Majora Carter

Leigh Ann Kay, Najha Zigbi-Johnson & John Ludlam

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Who is Majora Carter?

• Environmental activist• Grew up in the South Bronx; an environmentally

challenged area of NYC• Left the South Bronx after her brother was killed• Studied at Wesleyan University, received her

bachelor’s degree in film studies • Returned home after college to save money; she was

shocked by the poor environmental conditions of the South Bronx and decided to do something about

Majora’s Major Accomplishments: • 2001, founder of the activist group, Sustainable South Bronx –

works to advance the environmental and economic rebirth of the South Bronx; coined the term “Green the Ghetto”

• Ran a program called Street Trees – artists made sculptures of their interpretation of the lack of trees in the South Bronx

• Runs a Peabody Award Winning public radio series called “The Promised Land”

• Set up a company called SmartRoof – installs and maintains green roofs in and around NYC

• 2008, founded of a for-profit green consulting firm, called the Majora Carter Group

Majora’s Awards:• Awarded the MacArther Genius Fellowship• The Liberty Medal for Lifetime Achievement • John Podesta’s Center for American Progress • Fast Company Magazine named her “100 Most Creative

People in Business” • New York State Women of Excellence Award from Lieutenant

Governor David Patterson • New York Daily News named her one of “50 New Yorkers to

Watch”

Why we chose Majora Carter:

• Shoemaker Lecturer on 9/25/11

• Heroine of environmental issues pertaining to the 21st century

• Grassroots Leader• Her work can be done by

anyone, anywhere! http://www.google.com/imgres?q=Majora+Carter&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=fC1-Sltu1n2OdM:&imgrefurl=http://www.seeinnovation.org/don.htm&docid=c_8Pp8Hv9kJK9M&w=466&h=666&ei=6l57TpmwH4Xg0QGRrYynAg&zoom=1&biw=1280&bih=841&iact=rc&dur=328&page=2&tbnh=145&tbnw=113&start=27&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:27&tx=67&ty=93

Quotes by Majora Carter:

• “You don’t have to move out of your neighborhood to live in a better one” (Official Facebook Page)

• “Our organization is beginning to prove that we can implement out strategy in a pretty darn economically and fiscally responsible way” (http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/results/getResults.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.35)

Sources:

• Wilson Web: Biography from Current Biography (2007)• Majora Carter’s Office Facebook Page