Trust for Governors Island

The Trust for Governors Island's 2025 Climate Solutions Challenge is accepting applications through December 5! Through this opportunity, the Trust offers startups and young companies the space to test innovative and equitable climate tech solutions across Governors Island’s built, social, and natural environments. This year’s challenge seeks solutions exploring how circular economy products drive down the climate impact of the urban waste stream and extend resource recovery to our businesses and neighborhoods. Innovation tracks include low-carbon and circular construction products, services that reduce demolition waste by extending the useful life of existing systems, measurement tools that accelerate landfill diversion, and more. Learn more and apply by the December 5 deadline at govisland.org/challenge.

The 2025 Climate Solutions Challenge is LIVE! Through this opportunity, the Trust offers startups and young companies the space to test innovative and equitable climate tech solutions across Governors Island’s built, social, and natural environments that work to alleviate the impacts of climate change. Our city’s solid waste stream increases greenhouse gas emissions across its life cycle and disproportionately impacts environmental justice communities. A shift to a more circular economy that reuses materials and reduces waste is key to achieving an equitable, net-zero city. This year’s challenge seeks solutions exploring how circular economy products drive down the climate impact of the urban waste stream and extend resource recovery to our businesses and neighborhoods. Innovation tracks include low-carbon and circular construction products, services that reduce demolition waste by extending the useful life of existing systems, measurement tools that accelerate landfill diversion, and more. Learn more and apply by the December 5 deadline at govisland.org/challenge, and explore all of our current piloting projects at govisland.org/climate. Governors Island Climate pro­grams are made pos­si­ble with the gen­er­ous sup­port of Amazon, Con Edison, Deutsche Bank, the Don­ald A. Pels Char­i­ta­ble Trust, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and The New York Community Trust. #circulareconomy #climatetech #netzero #reuse

We want to extend a sincere thank you to all who joined us at the Governors Island Gala on October 8. It was a ✨ luminous✨ celebration featuring great company, impeccable vibes, delicious food–including freshly shucked oysters, of course–and mesmerizing Island projections adorning the walls of the Hall des Lumières. We are honored to have celebrated three visionary champions of Governors Island: First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Charles Gaines, and Andy Darrell. Their impact on the Island’s growth and transformation over the past two decades has helped transform it into the vibrant public resource it is today. Our deepest gratitude goes to all that supported and enjoyed this unforgettable event. Your generosity keeps Governors Island a beautiful, sustainable, and treasured resource for New Yorkers. The Friends of Governors Island 📸: Sean Jamar & Radhika Chalasani

⚡️Don’t Miss Our Panel on Community Centered Climate Adaptation Solutions at the Urban Future Summit 2024: https://lu.ma/p0parlfi ⚡️ 📣 For the 8th annual Urban Future Summit on October 24, 2024 at Dock 72, we're spotlighting climate adaptation and resilience with the new Future Resilience Prize, aiming to drive investment in solutions that have a positive impact on communities vulnerable to climate change. In this panel on community-centered climate adaptation solutions, we aim to explore the vital intersection of climate adaptation, social justice, and economic equality. The discussion will address several key questions, including: 🔵 How does climate adaptation intersect with issues of social justice and economic equality? 🔵 How can founders and community leaders in Low Income and Disadvantaged Communities (LIDACs) work together effectively to build and accelerate climate adaptation solutions? 🔵 What is "innovation" to a community that has already been adapting to climate change? 🔵 How does policy play a role in climate adaptation? 🔵 What are the pros and cons of entrusting major adaptation challenges to startups? 🌟 Moderator: ▪ Lauren Wang, Director of Climate Programs at Trust for Governors Island, leads innovative urban climate solutions and climate education programs. She also collaborates with the NYC Climate Justice Hub and teaches at The City College of New York. 🚀 Panelists: ▪ Daniel Chu, Senior Energy Planner at New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, advocates for energy democracy and a just transition, working on campaigns to phase out peaker power plants and develop community-owned energy infrastructure. ▪ Erika Jozwiak, Climate Resiliency Lead at NYSERDA, works across internal teams and state agencies to incorporate climate resiliency into programs and projects, develop forward-looking guidance and design criteria to incorporate climate mitigation measures, and steer state-wide resiliency planning efforts such as the NYS Extreme Heat Action Plan.  ▪ Sahara James, Senior Sustainability Consultant at Kinetic Communities Consulting (KC3) Communities Consulting, spearheads equitable decarbonization and workforce development in Queens and Staten Island, ensuring sustainable investments are accessible and impactful. ▪ Tyler Taba, WEDG, Director of Resilience at Waterfront Alliance, drives climate policy development and coordinates the Rise to Resilience Coalition to address the impacts of climate change on waterfront communities. The New York Community Trust MUFG Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas) NYU Tandon School of Engineering

