FIRKON [Brooklyn]

This experience gave me a plan to move forward past the pandemic - I had just started college and was playing basketball on their team, but due to COVID our season got shut down, right after my 20th birthday. With college closed, I wanted to find a way to make some money for myself and for my family.

So that’s how I started here, and I’ve been working with the Corps for about seven months. It’s a lot of work, but I love to do it; neighborhoods have welcomed us with open arms, and people have started recognizing us and telling us that the parks look greener and cleaner! And I’ve made a couple of really good friends.

I get back to playing the sport I love when I go back to school in January, but I’ve been able to make some money, keep focusing on my goals, and help the city. I grew up in New York. This is my home; I actually think it’s a wonderful place.