Sometimes boating leads to unexpected destinations.
Rocking the Boat, a Hunts Point-based nonprofit that teaches Bronx youth to build and operate wooden boats, typically works along the Bronx River. But on May 29, their journey brought them to Midtown Manhattan’s Town Hall, where they were recognized by musician and Talking Heads co-founder David Byrne for their impactful work.
The organization was spotlighted during “Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things,” a sold-out fundraiser presented by Byrne’s nonprofit Reasons to be Cheerful, which profiles community-based initiatives making a difference around the world.
Rocking the Boat empowers young people through hands-on training in boatbuilding, environmental science, and sailing. Founded in the South Bronx, the organization has grown into a model of youth development and environmental stewardship.
Byrne, through his nonprofit Arbutus, launched Reasons to be Cheerful as an online publication highlighting solution-driven stories. The Town Hall event featured short videos and profiles of selected nonprofits, including Rocking the Boat.
The program drew a crowd of 1,500 and included performances by comedian Ramy Youssef, musician Reggie Watts, Annie and the Caldwells, and others. Rocking the Boat founder and executive director Adam Green appeared onstage with Jancely Arias, lead environmental program assistant; Chiara Castenda, assistant public programs manager; and sailing apprentices Victoria Murillo and Hailley Robles.
“It was fun and a great way to promote our work and give some of our young people an opportunity to share our stories,” Green said after the event. “And to let people know what we’re doing on the Bronx River and Central Park. Spreading the word is always a good thing.”
Green described the nonprofit’s mission as using wooden boats as a vehicle for youth development. “We use wooden boats as a medium to develop young people, wherever they want to go and be,” he said. “We give them an opportunity through building wooden boats, doing environmental science and learning and teaching others how to sail.”
Even in a borough more often associated with concrete than coastline, Rocking the Boat emphasizes the importance of nature and waterfront access in the Bronx.
“The Bronx is a borough that is often not thought of as connected to nature, although it’s full of nature,” Green said. “A big part of what we do is make those connections between the people who live in the Bronx and the amazing assets the Bronx has as a borough.”
While thousands of drivers pass over the Bronx River Parkway each day, Green noted that many people are unaware of the Bronx River itself — or of the borough’s access to the Hudson and East rivers.
“The reason we are located in the Bronx is because of the Bronx River,” he said. “Nature in the Bronx is not what people go looking for. We’re changing the reputation of the Bronx, the awareness of the resources of the Bronx.”
On May 31, the group celebrated the launch of its 58th hand-built vessel, a 17-foot wooden boat — a symbol not just of travel but of teamwork and purpose.
“Beyond all the technical skills that go into building and sailing and environmental science, the primary benefit is the sense of purpose and accomplishment,” Green said. “Putting your energy into something that results in a real outcome.”
The organization’s environmental education program aims to go beyond textbooks, connecting science to real-world impact. “We’re not just learning science to pass a test,” Green said. “We’re learning science to improve the health of our local river.”
Students participate in a rigorous after-school program that trains them to become proficient sailors — and in turn, instructors for others. In addition, Rocking the Boat has expanded its reach beyond the Bronx. Last year, it took over operations of the model sailboat pond in Central Park, creating a new space to showcase its work and offer jobs to program alumni.
“We don’t have people walking by and learning about us in passing the same way that we do in Central Park,” Green said. “Being in the middle of one of the most heavily trafficked corners in the world definitely changes that.”
The organization also relaunched its free community rowing and sailing program on May 31, offering sessions every Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. through Labor Day. No registration is required. More information is available at rockingtheboat.org. “Just show up,” Green said. “You don’t have to sign up in advance.”
