New York, NY – Today, Assembly Member Harvey Epstein and New Leaders Council-NYC honored Earth Day by kicking off a summer-long effort to build more green, civic, and educational spaces across the Lower East Side.

Over 100 volunteers came together to build flower boxes, trellises, and bookshelves for NYCHA Developments and Community Gardens. Additionally, participants began work to rebuild the LES II basketball court so that neighbors could engage in physical activity in a sustainably renovated outdoor space. A community resource fair connected NYCHA and other neighborhood residents to programs and services that help New Yorkers thrive. Free food and music to welcome all rounded out the day.

This event launches New Leaders Council-NYC’s 2nd annual “4th Saturdays” service project series, with events targeted at addressing green spatial equity in the Lower East Side. Partnering in its second year with Assembly Member Harvey Epstein and NYCHA, the summer-long effort will now expand throughout the Lower East Side.

Access to green community spaces is a critical public good, closely tied to health outcomes, and barriers to such resources disproportionately impact socioeconomically disadvantaged people.

Importantly, the benefits of accessing green and community spaces are comprehensive, improving both physical and mental health. When such social determinants of health are inaccessible, as is too often the case for underserved communities, inequities are exacerbated.

“I am happy to host this Day of Service and spend our time improving the green space, basketball court, and quality of life for residents living in public housing in collaboration with New Leaders Council-NYC and numerous other community sponsors,” said Assembly Member Harvey Epstein. “I am deeply committed to creating and promoting green space in our neighborhood and to improve the quality of life for the families residing in public housing” Our community needs resources from strong nonprofits to help us ensure our public spaces are in usable shape with quality open and green amenities.

“New Leaders Council-NYC is intensely grateful for this opportunity to expand our capacity- and equity-building efforts in the Lower East Side; a community which has been so good to so many, including myself,” said Dr. Troy Mack, Co-Director of New Leaders Council-NYC. “New Leaders Council-NYC’s work of identifying, training, and resourcing emerging leaders throughout the five boroughs is rooted in service to neighbors and neighborhoods we cherish. Today was possible because of collective action undertaken by government stakeholders like NYCHA and Assembly Member Harvey Epstein’s office, nonprofits like New Politics Leadership Academy and The Mission Continues, private sector partners like Millennial Strategies and HZQ Consulting, and many more. Heading into our ‘4th Saturdays’ project series’ second year, it is coalitions like this one that respond to those who inquire, ‘Are you doing too much?’ by asking them a better question: ‘Why can’t we do more for those we love?’”

“I am deeply appreciative of the leadership Assembly Member Harvey Epstein’s team has taken to bring resources to my development. This partnership will beautify our neighborhood and allow NYCHA residents to enjoy nature” Said LES II Resident Association President Kazi Islam.