New York Harbour School- educating and empowering youth while saving the environment!
An educational adventure. A New York City public school that has upped the graduation rate from 22% to 75% in four years. Oysters.
The Urban Assembly New York Harbour School is the brainchild of Murray Fisher, a friend who is passionate about saving the environment and empowering youth. The Harbour School is a NYC public high school on Governor's Island, NY where the goal is that each of the 400 students graduate with an acceptance letter to a four year college and a certificate in the marine technical field. Murray, spending his summers on the water, saw an opportunity to bolster inner city kids educational curiosity, commitment and joy by creating a maritime high school in a broken public school system. Many of these inner city kids in the Bronx and surrounding areas had no idea they were living surrounded by water. By giving these kids the opportunity to know and love the water as he had growing up, Murray saw the chance to inspire our nation's youth by giving them real responsibility. Aside from getting an education, their task is to play a part in rehabilitating the New York Harbour, one of the nation's most significant waterways that used to teem with sea life. Through tackling these goals, the self worth of Harbour School students is fortified.
Through a partnership with the Fishers Island Oyster Farm which produces the "freshest oysters" according to the New York Times, the students volunteer during off school hours to repopulate the NY Harbour with oyster beds which were indiginous to the the waters before pollution took over. One adult oyster can filter 30 gallons of water a day. NY Harbour School has set the goal of growing 1 billion oysters in NY Harbour by the year 2030. They are well on their way with a dedicated staff and students.
We're in awe of what Murray has created and continues to build. Consider making a tax deductible donation or volunteer your time!
