{"id":208831,"date":"2026-04-24T21:34:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T21:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/208831\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T21:34:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T21:34:08","slug":"bronx-officials-kick-off-weeklong-earth-day-cleanups-across-district-79-bronx-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/208831\/","title":{"rendered":"Bronx officials kick off weeklong Earth Day cleanups across district 79 \u2013 Bronx Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Earth Day, Assemblymember Chantel Jackson and a coalition of Bronx officials kicked off a weeklong series of community cleanups across District 79, drawing nearly 30 volunteers to Concourse Village and setting the stage for additional efforts in Morrisania and Melrose.<\/p>\n

Earth Day was first<\/a> recognized on April 22, 1970, focusing on raising awareness for environmental protection and calling for political action to address the issues affecting the environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Assemblywoman Chantel Jackson partnered with the offices of Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Congressman Ritchie Torres, Senator Jos\u00e9 M. Serrano, Senator Luis Sep\u00falveda, Council Members Althea Stevens, Oswald Feliz and Justin Sanchez.<\/p>\n

Crystal Diaz, the constituent services director for Chantel Jackson, told the Bronx Times that community support made the planning of this event faster.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe turnout today turned out pretty well. I was a little skeptical at first because of the weather, but I\u2019m grateful that we had the support of our senator\u2019s office, of our council member, Althea Stevens, with bringing out their cleaning crew,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cAnd then our high school, Mott Haven [Educational] Campus, and our TA President Tanya Pedler and her colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Volunteers from the organization Sparrow In Arms posing with Assemblywoman Chantel Jackson poster. Photo by Keke Grant-Floyd<\/p>\n

The volunteers cleaned Concourse Village East to West and from 153rd Park Ave. to 161st Street.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe purpose of this event is to keep the community clean, remind folks that the way you treat your house is how you should treat the streets,\u201d Diaz said.<\/p>\n

The collected garbage was placed in bags and will be collected by the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY).\n<\/p>\n

June Soto works as the director of community affairs for Senator Jos\u00e9 Serrano and attended the event on behalf of his office.\n<\/p>\n

\u201c[Senator Serrano] is a huge champion for environmental justice and he really takes Earth Day seriously,\u201d Soto said. \u201cAnd so we try our best to partner with other elected officials and community leaders to do our part and clean up when we can, or help bring more information about being clean or recycling \u2013 things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soto said that their office has a very close relationship with Assemblymember Jackson\u2019s office and is always looking for ways to collaborate to help out the community.<\/p>\n

\"\"The volunteers cleaned Concourse Village East to West and from 153rd Park Ave. to 161st Street. Photo by Keke Grant-Floyd<\/p>\n

Also, Soto mentioned an Earth Day Celebration<\/a> for children in grades K-12 to become more aware about Earth Day and protecting the environment.\u00a0All students in New York State can submit an original poem, essay or artwork highlighting this year\u2019s theme by April 30.<\/p>\n

Lisa Delancey works at Banana Kelly<\/a> and learned about the event because she previously worked with Chantel Jackson\u2019s office to secure funding<\/a> for paid youth opportunities to clean up the South Bronx during the summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came to her again this year to ask if she would be willing to fund us again, so I had to do a one-pager,\u201d Delancey said. \u201cAnd then [her office] told me that they were having a cleanup for three days, so I decided to come out with a couple of my people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Delancey told the Bronx Times that she wants youth to have more access to opportunities so that they can have positive influences and connect with each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet the youth talk to the youth, put a pilot program where you got the youth going around in spaces and talking,\u201d Delancey said.\n<\/p>\n

Alana Sparrow, chief executive director of Sparrow In Arms Inc.<\/a>, attended the event with some of her peer specialists to be a part of the solution.<\/p>\n

\u201cI try to be a pillar of my community. We\u2019re out here to get the area clean. We don\u2019t have to be products of our environment,\u201d Sparrow said. \u201cAnd we want to show that the community is here and we want to take care of the Bronx, and be representation of the Bronx.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reach Keke Grant-Floyd at kekegfreports@gmail.com<\/a>. For more coverage, subscribe to our newsletter<\/a> and follow us on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n