Our History
Bee University NYC (also known as Bee-U) was conceptualized as part of the Ranti Ogunleye New York City Council Campaign (District 49) in 2021, and has since become a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The idea behind a transformative beekeeping program was to highlight the importance of experiential education and its impact on youth engagement in environmental advocacy.
2021
In the Spring of 2021, Bee-U was conceptualized and was tasked to find a location on the North Shore where three bee hives could be hosted indefinitely and be easily accessible to community members. Thanks to Maker Space NYC, a local non-profit which supports individual artists and the community through workshops, studio spaces, and school programs, we were able to find a home for our three hives (each containing 10,000 bees!), at Maker Park in Stapleton, Staten Island.
Bee-U started out with a small group from various ages and backgrounds. Participants worked to prepare the hive location as well as transport, install, and paint the hive bodies in the Spring. During the Summer, the group conducted weekly hive checks and would diagnose any problems, ranging from a missing queen to various pest infestations. In addition to harvesting honey in the Fall, programming transitioned to craft-making and winterizing the hives to ensure each colony’s survival through the Winter.
In its first year, with limited funding after the campaign’s termination in the Summer, Bee-U provided programming to over 50 community members from diverse backgrounds.
2022
In 2022, Bee-U returned with a new program, the Urban Beekeeping Fellowship (UBF), a program for 16-24 year-olds to gain hands-on education from experienced beekeepers, and receive stipends for their participation in the 14-week program spanning from mid-Summer through mid-Fall.
Through hands-on education, participants develop critical thinking skills and socio-environmental curiosity as future beekeepers. Participants learn the historical, socioeconomic context behind environmental justice in urban communities in addition to the importance of pollination and practice of beekeeping, allowing for a holistic experience.
In 2023, we will expand UBF to accommodate more students and as we seek to educate and serve communities in a variety of ways.
2023
In 2023, Bee-U had its strongest year yet! Our flagship program, the Urban Beekeeping Fellowship (UBF), had 27 participants with 90 applicants from across NYC (30% acceptance rate). The average participant received $1,200 in stipends, and we distributed over $32,000 worth of stipends.
Bee-U also expanded its programs with the launch of Hive Workshops. We facilitated 3 public workshops that were open to community members, and 4 private workshops for various youth-serving organizations (Staten Island Justice Center, City Growers, etc.). Additionally, we facilitated our second Annual Honey Harvest event through a partnership with local immigrant-support organization La Colmena. Bee-U also participated in various community events, including the NSTAT events facilitated by the Office of Neighborhood Safety under the Mayors Office for Criminal Justice.
In 2024, we will expand UBF to accommodate more students and we will be launching The Maker Space Pollinator Garden.