: Teaching soft skills through innovative methods like gardening can improve attendance, engagement, and academic success.
While hard skills are important, soft skills like showing up to work on time, managing money, and communicating effectively are equally essential and often overlooked. The speaker emphasizes the importance of teaching these skills to students, particularly those who struggle academically. He shares his experience of using gardening as a tool to engage students and improve attendance rates, leading to significant academic improvements. The speaker argues that by making learning fun and relevant, students are more likely to engage and succeed. He also suggests that there is a connection between caring for living things and developing important life skills. The speaker's innovative approach challenges conventional wisdom and offers a fresh perspective on education.
Innovative teaching projects can boost student engagement and learning outcomes: Teachers can enhance their students' learning experience by implementing project-based learning, fostering curiosity, and balancing autonomy with evaluation criteria.
Teachers can make a significant impact on their students' learning experience by taking the initiative to implement innovative and engaging projects in the classroom, even if it means stepping outside of traditional teaching methods or administrative guidelines. The use of project-based learning, where students are actively involved in problem-solving and learning through their interests, can lead to increased engagement and better academic outcomes. However, it's essential to remember the mandate of the day job and balance autonomy with the evaluation criteria set by the administration. The goal is to find a way to make the learning process fun, creative, and effective for both the teacher and the students. The key is to identify students' curiosities and interests and build on them to create a learning environment that fosters growth and development in all areas.
A teacher's journey to introduce gardening and healthy eating in the classroom: A caring adult's role in a child's life is essential for their success. Through gardening and healthy eating, students can learn and thrive, discovering the importance of various foods and their nutritional value, as well as the local food movement and the benefits of eating locally sourced, fresh produce.
Having a kind, caring adult in a child's life is crucial for their success, regardless of the data-driven society and advancements in education. The role of the educator is to be that caring adult and create an environment where students can learn and thrive. This was exemplified in a teacher's journey to introduce gardening and healthy eating in the classroom. The students were the farmers and scientists, and the teacher was the conductor, facilitating their growth and learning. The journey led to discovering the importance of various vegetables and their nutritional value. The students were surprised to find that food comes in various shapes, sizes, and colors, and that not all food is accessible or affordable for everyone. Through field trips and partnerships with local businesses, the students learned about the local food movement and the importance of eating locally sourced, fresh produce. The experience was transformative for both the students and the teacher, demonstrating the power of collaboration and learning together.
From urban gardening to community impact: Starting small with replicable solutions in education and community development can lead to significant impacts. Persistence, innovation, and collaboration are key to creating sustainable solutions that transform lives and communities.
Starting small and focusing on replicable, scalable solutions can lead to significant impacts, especially when it comes to education and community development. The speaker started by sharing his experience with urban gardening in schools, which he found to be effective but not easily replicable. He then shifted his focus to working with younger children and discovered the importance of building good habits early on. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration and alignment with existing programs, such as the School Garden to School Cafe program in the Department of Education. Through these efforts, the students became activists and even donated resources to help those in need, leading to the creation of the Green Bronx Machine, a for-purpose organization aimed at making a positive impact on the community. The speaker's journey highlights the importance of persistence, innovation, and collaboration in creating sustainable solutions that can transform lives and communities.
Transforming public education and nutrition through Tower Gardens: The Green Bronx Machine uses Tower Gardens to help kids overcome challenges, prepare for work, and transform public education and nutrition, leading to healthy students, schools, and communities.
The Green Bronx Machine is a non-profit organization that started as a way to help kids go to college through scholarships but evolved into a workforce and community development program. They focused on getting kids ready for work and helping them overcome challenges. Later, they discovered Tower Garden Technology, which revolutionized their approach to education by allowing them to grow plants year-round in classrooms and transforming public education and nutrition. The organization has expanded to various schools across the country and aims to flip the script on public education and nutrition through Tower Gardens and scalability. The ultimate goal is to create healthy students, healthy schools, and healthy communities. The use of Tower Gardens has led to remarkable success stories, from local to national levels, and has even transformed the lives of kids from the South Bronx to high-end rooftop gardens in the Hamptons.
