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About the Alliance

The river’s voice is made up of many organizations and people… come meet them!

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The Bronx River Alliance serves as a coordinated voice for the river. We work in harmonious partnership to protect, improve and restore the Bronx River corridor. Our goal is to make a healthy ecological, recreational, educational, and economic resource for all communities through which the river flows.

The Alliance works in close partnership with the New York City Parks as well as dozens of community-based partners, regional nonprofits, businesses and all levels of government. 

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Our Commitments

What is our role?

The Alliance is a voice for the river. In order to grow and sustain the vital work of protecting, improving and restoring the Bronx River corridor, we:

1

Group-Icon

Advocate for equitable restoration of the Bronx River corridor

...in conjunction with NYC Parks—through restoration and development projects for and by the community.

3

Protect and restore the Bronx River

...through close collaboration with community members as well as government agencies.

5

Engage the community in the reclamation of the Bronx River

...ensuring that Bronx voices remain leaders in this effort.

2

Coordinate construction of the Bronx River greenway

...a contiguous series of parks and trails extending from Soundview Park in the south to the Kensico Reservoir in the north.

4

Education-icon

Leverage the river as an outdoor classroom

...bringing students and their teachers to the Bronx River to explore the natural side of their home borough.

1

Group-Icon

Advocate for equitable restoration of the Bronx River corridor

...in conjunction with NYC Parks—through restoration and development projects for and by the community.

2

Coordinate construction of the Bronx River greenway

...a contiguous series of parks and trails extending from Soundview Park in the south to the Kensico Reservoir in the north.

3

Protect and restore the Bronx River

...through close collaboration with community members as well as government agencies.

4

Education-icon

Leverage the river as an outdoor classroom

...bringing students and their teachers to the Bronx River to explore the natural side of their home borough.

5

Engage the community in the reclaming the Bronx River

...ensuring that Bronx voices remain leaders in this effort.

Our Programs

How we focus our impact

Alliance Staff & Team

Get to know who we are, as we work to protect, improve, and restore the Bronx River corridor for all communities

Paul Velasco

Paul Velasco

Gardener
Johnathan Perez

Johnathan Perez

Conservation Crew
Elena Conte

Elena Conte

Interim Executive Director
Isabella Iannone

Isabella Iannone

Education Assistant
Nick Scaglione

Nick Scaglione

Recreation Coordinator
Journei Bimwala

Journei Bimwala

Artist in Residence
Siddharth Motwani

Siddharth Motwani

Greenway Coordinator
Mailah Medina

Mailah Medina

Development Coordinator
Diogomaye (Dio) Ndiaye

Diogomaye (Dio) Ndiaye

Director of Development and Communications
Ja'Juan Gibson

Ja'Juan Gibson

Horticultural Steward
Julia Hitz

Julia Hitz

Grant Manager
Amelia Zaino

Amelia Zaino

Education Coordinator
Christian Murphy

Christian Murphy

Ecology Coordinator
Daniel Ranells

Daniel Ranells

Director of Programs
Daniel Tapia

Daniel Tapia

Finance and Office Manager
Elaine Feliciano

Elaine Feliciano

Conservation Crew Leader
Jasmine Robles

Jasmine Robles

Conservation Crew Apprentice
Jennifer Seda

Jennifer Seda

Volunteer Program Assistant
Michael Mendez

Michael Mendez

Conservation Manager
Nathan Hunter

Nathan Hunter

Foodway Coordinator
Pamela Hamilton-Brown

Pamela Hamilton-Brown

Administrative and Office Coordinator
Penny Brown

Penny Brown

Conservation Crew Leader
Victoria Toro

Victoria Toro

Community Outreach Coordinator

Board of Directors

The Board, representing all the communities through which the river flows,  guides our work. You can learn more about our board formation process here.

Board members, left to right:  Nilka Martell, David Shuffler, Jonathan Rook, Kellie Terry, Raji Kalra, Veronica Vanterpool, Ethan Strell, Joan Byron, Marit Laron (former Board member) and Former Executive Director, Maggie Greenfield

Voting Board Members

  • Nilka Martell, Chair / Loving the Bronx
  • Carolyn McLaughlin, Vice Chair / BronxWorks (retired)
  • Ethan Strell, Secretary / National Audubon Society
  • Jonathan Rook, Treasurer / Sandler O’ Neil
  • Raji Kalra / Center for Reproductive Freedom
  • Joan Byron / Neighborhoods First
  • Maarten de Kadt / Writer & retired teacher
  • David Shuffler / Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice
  • Rafael Barbosa / Port Morris Distillery
  • Nicole Perrino / Founder of Bronxmama.com
  • Justin Mashia / Founder, Bronx Sole
  • Vivian Vázquez Irizarry
  • Elizabeth Figuerora / New York Botanical Garden

Special Advisors

  • Sonia Manzano
  • Gail Nathan
  • Wendy Neu
  • Richard Reagan
  • Dart Westphal

Directors Emeritus

  • Alexie Torres-Fleming
  • Veronica Vanterpool
  • Kellie Terry
  • Dart Westphal

Honorary Board Members

  • Ruth Anderberg
  • Nancy Wallace

Ex Officio Board Members

  • Margaret Nelson, Acting Commissioner, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
  • Ruben Diaz, Jr., Bronx Borough President
  • Rafael Salamanca, NYC Councilmember, District 17
  • Eric Dinowitz, NYC Councilmember, District 11
  • Ruben Diaz, Sr., NYC Councilmember, District 18
  • Oswald Feliz, NYC Councilmember, District 15
  • Kevin Riley, NYC Councilmember, District 12

Help protect, restore, and improve the Bronx River today... Discover how!