Globally acclaimed teacher Stephen Ritz shows how in one of the nation’s poorest communities, his students thrive in school and in life by growing, cooking, eating, and sharing the bounty of their green classroom. More than 50,000 pounds of vegetables later, he has figured out how to bring the magic of gardening into the heart of the school day for students of all ages.
Aaron Kodz was tapped by the Chan-Zuckerberg Foundation as part of their drive to showcase new and innovative approaches in education. "Food access is a topic very close to my heart", explains the director. "When I was approached for this campaign, Stephen's program immediately came to mind. I wanted to look at this in a new way, and employed an unconventional documentary approach to capture the inventive spirit in the South Bronx. It was an honor to showcase this tremendous organization and what it's doing in the community."