Integrating gardening and healthy eating into schools: Empowering students with skills, promoting health, and making a culture of health, wellness, and learning an integral part of education.
Integrating gardening and healthy eating into school systems can lead to significant positive changes for students and communities. This approach not only empowers students with valuable skills and knowledge but also promotes health and wellness. However, scaling this initiative can be challenging as it requires dedicated individuals and resources. Success stories, such as the vegetarian school in Queens and Jamie Oliver's food revolution, demonstrate the importance of perseverance and the potential impact on a larger scale. The goal is to make this health, wellness, and learning culture an integral part of the educational experience, enabling students to make informed choices and improve their lives.
Fostering Appreciation for Healthy Food through Education: Teaching kids about food origins and production fosters appreciation for healthy options, leads to academic and health improvements, and opens doors to potential careers.
Food education goes beyond nutrition and extends to human rights, self-respect, and dignity. By teaching kids about the origins of their food and the people involved in its production, we can foster a deeper appreciation for the value of healthy, organic options. This approach can also serve as an entry point for discussing larger issues like equality and social justice. The benefits of this type of education are multifaceted, including improved academic performance, healthier lifestyles, and even potential career opportunities in the food industry. Additionally, empowering teachers to create vibrant, green classrooms can help combat the challenges faced in underprivileged communities and foster a sense of community engagement. Ultimately, the goal is to inspire and equip the next generation with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Community engagement and resource access transform lives: Mentorship, cultural relevance, self-esteem, learning, job training, and access to healthy food can help break cycles of poverty and instill a sense of self-worth and possibility.
Community engagement and access to resources, particularly in the form of education and healthy food, can have a transformative impact on individuals and communities, especially for those who have faced significant challenges. The speaker, who has a background as a mayor and now runs a National Health and Wellness Learning Center, emphasizes the importance of mentorship, cultural relevance, and self-esteem in fostering success. He shares stories of kids growing food in urban gardens and using ATMs for the first time, highlighting the significance of these experiences in their lives. By providing opportunities for learning, job training, and access to healthy food, communities can help break cycles of poverty and dependence, and instill a sense of self-worth and possibility. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of healthy food and the potential for culinary careers as a pathway to decent livings. Overall, the discussion underscores the power of community engagement and resource access in fostering individual and collective growth.
Revitalizing education through local food movement: Teachers can foster empathy, problem-solving, and communication skills in students by incorporating local food movement principles into education, including longer school days, healthier food options, and project-based learning.
The local food movement in cities like New York is thriving, providing opportunities for economic growth, employment, and telling compelling stories about locally sourced food. However, in the public education system, there are several issues that need addressing. These include a shorter summer vacation, a longer school day, more emphasis on health and wellness, STEM and STEAM education, and an increased focus on technology and project-based learning. The ultimate goal is to create a more engaged and active student participatory model that fosters critical skills such as empathy, problem-solving, and communication. Despite challenges, the importance of instilling these values in students cannot be overstated, as they will be crucial for navigating the complex world of the future. In the classroom, teachers can foster these ideals through preparation, observation, celebration, and daily acts of kindness.
Inspiring the next generation of teachers: Creating supportive systems and environments helps unique teachers flourish, inspiring the next generation to make a difference in students' lives.
Teaching is a noble and rewarding profession, and it requires individuals who are passionate about making a difference in students' lives. The speaker emphasizes that teachers change lives, and it's essential to inspire bright young minds to enter the field. He also highlights the importance of creating systems and environments where unique teachers can flourish. The speaker shares his personal experience of gaining respect in the community and encourages everyone to bring their unique talents to the table. He believes that the current crisis in public education can lead to positive changes, and everyone needs to work harder to make a difference. The speaker's determination to learn and grow, even without extensive knowledge or experience, serves as an inspiration to embrace the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. In essence, the takeaway is that anyone can make a difference as a teacher, and it's crucial to create supportive systems and environments to help them succeed.
The Transformative Power of Technology in Education: Technology can be a distraction but also holds immense potential for creativity and learning. A principal's trust and support are crucial for maximizing its impact. Effective use of technology can change the world and help create the next generation of great individuals.
