Working at NYRP Since 2003

Donte Taylor’s journey at New York Restoration Project began in 2003 when he was nineteen years old. In the twenty-plus years since, Donte has been instrumental to many of NYRP’s milestone achievements including dozens of citywide garden renovations and the historic MillionTreesNYC initiative.

According to his longtime colleagues, Donte possesses a calm strength, a knack for thinking on his feet, and a warm smile that lights up any room. Beyond his professional skills, he has mentored young volunteers, paying forward the guidance he received early in his career.

A passionate advocate for community gardens and a natural connector, Donte is also known as NYRP’s “best storyteller.” His love for the work is evident in his commitment to being in the field with his team, always ready to do what it takes to further NYRP’s mission. Below, Donte reflects on his years at NYRP.

The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

How did you first get involved with New York Restoration Project?

Donte Taylor: I started at NYRP as part of a class of around 60 AmeriCorps volunteers. We would hop into a van and head out to Highbridge Park or Fort Washington Park and pick up trash. I was fully invested in NYRP’s mission after that experience, so when a supervisor position opened up, I jumped at the opportunity. From there, I became the manager of all of the crews working in our Bronx and Manhattan gardens. Now, as the Deputy Director of Community Gardens, I oversee our garden operations citywide and work alongside our crews across all five boroughs.

What is your favorite part of the job?

DT: My favorite part of the job is being part of communities across New York City. I was born and raised here, so I feel like it was kind of divine intervention to join NYRP. I grew up in the South Bronx before moving to Manhattan and remember when spaces that are now NYRP gardens were just junkyards. These are now the beautiful spaces I care for.

What has been one of your proudest moments at NYRP? 

DT: There was a time when we would do daily litter removal on Broadway. We’d finish in the afternoon, only to return the next morning and find the street covered in trash again. It was pretty repetitive, and then one day a woman handed me a card for NYRP. “I see this young man out here every day cleaning up the streets,” it read. “I just want to thank him and thank NYRP.” That simple gesture made me proud to be part of the work. It showed me the real impact we were having and confirmed that NYRP is the right place for anyone in New York City who wants to make a genuine difference.

As someone who has lived in New York City your whole life, what impact would you say NYRP has had on the city?

DT: Being born and raised here, I know New York City is rough. It’s hard to get people to see the great in things. I feel like NYRP has been able to show people that things really can be better. For decades, we’ve been building community gardens in areas where people don’t have access to freshly grown produce or green space. These gardens serve as backyards in most places. That’s what makes me proud. Being able to do something to change not only communities in New York City, but to change New York City as a whole.

What is one of your best memories from working at NYRP?

DT: One of my favorite memories was when we had just launched our Gardens for the City program and were working on a project at Kingsbridge Community Center in The Bronx. We pretty much turned a parking lot into a place where the whole surrounding community could come and grow vegetables. That really stood out to me.

It’s like the Joni Mitchell lyric, “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot,” but in reverse.

DT: Exactly!

You’ve worked at NYRP for over two decades. Looking ahead, what makes you excited about the future of NYRP?

DT: We are gifted to be surrounded with people who believe in change. When you believe in change, it’s contagious. NYRP started with just picking up trash and cleaning up parks in New York City and it spread. We showed New Yorkers that if you want to see change in the community, you can actually make it happen.

Working for an organization like NYRP, where we are not only dedicated to the work but also operate like a family, is what will keep this engine rolling long into the future.