We're thrilled to share some exciting news: effective November 1, 2024, The Friends of Governors Island will become the Governors Island Foundation. For more than 20 years, the Friends of Governors Island (formerly Governors Island Alliance) has been instrumental in advocating for and nurturing the Island’s growth as a cherished public destination for New Yorkers. As we con­tin­ue to ful­fill our mis­sion and work towards real­iz­ing the Island’s full poten­tial, we have set ambi­tious goals to: ✔️ Enhance our park ✔️ Expand our arts and cul­ture pro­grams ✔️ Estab­lish a pre­mier cen­ter for research and edu­ca­tion on cli­mate change ✔️ Advance projects that boost vis­i­tor ameni­ties and his­toric preser­va­tion As the ded­i­cat­ed fundrais­ing part­ner to the Trust for Governors Island, the Gov­er­nors Island Foun­da­tion will sup­port these goals by focus­ing on secur­ing phil­an­thropic sup­port to fur­ther strength­en the Island as a vibrant resource for all New York­ers. Under this new struc­ture, we'll work more close­ly than ever to sus­tain our mis­sion and programs. We’re enthusiastic about this new chapter that will support the continued efforts in stewarding one of New York City’s most treasured spaces. Read the full announcement at https://lnkd.in/eeFy4__R

We are excited to partner with itselectric to level up Governors Island's sustainability efforts! Their compact, curb­side vehi­cle charg­ing tech­nol­o­gy will allow us to move towards a zero-emis­sions fleet of oper­a­tions vehi­cles while providing a mod­el for low-impact curb­side charg­ing in cities around the world. Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/exhr63zm

Applications are now open for the 2025 Spring Independent Project Residency program March 1–May 17, 2025. Spend eleven weeks living and working in a collaborative environment at the historic Block House in the midst of New York Harbor. Emerging and mid-career practitioners working across disciplines and committed to exploring topics related to the public realm are invited to apply. Applicants will bring their own interests and projects to the program. Do you know someone who might be a perfect fit for the Residency? Send them this post! Applications are due September 21, 2024 at 11:59pm. Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/eQdrbSD5

🎃👻🍬 Get excited for spooky season: Pumpkin Point returns to Governors on Halloweekend 2024! NYC’s most unique pumpkin patch is just a ferry ride away October 26 & 27, 2024, featuring arts & crafts, trick or treating on both days, fall-themed food and drink, and—of course—a huge pumpkin patch in Nolan Park. Pumpkin Point is free, with a suggested donation day-of if you are able. All you need to do is reserve your ferry tickets at govisland.org/ferry. More info on the event at https://lnkd.in/e77v3Zkb. Generous support for the event is provided by Nickelodeon, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Tony's Chocolonely. The Friends of Governors Island 📸: Julienne Schaer & Sean Jamar

Mark your calendars: the annual Governors Island #Gala is October 8, 2024, at the iconic Hall des Lumières. Join us in honoring three Island champions: Andy Darrell, senior advisor at the Environmental Defense Fund; artist Charles Gaines, whose pivotal work “The American Manifest Chapter Two: Moving Chains” was presented on Governors Island from 2022-2023; and NYC Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. Funds raised through the Gala support key Island initiatives, including stewarding our open spaces, providing transformative public art and programming to nearly one million visitors each year, and championing innovative climate solutions. Visit govisland.org/gala to learn more and get tickets today. The Friends of Governors Island Photo of Charles Gaines, 2022 © Charles Gaines, courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth. Photo: Marco Giannavola

Bold. Immersive. Surprising. Your guide to the fall 2024 Governors Island Arts season is here–from interactive outdoor performances to exhibitions and public art installations situated throughout our historic buildings and landscapes, these upcoming events are not to be missed. Events are free and open to all. Details at https://lnkd.in/eQYPVNQE #GovIslandArts ✨ INTERVENTIONS performance series continues with Inua Ellams’s “Search Party” (September 20 & 21) and Lenio Kaklea’s “Analphabètes” (October 5, co-presented with L'Alliance New York as part of Crossing the Line festival) ✨ Organizations in Residence are open in the historic houses of Nolan Park (yellow houses) and Colonels Row (brick houses) through November 3. ✨ Long-term and temporary works by Shantell Martin, Duke Riley, Sheila Berger, Mark Dion, Sam Van Aken, Rachel Whiteread, and Mark Handforth are on view daily. Jenny Kendler’s Other of Pearl, co-presented with Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), is on view Friday-Sunday through November 3 inside Fort Jay. Gov­er­nors Island Arts presents its pro­gram with the vision­ary sup­port of the Ford Foundation, as well as the Mellon Foundation, the Cha­ri­na Endow­ment Fund, Don­ald R. Mullen Fam­i­ly Foun­da­tion, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Gottes­man Fund, the Don­ald A. Pels Char­i­ta­ble Trust, National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the sup­port of the Office of the Gov­er­nor and the New York State Legislature. 📸: Inua Ellams by Heather Tomlinson & Adama Jalloh, courtesy the artist; Anal­pha­betes, pho­to cour­tesy L’Al­liance New York; Escap­ing Time: Art from U.S. Pris­ons 2023 exhi­bi­tion, pho­to by Juli­enne Schaer; detail from "Other of Pearl," artwork courtesy the artist and photo by Julienne Schaer.