Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/897445
www.HartfordBusiness.com • November 7, 2017 • GIVING GUIDE • Hartford Business Journal 29 ABOUT US Year established: 2012 Annual revenues: $26,360 (most recent fiscal year) Total number of employees: 0 GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA(S) Hartford, Windsor and Bloomfield TOP FUNDING SOURCES City of Hartford: 20% Cigna Foundation: 20% Whole Cities Foundation:20% Newman's Own Foundation: 20% The goal of the Keney Park Sustainability Project (KPSP) is to create the next generation of healthy, productive and environmentally conscious citizens. KPSP currently occupies a City-owned building in Keney Park, directly adjacent to the project site, and has a number of programs that have demonstrated strong, multifaceted connections to the affected community. KPSP has not only managed the building and its site, but leveraged partnerships across the community to build greenhouses, a community garden, a composting site, a woodworking area, and other features. Significant levels of involvement in the direction of this project have been gleaned by residents (including the youth served by the community garden site, as well as Hartford Youth Service Corps participants already working on-site), as well as volunteers and others. In addition, KPSP has helped to redevelop a significant portion of the trails within Keney Park, including three years of managing a State-funded trails project. During the summer, the KPSP youth program participates in environmental justice classes, workshops and demonstrations as well as trail cleanups, pond cleaning and removal of invasive species. KPSP also hosts and average of 400 volunteers a year to support multiple activities throught the community. GOALS • Develop programs for low-income families that offer tips on preparing nutritional meals and ways to access healthy food. • To support the development and sustainability of community-based food systems, i.e., farmers markets, community gardens, school-based gardening, agricultural projects and home gardens. • To educate families about the impact of the environment on mental, physical and spiritual health by practicing sustainable techniques that promote a healthy symbiotic relationship between us and our environment. Specific objectives for 2018: • Creating an onsite and mobile teaching kitchen to increase nutrition education and healthy food access for low income families. • Expansion of the the KPSP forest management program to the new Keney Park wood materials materials management site. This would enable the wood resource upcycling program to transition from an all-volunteer effort to establishing paid employment opportunities. • Creating an outdoor amphitheater overlooking Keney Park's Gully Brook. The amphitheater will be a space for teaching environmental education and stewardship to schools, community-based organizations and community groups. FUNDRAISING EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES KPSP Annual Golf Tournament (2018) Keney Park Family Day Festival (2018) GIVING OPPORTUNITIES Secure donations may be made directly on our website towards specific program objectives or general operations. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Please visit our website for volunteer opportunities. You may also contact us directly at keneyparksustainability@ gmail.com or 860-333-8711. Vice President Charles Christie Travelers Insurance Group/ Information Systems Treasurer Nyandah Robinson The Harvesters Financial Consultation Services Secretary Frances Jonson Fuss & O'Neill Engineering Consultant Firm Youth Board Member Zariah Alers Youth Board Member Pedro Grajales Youth Board Member Xavier Grant Founder/Director Herbert Virgo Sustainaculture LLC President Victoria Christie Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur Keney Park Sustainability Project 183 Windsor Ave. (Keney Park), Windsor, CT 06095 | 860-333-8711 | www.keneyparksustainability.org OUR MISSION: To provide hands-on training, on-site demonstrations, education outreach and community collaborations that help families become more self-sustainable and environmentally conscious, while preserving the historic Keney Park. BOARD OF DIRECTORS I have spent the past three summers working or volunteering at KPSP (Keney Park Sustainability Project). When I think about what I have learned, I think about the power of nature. I think about how creating your own piece of heaven can transform your life and the lives of others who experience it. – Shamar Martin Springfield College Class of 2020 Brett Browchuck constructing the Cigna-sponsored aquaponics at the Keney Park Urban Agriculture Education site, Cigna's TECDP planting vegetables in one of KPSP's greenhouses, Summer Youth Employment participants constructing rain gardens at the Keney Park House. (Far right) Herb Virgo processing milled lumber with Summer Youth Employment participants.