Technology, specifically cell phones, can be both a blessing and a curse in the classroom. While it can be a distraction, it also holds immense potential for creativity and learning. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about how technology has evolved since his teaching days in the 1980s and how it can be used to nourish greatness in students. He also highlights the importance of a principal's trust and support in maximizing the impact of a teacher's time and efforts. In the present day, the speaker is involved in a project called Green Bronx Machine, which aims to produce thousands of pounds of food in a school garden, demonstrating the transformative power of technology and capitalism when used effectively. Ultimately, the speaker believes that technology, when used wisely, can change the world, and his goal is to help create the next generation of great individuals.
Transforming Urban Spaces into Productive Farms in the South Bronx: Green Bronx Machine, led by Edwin Martinez, is a volunteer-driven organization that transforms urban spaces into productive farms, raises funds for a Health and Wellness Center, and teaches kids about food, entrepreneurship, and community ownership.
Green Bronx Machine, led by its founder Edwin Martinez, is a volunteer-driven organization that focuses on transforming urban spaces into productive farms in the South Bronx. They have raised funds to build a Health and Wellness Center inside PS 55, which will serve as a 21st-century classroom offering various instruction periods, a digital media center, a teacher research center, an interactive classroom, and a mobile medical kitchen. The organization is currently trying to raise $125,000 for this project and welcomes donations. Green Bronx Machine's efforts extend beyond just farming, as they aim to teach kids about food, entrepreneurship, and community ownership. The organization's dedication to local growth and volunteer work has led to the transformation of significant areas of urban blight into productive farmland. Despite their frugal approach, they are looking to scale up and eventually hire employees to expand their impact.
Consistency, creating a safe space, active listening, and acknowledgement build meaningful connections: Consistently show up, create a safe space, actively listen, acknowledge feelings, and collaborate for meaningful connections with young people.
Building meaningful connections with young people, whether as a parent or an educator, requires consistency, creating a safe space, active listening, and acknowledgement. Consistency and showing up are crucial for difficult kids who need a sense of safety. Active listening means letting kids ask questions and acknowledging their feelings and interests. Passion and accountability are essential for inspiring and engaging students. Adults should also be transparent and vulnerable, recognizing that they don't have all the answers and that the learning process is a collaborative effort. Ultimately, the goal is to create a sacred and supportive environment where young people feel seen, heard, and valued.
Creating a structured learning environment for children: Engaging kids in hands-on activities, growing food, and incorporating yoga can foster a deeper connection to nature, promote nurturing behaviors, and contribute to overall well-being.
Creating a structured and accountable learning environment, where children understand the importance of time and are engaged in hands-on activities like growing their own food, can help foster a deeper connection to nature and promote nurturing behaviors. This approach not only benefits individual children but also contributes to a greater societal shift towards embracing our better nature. Additionally, incorporating physical activity, such as yoga, into daily routines can contribute to overall well-being. Remember, the goal is to inspire and empower children to learn, grow, and make a positive impact on the world.
Transforming lives through gardening and education: Green Bronx Machine inspires by showing ex-gang kids living respectfully and contributing to their communities through gardening and education
Seeing former gang kids living respectful lives and contributing to their communities is a beautiful thing. Kylie from Green Bronx Machine is an inspiration for transforming lives through gardening and education. Green Bronx Machine is a for-purpose organization with a website (greenbronxmachine.org) and social media presence (@GreenBXMachine on Twitter and Facebook). They invite people to meet the kids and validate them, creating a positive impact. The organization has even reached the White House, showcasing the potential of urban farming. Keep supporting and following Green Bronx Machine's work.
Expressing love and encouragement before leaving: Encourage loved ones to make the most of their time and expect positive experiences during separation, with hopes for future communication
The speaker expresses love and encouragement towards the people he will be leaving, and he urges them to make the most of their time. He signs off with positive affirmations and the desire for future communication. The use of "make it great" and "have a good one" suggests that the speaker expects good things to come from the time apart, while "we'll talk more soon" indicates a hope for continued connection. The unexpected mention of "plants" at the end may be a metaphor for growth and new beginnings. Overall, the speaker's words convey a sense of optimism and a desire for positive experiences.
