Stephen Ritz

Stephen Ritz is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning educator, author of the best-selling book "The Power Of A Plant," and founder of Green Bronx Machine. Known as America's favorite teacher and a 2015 Top Ten Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize, Ritz has pioneered the development of the first edible classroom in the world. He and his students have grown over 150,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx, enhancing both educational outcomes and community health. Ritz's initiatives have not only been recognized with multiple visits to the Obama White House but have also transformed school attendance rates from 40% to 93% in his programs.

Ritz's work extends beyond the classroom. His curriculum is utilized in hundreds of schools globally, reaching as far as Colombia, Dubai, Canada, and Egypt. His educational programs have notably been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and on major networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and NPR. His TED talk has captivated over 1.2 million viewers, ranking it among the Top 10 Food/Education TED Talks of all time. Ritz was also featured in the film adaptation of Michael Pollan’s book "In Defense of Food" and has appeared in various notable broadcasts including NPR’s "All Things Considered."

Ritz's additional roles include serving as a Senior Fellow in Social Innovation at Babson College and as a Board Member for the NYC Nutrition Education Network. His innovative approach to education through urban agriculture has earned him numerous awards including the Citywide Award of Excellence from the NYC Strategic Alliance for Health, the Best of Green Schools Award from the US Green Building Council, and the Global Educator Award. He has recently been named to the Food Transition Team for NYC Mayor Eric Adams and continues to make significant strides in integrating sustainability with education.