Teen Summer Intensive
This multidisciplinary creative workshop invites young people to explore environmental justice through art, movement, storytelling, and community engagement. Grounded in the question “What if nature had legal rights?” participants engaged directly with the Harlem River through movement practices, writing, history, and dialogue.
Co-facilitated with Aleta Brown, the workshop encouraged young people to imagine the river as a living being with its own needs and narrative. Throughout the week, participants explored the Rights of Nature movement and collaboratively developed a Bill of Rights for the Harlem River, centering care, stewardship, and collective imagination
Special guests included Randall’s Island Park Alliance and South Bronx Unite, who shared their knowledge and connections to local environmental and community work.
Director | Alethea Pace
Co-Facilitator | Aleta Brown
Videographer | Marquis Bradshaw
Location | Storyland Bronx and Mill Pond Park
Youth Participants | Jovan Cortes, Noelle Dozier, Jabia Haque, Savannah Lee, Anthonella Malla, Yomisell Martinez, Lilah Ramoutar, Jamila Rojas, Sabriha Safa, Marley Sancho, Zaharat Simra & Jamone Small
This event was conducted as part of the Harlem River Artist in Residence program, which is supported by the Harlem River Coalition, Bronx Council for Environmental Quality, and the Bronx Council for the Arts.
City of Water Day is a region-wide day of free, family-friendly events organized by Waterfront Alliance and New York–New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP). Dozens of communities across all five boroughs, Westchester and Rockland counties, and New Jersey host events on and near the water that celebrate the importance of a resilient and equitably shared waterfront.