Choosing to Participate:
A Social Justice Service Project on Sustainability

Today was the day of learning! I think that my workshop went really well although, it started off a little rocky because I forgot some information that I was going to present. The 5th and 6th graders seemed like they had fun, and were very creative with the project. Cole, one of the 6th grader in the group, came up with the idea of using a sun dial, instead of a clock that ran on batteries, which I thought was very creative. I wouldn’t have thought of that at all. I think that it was a good idea that I made a model of a green room, because a few of the 5th graders didn’t really know what a green room or sustainable room was until today. So that was very helpful, and got them working right away and coming up with great ideas. My groups members and I were prepared, and I think that everyone felt pretty confident. Everything went well, and I hope that the 5th and 6th graders in the group think so as well! Overall, I enjoyed today, and hope that the 5th and 6th graders will remember this day, and the ideas that they came up with to carry on for the rest of their lives.

Today Robbie and I went to the Center for Architecture Foundation for about 2 hours. This was our last meet with our coordinator, Grace Huang. I got to the center around 9:45, and Robbie had gotten there around 9:30. We helped set up the tables and put out some of the supplies, before the families started to arrive. At this session we didn’t really get a chance to learn too much about green architecture, but we met Mr. Bleecker, whose name was taken as a name of a street, Bleecker street. After we listened to what he presented to us about his job as a photographer, one of the architects gave us a short introduction on what we were going to do for the session. We were going to walk around Bleecker street, and look at the architecture around us. Then, we had to find different details in the buildings, and draw them. I didn’t like this activity too much, but I think it was more for the little kids in the group. After about a half an hour outside, we went back to the center and made pop-up buildings, drew designs, and pasted different shapes onto the buildings that were popping out. Although their were only 4 families at the family day, and Robbie and I were the only people from LREI who went to the session, I had a lot of fun and learned that Bleecker street is actually named after someone! It was a little sad that that was the last session, but I felt that I learned a lot over all, and would want to continue to learn about green architecture in the future.

Today I went to interview Grace Huang with Ella, Calen, Niles, Manny, and Robbie. The interview lasted a little longer than an hour. Ella and I got there a little before 3:30, the time we were supposed to meet. We talked a little about Grace’s interest in art and teaching, which lead to our conversation about her job at the Center for Architecture. We changed the subject a few times here and there, but it all lead to green architecture and her job that she has at the center. I had fun getting to know Grace a little more, although we had a few technical difficulties getting the recorder to work. I learned that Grace was more into art and teaching than architecture, but the job as a teacher became available, and the more time she spent learning about architecture, the more she fell in love with it. Grace answered each of our questions thoughtfully and asked for a clarification If something seemed confusing. She seemed calm and relaxed, but also excited I think because we were so interesting in what she was doing and green architecture. Green architecture is also very important, so getting young people like us interesting in helping to slow down and hopefully stop global warming is very important. Overall, I think that everything went very well and I learned a lot about Grace, and a little more about green architecture.

Today, Ella, Brianna, Amy, Lilly, Cameron, Jack G, Henry, Emma, Maya PH, Aliza, and I met during recess to learn about the sustainability project that will be starting soon. This project is a City Arts Project that will be directed by Paul, an Indian from New Orleans. We will be painting a door that will be given to New Orleans that has messages of hope on it. We will also be including some things about the earth, and ways of saving it. I think I did well by listening to what Paul and the director of City Arts had to say. We didn’t do too much except learn about the arts in New Orleans, and watch a short video of some Mardi Gras dances, but we also had a few minutes at the very end to come up with a drawing of what we might like to paint on the door. I felt very proud of what I came up with, although it is still a work in progress, and I only had three or four minutes. I hope that the more we have to get together and come up with ideas, the more I can get into this project. I was surprised by how much of our music and arts, comes from New Orleans. I’m not sure what my life would be like without Louis Armstrong’s solos, or the Mardi Gras celebrations! I was interested in what other City Arts sustainability projects were being planned, I think that art is one of the best ways to get something across, especially if kids are the ones doing it, because I think people are amazed by what such young people can accomplish. I hope that for the next session I will be able to finish my idea for the door’s design. I enjoyed the first session, especially since I love art, and I can’t wait until the next one if I decide to continue this project.

