Partner Spotlight: Bee University NYC
In Staten Island, a quiet revolution is buzzing.
André Ware, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Bee University NYC (Bee-U), launched the organization in 2021 with a simple but powerful belief: that environmental stewardship should be accessible, hands-on, and rooted in the experiences of those most impacted by injustice. A former participant in experiential education programs himself, André built Bee-U to give young people—especially youth of color, LGBTQIA+ youth, and those from under-resourced communities—the same transformational opportunities that shaped his own path.
In just a few short years, Bee-U has grown into one of the most dynamic grassroots environmental organizations in NYC. Through its flagship Urban Beekeeping Fellowship (UBF), Bee-U introduces youth ages 16–24 to the fundamentals of urban beekeeping, while also immersing them in leadership development, environmental justice, and green career exploration. Participants receive a stipend for their time, as well as transportation support and access to optional paid sessions. In 2024 alone, 29 Fellows graduated from the program—77% of whom identified as BIPOC and 77% of whom were enrolled in school at the time.
This isn’t just beekeeping—it’s movement-building.
“Our vision is for urban communities to be intentionally exposed to careers in the green jobs industry through the practice of beekeeping and environmental stewardship,” André wrote in a recent letter to supporters. “Bee University NYC represents the future, and we walk hand in hand with the changemakers of tomorrow—the youth who will lead us toward a more sustainable, equitable, and thriving world.”
Bee-U’s work is also deeply tied to the present-day realities of climate change in New York City. As neighborhoods across the city confront increasingly severe flooding, hotter summers, and a need for more accessible green space, programs like Bee-U’s strengthen community resilience from the ground up. Their hives are not just places of learning—they’re micro-habitats that support local ecosystems, pollinate urban gardens, and spark conversations about environmental justice. Their work contributes to mitigating urban heat islands, supporting food access, and making nature more accessible in under-resourced communities.
CitizensNYC is proud to support Bee University NYC through funding from Con Edison, whose commitment to fueling climate resilience at the local level enables grassroots leaders like André to do transformative work. Together, we’re investing in a vision of New York that is greener, more just, and more community-powered.
Since its founding, Bee-U has graduated nearly 70 Fellows, expanded to Brooklyn and Governors Island, grown its budget and advisory council, and built deep trust with youth and families across all five boroughs. André’s leadership is proof of what happens when someone who’s walked the path reaches back and builds the trail wider.