The GELL Project
Our much larger garden effort is the Gell Project, a Green Roof Environmental Literacy Laboratory for the roof on PS41. Due to the success of our current garden program, in 2006 we looked to our unutilized 20,000ft roof top and saw a tremendous opportunity to greatly expand on what we had already accomplished. Teaming up with Jonathan Rose Companies a leading “green” project management company , Murphy, Burnham & Buttrick Architects, and closely working with DOE School Construction Authority and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, we have developed a proposal slated for construction in the summer of 2009. Once completed, it will be an environmentally efficient roof that is also a learning center and wildlife habitat. This new observation/learning center will give students to opportunity to study new environmental technologies that they will need to help reverse the substantial degradation that is happening to the earth, while reducing PS41’s carbon foot print in our community.
Futurehood Fundraiser for GELL
Futurehood is a Greenwich Village community gathering, the first of which occured on Saturday October 4th, 2008. The event was held all day in the school yard of PS41, located on the corner of Charles St. and Greenwich Ave., with live music, fun and games accompanying conversations and presentations.
Futurehood will benefit PS41’s Greenroof Environmental Literacy Laboratory as well as other environmental and educational initiatives. Inspired by PS41 K-5th grade students’ artistic depictions of the future, Futurehood will expand on the GELL initiative, focusing on the role of innovation in the future of education. What are we, as leaders, entrepreneurs, and citizens, teaching our children outside of school throughout the community? What will you do in twenty years? Imagine Greenwich Village 2028.
We encourage local participation at all levels and strive to view education as a community effort. Click here to see how you can be a part of Futurehood or visit our village community board for updates. The full press kit is here in PDF format.
Giant Cookie & Milk Fundraiser for GELL
On June 22, 2008 we held a “Giant Cookie & Milk” fundraiser for GELL in Union Square Park and it was a huge success!
Many, many thanks to Immaculate Baking Company, Organic Valley & Whole Foods Market for hosting this event and their continued support for GELL and PS41 as well as the parent volunteers that helped make it happen!
If you can help make a donation to support this project please email gell@ps41.org
In the Press
Watch the segment CBS News did on us and read more about GELL in The Villager.
For more information, please contact Vicki Sando.
Courtesy of Garden City Roofs