The second round of the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center’s (SU-EFC) GREEN-PR Program concluded with a graduation ceremony held at the Hacienda Mi Remanso in Caguas, Puerto Rico on October 1, 2016. During the event, GREEN-PR Stewards, Hub Coordinators and mini-grant recipients presented their work on environmental education projects implemented under the program in the last year.
The graduation was facilitated by Stephanie Anderson, Lisa Ruggero, and Kaira Fuentes of the SU-EFC. Welcoming remarks were provided by Carmen Guerrero, EPA Region 2 Executive Director in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, Grisell Díaz-Cotto of the EPA, and Weldin Ortiz Franco, President and Executive Director of the Environmental Quality Board. Following the remarks, the graduating Stewards took the stage to present their achievements. Stewards’ projects, which focused on sustainable materials management and green infrastructure education in schools, included the creation of groves, school gardens, and composting systems, as well as organized events such as litter cleanups. One notable achievement was a Steward’s work to establish a grove, school garden, and environmental club at the Julia Cordero Negrón School in Ponce, which ultimately helped prevent its closure by the PR Department of Education.
This year’s GREEN-PR mini-grant recipients also presented what they achieved with their projects, including creation of hydroponic and aquaponic systems, education in colleges about the reduction of plastic bottles, composting education projects, and improvements to school grounds and buildings through green infrastructure.
After the project presentations, in what was an emotional moment for the group, facilitators recognized Stewards and Hub Coordinators with a certificate and a unique plant symbolizing a unique quality that person brought to the group. For example, Israel Rivera Guzmán, from UPR Ponce, was given a pumpkin plant for being someone who would adapt and grow almost anywhere, and Iris Olán Pabón, from the University of Sagrado Corazón, was given the medicinal plant malagueta (allspice) for her helpfulness and commitment. To conclude the ceremony, Gypsy Córdova, President of the Vieques Municipal Assembly, offered a brief message on the connection between nature, internal peace, and environmental education.
After the project presentations, in what was an emotional moment for the group, facilitators recognized Stewards and Hub Coordinators with a certificate and a unique plant symbolizing a unique quality that person brought to the group. For example, Israel Rivera Guzmán, from UPR Ponce, was given a pumpkin plant for being someone who would adapt and grow almost anywhere, and Iris Olán Pabón, from the University of Sagrado Corazón, was given the medicinal plant malagueta (allspice) for her helpfulness and commitment. To conclude the ceremony, Gypsy Córdova, President of the Vieques Municipal Assembly, offered a brief message on the connection between nature, internal peace, and environmental education.
After the graduation, the group gathered and ate lunch with a view of the mountains that surround the Hacienda. For the remainder of the afternoon, the Stewards socialized with the rest of the GREEN-PR network as the group enjoyed a guided tour of the natural areas and historical memorabilia at the center, as well as hiking and swimming in the river.
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