Green Teens

Iris R. Nunez, age 16 – Easing the “Pain” of Pollution
Murry Bergtraum High School
Manhattan

“Planting trees is one of the most beneficial, wonderful and cost-effective ways to ease the pain of pollution, ozone depletion and urban blight. With these trees, we are cleaning our air, beautifying our environment, and reducing the pollution that is bad for our bodies.”


Daniell Martinez, age 16 – “It’s Up to Us, New York!”
High School for Health Profession and Human Services
Manhattan

“I will try my best to help Mayor Bloomberg implement his initiative to plant one million trees by 2017… If everyone in New York planted at least one tree, Mayor Bloomberg’s plan will be a success. It’s up to us New York!”

Nedine Dobson, age 17 – A “Melting Pot of Beautiful People” with Beautiful Trees
Clara Barton High School
Brooklyn

“Each school district should be responsible for involving each school in the district to embark on a go green project. The project will require groups of students to be responsible for the design of areas in their school district to plant trees… this initiative promises to make New York, with its melting pot of beautiful people, a garden of beautiful trees.”


Eric Murray Datcher, age 16
Bushwick High School for Social Justice
Brooklyn

“The key to the Mayor’s plan is involving the youth of New York City. There are young people throughout the city who are simply waiting for an opportunity to make a major change. The Million Trees project could be that change to unite the youth in a positive project… I believe I can use my strong voice to gather more students, young people, and community members to beautify more places throughout New York City.”

Oytun Tangul, age 18
New York University
Manhattan

“I believe that I, and any other teenager, can help Mayor Bloomberg to achieve his goal by volunteering to help plant trees. I can help serve my community and my future by doing this. This project can actually be fun. I will get to meet new friends. I can tell my current friends about it and we can all plan to help our society together. By volunteering to plant trees, not only will I be helping Mayor Bloomberg to put his initiative into effect, but I will also be helping myself by choosing to do something rewarding and supportive for my future and the future of my potential children.”

Jamel Irby-Shabazz, age 12
Park Place Middle School
Brooklyn

“Every month we will get teens to sign up as a special citizenship program with the NYC Parks Department to help plant trees. Teens will then make a difference in their community and experience something positive in their community. The teens will also be able to place their family name on the trees… I also believe that a million trees will equal a million healthy breaths. A million healthy breaths can help a brain learn and be more conscious about the environment in which we live.”