Majora Carter Receives 2005 MacArthur Fellowship

September 2005

We have a very exciting announcement to make about a leader within the Active Living by Design family. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced this week that one of our project directors, Majora Carter of Sustainable South Bronx, has received one of its 2005 MacArthur Fellowships.

Commonly referred to as the "genius awards," these fellowships recognize people who demonstrate exceptional creativity and originality and the promise for continued innovative work. Each fellow receives $500,000 over five years to use as he or she sees fit. There is no application process for the fellowship program, and nominators serve anonymously.

Majora sees beyond the significant constraints in her community and is pursuing with her partners a bold and positive vision for her community's future. The Hunts Point neighborhood of the South Bronx where Majora grew up is now a community on the rise after decades of neglect and environmental abuse. The South Bronx Greenway and active living are a central part of this emerging future. With a recent infusion of more than $10 million from the Mayor's Office for South Bronx Greenway projects, and another $18.5 million from other sources for greenway-related projects, such as parks, bike lanes and streetscaping, the first stages of the South Bronx Greenway project are scheduled for completion by 2007.

Congratulations to Majora for such well deserved recognition. And thanks to her many dedicated partners for making Hunt's Point's recent and future success possible.