Green City Force

OUR ASK: Help us build a "future green city" rooted in environmental, economic, and racial justice by supporting us from November 14th through December 31st! Give today and share this link with your community to help us grow our impact. Thank you for your support and solidarity this giving season! 

OUR MISSION: We train young leaders to power a green and inclusive economy, through service. Our model service corps in New York City enlists and trains young people from low-income housing communities for a new and more equitable economy. We equip them with the tools to change the trajectory of their lives and access good jobs. Corps Members develop a passion for sustainability and service through driving large-scale environmental and health initiatives in public housing and other frontline communities. We design service as a path to greater well-being and means to enlist young people to become contributors and leaders in the movement to build a greener, fairer and more just world. Graduates go on to jobs or college, directly or through alumni initiatives that build towards sectoral jobs and apprenticeships, via social enterprise contracts or advanced training developed with employers. Our network of alumni, partners and supporters constitutes a growing ecosystem anchored in our corps.

OUR HISTORY: Since our start in 2009, Green City Force has engaged over 1,000 young adults from underinvested and disadvantaged communities in environmental service and workforce training at 6 GCF Eco-Hubs, large-scale community spaces in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) anchored by urban farms that are home to our Service Corps' closed-loop projects. Our Corps Members have reached thousands of residents and visitors through outreach and education focused on energy efficiency, solar energy, agriculture, nutrition, water, recycling and compost; together, they have distributed over 171,000 lbs. of fresh produce to residents at no cost in exchange for compostable food scraps or volunteering, diverted over 187,000 lbs. of compostable organic waste, and completed thousands of health, safety and energy audits across NYCHA.

Over 200 GCF graduates have been hired in our Social Enterprise, sharpening their skills while earning a livable wage and leading community engagement around urban forestry projects; NYCHA's multi-year energy audit, HVAC and retrofit initiatives; and composting in partnership with graduate-led Compost Power. Within six months of Service Corps program completion at least 80% of graduates secure jobs, earning on average $19.33/hr. one-year post-graduation, $21+/hr. following promotions or new jobs, and $20 - $25/hr. across alumni hired in our Social Enterprise.  Our work is rooted in the frontline communities like NYCHA where young adult unemployment was at 72% prior to COVID-19 and where health and well-being discrepancies are acute.

The resources uplifting our young adult leaders are made possible by the generous support of our growing community. We need your investment to help us grow our impact and continue to provide a platform for our members and alumni as they transform their communities and their own futures. Together, We are a movement. We are the Force.

Who We Are

Green City Force’s (GCF) mission is to break the cycle of poverty, preparing young adults who live in public housing to succeed in their chosen careers by engaging them in service, training and work experiences related to the green economy.

In doing so, GCF encourages them to lead socially and environmentally responsible lives. We are working towards a “green city” built on principles of sustainability, social, economic and environmental justice.