Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator who believes that students should not have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one.

An internationally acclaimed award-winning educator, Stephen is the author of the best-selling book, The Power Of A Plant, and founder of Green Bronx Machine. Known as “America’s Favorite Teacher,” Stephen is responsible for creating the first edible classroom in the world, which he has evolved into the National Health, Wellness and Learning Center.

He and his students have grown more than 100,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx, and in the process, Stephen has moved school attendance from 40% to 93% daily and helped provide 2,200 youth jobs in the Bronx.

Stephen was a Top Ten Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize, named Global Humanitarian, Food Tank Hero, TEDx Prize Winner and a Global Food Educator, and has presented at the Obama White House three times. A replica of his classroom was installed in the US Botanic Gardens in Washington, DC. His curriculum is being used in hundreds of schools across the United States, and internationally from Colombia to Dubai, from Canada to Cairo, to Doha, and beyond. Click here for more on Stephen.

Jan. 7 - Nathaniel Russo, 16, of Fieldston School fulfilled his requirement to become a Bronx Eagle Scout by creating recipes, making videos, teaching children to cook healthy meals and then supplied 40 boxes of food so they could cook together on line to inspire healthy living all across the Bronx.

Dec. 10 - Stephen talks about a food giveaway at a Bronx school.