How
will DeWitt Clinton look in 50 years? What kind of school will greet our descendants
and those of our students, past and present? How will our school meet the needs
of those striving to succeed in a changing world? How will it model sustainability? Will it be
a green model school oasis in the city?
Will it be a place where students prepare for the changes that climate
is bringing?
Our
school facility must lean towards the future and what better way than through
eco-design that is sustainable, community friendly, and that promotes health
and well-being. We need to continue to
design our building for the future and begin to represent the change we see
happening all around us. I propose that
we start with the heart of our sustainability efforts, The Clinton Garden.
The James Baldwin
Memorial Outdoor Learning Center will be in proximity to The Clinton Garden to serve as a multi-purpose
community/school gathering space dedicated to Baldwin’s memory and his commitment
to social justice. Today, we recognize
that social justice includes environmental justice. Just as James Baldwin shaped his own learning
through self-determination, The Baldwin Center will further the idea that
learning is immersive, connected to the community, and transformative.
Architect
Linda Pollak, Sarah
Wolf (Active Design Manager at the New York City Department of Health &
Mental Hygiene), and I toured The Clinton Garden and the grounds of our school on
a bright and beautiful October day. We
even went to the roof to look down on our school garden, share ideas for the
Baldwin Center, observe, imagine and dream.
Linda
Pollak has designed outdoor classrooms on Staten Island and Queens that
beautifully integrate the existing landscape and make use of eco-design
principles. Sarah Wolf introduced me to
the mission of the Center for Active Design: “to reduce the risk of obesity and
chronic diseases by promoting physical activity and healthy food access through
the design of buildings, streets, and neighborhoods.” From the spot where our local hawks and
falcons perch we could start to see future possibilities, a “new face” for our
building as seen from Paul Avenue.
Our
next steps are clear: a timeline/schedule for the project
and a plan or framework that will allow the shape of the project to emerge. We can then enlist our shareholders to create
a space for input by students, teachers, parents and our community partners.
I’ve never wanted to impose an idea or a space as much as contribute towards a
shared vision.
So, where do we go from here? Help us close out this IOBY campaign. We’ve come a long way and with less than $700
more, we can start the new year ready to make our next move with design plans
in hand.
To give, even a little, please follow the link below:
Thank You, Happy Holiday Season and Happy New Year!
