AH-YES Program

AH-YES
Astoria Houses Youth Enrichment Service

In it’s second year, the AH-YES Program is a summer program employing teens at Socrates Sculpture Park. The program aims to provide hands-on experience, mentorship and encourage individual growth, while working together as a team. Our dedicated teens will learn to problem solve, get creative, and use their hands to create a greener and more conscious world.

  • Design and build a green roof
  • Learn tools
  • Work with a weather station
  • Learn about green jobs
  • Learn about banking
  • Learn about wellness
  • Visit partnering organizations
  • Work in the community

The 2022 cohort members are Dylan, Ella, Lily, Loraine, and Tenzin!

AH-YES Program Leads: Doug Paulson, Eric Mathews
AH-YES Program Assistant: JJ Stewart

The application deadline is in May of each year.

ABOUT THE GREEN ROOF

AH-YES – six students from Queens – teamed up with Director of Education Douglas Paulson to design and build a green roof here at Socrates Sculpture Park.  Teens learned to use tools; interviewed Anna Poaster on Hellgate Farms‘ green roof; and had a design charrette with Smiling Hogshead‘s Gil Lopez.

Built in August by reusing materials from art works at Socrates; literally tons of NYC compost from BIG Reuse, and an array of native plants, AH-YES’s green roof will attract crucial pollinators to Socrates, divert rainwater from the sewer system, help to clean our air and cool our park.

Visit the rooftop and keep an eye on our process and growth. See how a few teens from Queens have taken direct action in NYC’s built environment to help make a more sustainable city. The official Ribbon Cutting was during September New Agora.

Images: Bob Krasner, Doug Paulson, Joyce Chan, KMDeco Creative Solutions

SUPPORT

Free education programs at Socrates Sculpture Park are made possible with generous support from Con Edison, The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, The Pinkerton Foundation, and Stavros Niarchos Foundation with additional support provided, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.