Public Employee Press

Profile in Public Service
Painting Harlem green

By JANE LaTOUR

A CALL TO HER LANDLORD, the New York City Housing Authority, with a simple request for recycling bins set Secretary IV Cheryl Minor on a course of environmental activism and community organizing.

Now, she works with a dedicated team of community activists on projects like planting tulip bulbs that will bloom in the spring, building guards to protect the trees and reclaiming the playgrounds at NYCHA's Frederick Samuel Apartments, where she lives.

Padlocks now keep drug dealers - and everyone - from the play areas of the 40 Harlem buildings on Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard from 139th
Street to 147th Street. "When you lock playgrounds, the drug dealers win.

Our vision is to create open spaces with gardens," Minor said. As she explored a recycling program, Minor tapped into the "green agenda" program run by the housing agency's environmental coordinator, former City Council member Margarita Lopez. Lopez brought her background in grassroots organizing to the job, and Minor brought the skills she learned as a 25-year activist in Local 1549 to her new passion.

Lopez met with Minor and others interested in becoming green activists, and the agency now has 37 green committees. Every activist is armed with the user friendly "Green Guide: The Power is in Your Hands" manual of tips on protecting the environment and saving energy.

"We want to set up a model program," said Minor. "We have started what we call our door-knocking campaign, speaking to residents one-on-one. Our goal is to get at least one person involved from every building. We are out doing things in the community. It's not enough to tell people - you have to show them and be visible."

Minor's head is filled with dreams for the future that involve raised planting beds, recycling bins and of course, open playgrounds abuzz with an intergenerational mix of visitors. Her group is writing a grant proposal to fund the projects they envision.

For more information about the Uptown Harlem Resident Green Committee, contact Cheryl Minor at 646-823-9797 or e-mail her at uptownharlemrgc@gmail.com