South Bronx Unite: Eco-Friendly Movement for Residents

Introduction

South Bronx Unite (SBU) is a community-based organization that started in 2012. Its members include South Bronx's residents and different institutions in the region. The company's founders first worked together in the movement against the Major Deegan Expressway. After they won the fight in 2009, it encouraged them to form a coalition (South Bronx Unite). They became motivated to create an eco-friendly surrounding for the residents. SBU focuses on conducting its social-economic activities in South Bronx. Its aim is to come up with techniques that will promote the future success of South Bronx. The company deals with problems surrounding the social, economic and environmental aspects of the area. It is important to note that an incident about public land grabbing triggered the establishment of the organization. The New York State Department ordered the reallocation of a grocery delivery company to the Harlem River yard. The contract allowed the firm to operate in the area for 99 years. Citizens were against the government's action since it would increase the level of pollution in the area. It was also a public property hence shouldn't provide space for a private firm. South Bronx Unite fought against the land issue which led to the restoration of the public piece of land. The success of the first project motivated the movement to continue helping the community. The organization created the bike share initiative which reduced the level of global warming in the region. It is because a smaller number of bikes on the road reduces the amount of toxic chemicals released in the air. SBU supported climate coalition programs which created a platform for people to exchange ideas and concepts on environmental conservation. The organization went ahead to create a space where non-profit organizations can meet and discuss their issues and future plans. The group believes that the eradication of the social and economic issues will improve the lives of South Bronx residents (Families for freedom). South Bronx Unite made collaborations with non-profit organizations such as Friends of Brook Park in 2015. It led to the contribution of funds which will enhance the growth and development of South Bronx. South Bronx Unite is a group of citizens with the aim of making changes concerning environmental and social injustices in South Bronx.

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SBU is made up of more than 50 organizations that help the coalition since they generate more ideas and financial support. The institutions coordinate with each other to fight against environmental and social issues (350 Brooklyn). They focus on providing solutions in areas such as Melrose and Mott Haven. It creates a sense of diversity since they generate concepts and ideas from different perspectives. A large percentage of the financial contributions come from an organization called Friends of Brook Park (FBP). It is one of the most committed institutions in providing funds to help in fulfilling SBU's mission. FBP focuses on the issues of unemployment and poverty in the region. They educate the young people on how to deal with different forms of social injustice in the community. FBP provides financial assistance to SBU since they are both movements that are against social injustice. The establishment of SBU was after the uprise of the Occupy Wall Street Movement within NYC. The inspiration behind the organization's model was the Occupy Wall Street Movement. The model is horizontal whereby the projects engage more the people who are often free and the individuals together with society-based firms are interconnected around the projects. The movement uses social media to communicate more quickly. For example, the SBU managed to pull a crowd to confront Mayor Bill De Blasio when he visited a restaurant within the local neighbourhood and at the moment they are advocating for the community to obtain Lincoln Recovery Center. The SBU doesn't have a formal organizational structure and relies on a flexible system inspired by the grassroots movements hence described as a communal leadership. Despite this form of structure, the SBU has a group of individuals who guide their operations and ensure their objectives are not neglected. There are various complains that the movement is not transparent enough. For instance, SBU holds a meeting once a month that is open to other people but the date when the scheduled meeting does not appear in on their website. The SBU movement resolves their issues through a consensus approach, the members meet once in a while and depend a lot on e-mail and text modes of communication to keep members updated.

SBU organization has goals with both short and long timelines. SBU has the intention of protecting the waterfront of the region. It is a move which will promote the eco-system and the health status of the residents. In the long term, SBU aims at encouraging the participation of community members in environment conservation. Their mission is to generate solutions that will make the region to be free from pollution. SBU has the vision of creating job opportunities for all local residents. It illustrates that SBU has the intention of expanding their techniques to help in human development.

