Adam Green is one of those remarkable people in the south Bronx who does well by doing good. International news agencies like CNN and the New York Times have been noticing for years.
He’s founder and executive directer of rockingtheboat.org, an organization with “13 full time and 10 part time staff, operating boatbuilding, environmental education, job skills, on-water classroom, and public rowing programs for over 2,000 youth and Bronx community members each year.”
I recently visited the Hunts Point Park woodshop where rockingtheboat is headquartered and Adam graciously offered me a tour. What he does is so simple and so effective.
Instead of raising money and giving Summer boat rides to kids, he requires they learn how to actually build the boat and then administer to a free rowing program on the Bronx River, giving them pride in accomplishment and a skill when they are older.
The shop is impressive.
Instruction is given in tool safety, layout,
wood finishing and shop technique.
And the boats are just fantastic.
“Kids don’t just build boats at rocking the boat,
boats build kids.”
Indeed.
1974
Thank you so much for such a generous reflection of our work Gregory. I would love to have any of you come up to visit us and experience what we do with young people and community members in the South Bronx. Our LAST FREE COMMUNITY ROWING Saturday is THIS WEEKEND, from 12pm to 5pm. We would be thrilled to have you join us. For more info on Rocking the Boat, check out our website at www.rockingtheboat.org.
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Adam
Thanks for your kind words, Adam. The work you do is impressive to me because your vision brings so much more to our community than simply boats and rides, and everyone is welcome. Kudos, you have a new friend in the CLOCKTOWER.
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