Keen Utility brought its green space initiative, Project Build, to Brooklyn on Saturday. The footwear company teamed up with The Wilderness Society (TWS) and 21st Century Conservation Corps (21CSC) to support New York City’s Green City Force (GCF) in developing an urban farm in Red Hook. Keen Utility outfitted GCF volunteers with safety footwear.
The event was the third stop of the Project Build initiative. The program launched earlier this year to support the efforts of TWS and 21CSC and their work protecting landscapes through citizen stewardship, and to inspire more young people to actively care for the outdoors.
Through the partnership, 300 corps members across the country including Green City Force in Brooklyn have been outfitted with Keen Utility work boots. Keen Utility expects to help preserve up to 500,000 acres of land, 100 miles of rivers, and dedicate roughly 1,000 hours of volunteer time from Keen employees.
Green City Force Director of Development Tonya Gayle said projects like the urban farm in Red Hook impact communities in many positive ways. She added, “To have so many other like-minded organizations lending a hand along with the much needed footwear that has truly passed the test of time means so much, not only to GCF and its volunteers, but also the residents around this farm.”