Today, Sasha and I sold an estimated amount of 50 bags of popcorn, for a dollar each. We sold out pretty quickly, and a few people, including myself donated money to the cause. The last time Sasha was selling baked goods, it took longer than an hour to sell, but this went really well, because it sold out quickly, and people seemed interesting in what she was selling and they wanted to help out. I think I did pretty well, I got people who passed by to stop and take a look at what Sasha was selling and what it was for. Some people stopped to ask further questions on what selling popcorn was for, but most of the kids, just came to buy popcorn. This was just to help out, I’m not planning to do anything for the day of learning on this, but I had fun selling popcorn with Sasha, and I hope that I can help her the next time she decides to do a bake sell again! 

I went to the Center for Architecture Foundation today with Ella, Amy, Niles, Calen, and Manny. Due to subway changes because of construction, I was about half an hour late. I hope that this doesn’t happen again, and I have learned to leave myself extra time, incase something like this does happen. Today we watched a PowerPoint Grace had put together about the different buildings that were built in China, mostly the ones in Shanghai, which had been built inthe city. We observed and talked about the different shapes that were part of the buildings, the materials, and where they were located. She didn’t mention whether or not they were “green” buildings, but I was amazed alone by the why they were shaped, and designed. When we first got there, we helped the families make nametags, hang up their coats, and settle in. Then we helped out Grace, our coordinator, with anything that needed to be done, or anything that had to be set up at the last minute. The families started off with a simple project of building the tallest tower possible, with newspaper and tape, in two minutes. With a minute or two extra at the end to go around the room and talk about the construction, and what eachgroup thought about before building. After, we all cleaned up and started the next project. This time, we were to build another building, but with recycled materials, tape, foam core, and wire, to build skyscrapers. I noticed families helping one another, sharing materials, and giving each other different ideas. After watching the families build and construct their skyscrapers, I started to get more and more interested in designing “green” buildings such as skyscrapers. I remembered from the last session having time to build a building with my whole group, and I thought it was really interesting what each person thought, and what to put where. I’ve always really been interested in architecture, and I think it would be great to do something like this myself, and with other people. This is the type of activity that was not only fun, but it taught me that architects don’t just design buildings because they are told to, but they think about the buildings’ surroundings, and those who will be in them. It also amazed me how much Grace and the other architects wanted the families and our group to learn about green buildings to not only help create a better place to live, but a healthier one too. Every step it took to think about the different pieces that would go into the buildings from solar panels to accessible public transportation wasn’t just a random idea, but it was talked about and thought out. Overall I had agreat time today helping out and learning about building skyscrapers and more thought that goes into the process. I hope that I can keep learning about different types of eco-friendly construction that is being built and designed all around the world. I have posted a few pictures from today. 

In my sustainability group, we had a chance to tour the Center for Architecture Foundation’s museum and learn about green buildings such as the Bank of America Tower located at One Bryant Park. I was in a group with Ella, Calen, Niles, Jack G., Manny, and Henry. We learned about what architects have to think about when designing green buildings, like eco friendly transportation, not cutting down trees, but re-using materials, and enhancing indoor environmental quality. After our tour around the small, but very informative museum, we got together to talk about how we would help the kids coming in with their families to build and design their own green buildings. Recycled materials were used to create the buildings, and our goal was to create the least amount of garbage as possible. I was a little nervous at first since I didn’t really know what I was doing, and because it was my first time, but after I started walking around to the different tables, I got the hang of it, and ended up having a great time. We went around asking the families what their houses were, how different things they added were “green”. Most of the families knew what they were doing, but a few were stuck or didn’t know where or how to start. I think I did well going around to different families, asking if I could help, adding suggestions to make their buildings more “green”, etc. Overall I had a great time helping out, and I learned a lot about green buildings and architecture. I felt accomplished after this session, and I can’t wait till next month’s session. I hope that my other group members feel the same! For the next time I meet with my group, I hope to learn even more about eco-friendly buildings, and get more chances to experiment with my own. I would like to keep in mind what goes in to making a “green” building, so on the Day of Learning, other people who weren’t in my group will have a chance to find out information on what aspects are thought out to construct an eco-friendly building.