The Rockefeller Foundation, a philanthropic organization promoting creative globalization, announced the winners of its annual Jane Jacobs Medal for 2009 on Wednesday.
Established in 2007, the Jane Jacobs Medal is named after the author of the book “The Death and Life of Great American Cities.” Each year, the award goes to two New York activists who have contributed to the City in creative ways.
There are two medals: the Jane Jacobs Medal for Lifetime Leadership and the Jane Jacobs Medal for New Ideas and Activism. This year, the Lifetime Leadership award goes to Richard Kahan, while the New Ideas and Activism award goes to Damaris Reyes.
Kahan has worked to help solve urban problems in New York for over 35 years. The Urban Assembly, which he founded, builds and manages 22 schools in low-income neighborhoods. Most students who enter high schools that the Urban Assembly manages do not meet the standards in city and state exams, but by the time they are in 12th grade, they do better than the City average. Urban Assembly high schools have a graduation rate of 78 percent, 90 percent of which are accepted to colleges. Kahan also helped found Take the Field, which rebuilt outdoor sports facilities for 43 schools in just four years.
Reyes, on the other hand, works with the Good Old Lower East Side and the Public Housing Residents of the Lower East Side, supporting issues such as tenants’ rights, eviction prevention, economic justice, and community revitalization.
Established in 2007, the Jane Jacobs Medal is named after the author of the book “The Death and Life of Great American Cities.” Each year, the award goes to two New York activists who have contributed to the City in creative ways.
There are two medals: the Jane Jacobs Medal for Lifetime Leadership and the Jane Jacobs Medal for New Ideas and Activism. This year, the Lifetime Leadership award goes to Richard Kahan, while the New Ideas and Activism award goes to Damaris Reyes.
Kahan has worked to help solve urban problems in New York for over 35 years. The Urban Assembly, which he founded, builds and manages 22 schools in low-income neighborhoods. Most students who enter high schools that the Urban Assembly manages do not meet the standards in city and state exams, but by the time they are in 12th grade, they do better than the City average. Urban Assembly high schools have a graduation rate of 78 percent, 90 percent of which are accepted to colleges. Kahan also helped found Take the Field, which rebuilt outdoor sports facilities for 43 schools in just four years.
Reyes, on the other hand, works with the Good Old Lower East Side and the Public Housing Residents of the Lower East Side, supporting issues such as tenants’ rights, eviction prevention, economic justice, and community revitalization.