SBU's members stated that it does not operate under an organizational structure and claim that the movement undergoes characterization more as an individual network. The individuals claim that the leadership of SBU is neither centered nor is it scattered (Evans, King Masters 89-103). A small group of people generate decisions hence it isn't considered as an organization structured in a formal manner. Nevertheless, the majority of the individuals state that FBP leadership structure relies on volunteers' feedback and participation showing characteristics of an anarchist structure. The anarchist model exhibits a more fluid and networked structure compared to the traditional non-profit models. This implies that the traditional approach does not offer an optimal method to obtain collective work. The structure offers a different approach to the organizational structure described to be democratic but works. The SBU is capable of mobilizing enough people within a short period of time and ensure planned events are executed in an efficient manner. Also, they enable the connection between interested parties who are interested in improving the welfare of the community. The organizational structure presents an original system that addresses the problems more effectively and at the right time. The core of the movement makes quick mobilization to be possible since it demands the attention of various organization when they are needed. The organization provides a network of companies which differ in interest and opinions to promote the economic and social future of South Bronx. It adapted the technique of mobilization which enhances the development of solutions against injustices. It is different from other movements such as Ocupy Wall Street which uses the collective leadership technique. SBU's strategy reduces the responsibilities of the institutions found in the movement. The idea of mobility allows the organization's members to engage with different people in the community.

SBU implemented a waterfront project which resulted to the creation of spaces near Mott Haven river. The plan known as Mott Haven-Port Morris allowed citizens to walk and take part in sporty activities near the inaccessible river. It provides people with open spaces where they can interact and share ideas with each other. It illustrates that SBU is encouraging sense of unity which will promote the eradication of social injustices such as inequality due to race. It is a program which is promoting the fight against environmental injustice and protects residents from diseases such as Asthma. It is because it discourages the building of industries around large water bodies since it accelerates pollution. It is an initiative which will protect the future of people living in South Bronx (Mass Incarceration 763). The project is taking part in the completion of the Vision 2020 NYC Comprehension Plan. The SBU's action shows that the organization has the intention of dealing with the issue of pollution and protecting the water front in the region.

It is highly expected that SBU will met both its short-term and long-terms goals in the future. It is because the organization embraced the idea of diversity which encourages unity among different social groups in the community (Communities United for Police Reform). It will promote human development since people will work together in socio-economic activities. Over the years, the number of companies included in SBU increased to 50. The increase in the number of people that embrace SBU's concept will promote positive changes in the socio-economic world. The organization encourages peace and unity among people which reduces cases of social injustice in the area. SBU has effective techniques and strategies such as social media platforms that are in the fore front fighting social, environmental and economic issues. The organization implements its goals to its techniques which facilitates effective solutions such as eradicating industrial activities near water bodies.

Work Cited

"South Bronx Unite." Accessed 15 April 2019. Web. http://southbronxunite.org/.

"Families for Freedom." Accessed 15 April 2019. Web. https://familiesforfreedom.org/.

"350 Brooklyn." Accessed 15 April 2019. Web. https://350brooklyn.org/.

"Queens Anti-Gentrification Project." Accessed 15 April 2019. Web. https://queensantigentrification.org/.

"Communities United for Police Reform." Accessed 15 April 2019. Web. https://www.changethenypd.org/Mass Incarceration." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History, edited by Thomas Riggs, 2nd ed., vol. 2, Gale, 2015, pp. 763-765. Gale Virtual Reference Library, http://link.galegroup.com.rpa.laguardia.edu:2048/apps/doc/CX3611000520/GVRL?u=cuny_laguardia&sid=GVRL&xid=bb0f1284. Accessed 14 Apr. 2019.

Evans, Kim Masters. "Renewable Energy." Energy: Supplies, Sustainability, and Costs, 2015 ed., Gale, 2015, pp. 89-103. Information Plus Reference Series. Gale Virtual Reference Library,http://link.galegroup.com.rpa.laguardia.edu:2048/apps/doc/CX3624600012/GVRL?u=cuny_laguardia&sid=GVRL&xid=6a24aaa0. Accessed 14 Apr. 2019.