Loyola Community To Host 2025 Justice Summit With Keynote Speaker Stephen Ritz

April 8, 2025 /3BL/ - Loyola Blakefield is proud to announce the 2025 Justice Summit, a transformative event, uniting students, faculty, community members, and distinguished guests to explore the critical intersection of environmental sustainability, social justice, and Catholic teachings. Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls for urgent care for our common home—the Earth—the Summit’s theme, "Caring for Our Common Home," will encourage participants to reflect on their role as stewards of God’s creation.

This year’s keynote speaker is Stephen Ritz, an internationally acclaimed educator, social entrepreneur, and founder of Green Bronx Machine. Ritz has dedicated his career to empowering underserved communities through urban agriculture, nutrition education, service learning, and youth leadership.

Special Event: April 8 Film Screening and Panel Discussion

As a highlight of the Summit, Loyola invites members of the extended community and partner organizations to an exclusive event on Tuesday, April 8, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in Fr. George Lounge (Wheeler Hall). The evening will feature a screening of Generation Growth, a compelling documentary showcasing Ritz’s journey as a Bronx educator tackling food insecurity, poor health, and educational challenges in marginalized communities. The film highlights his groundbreaking curriculum, which uses indoor academic gardening to grow vegetables, resulting in improved student performance, healthier diets, and pathways to opportunity.

Following the screening, attendees will enjoy a reception and engage in a panel discussion with Stephen Ritz, joined by notable experts Eric Dorsey, Seth Goldman, Danielle Nierenberg, Jeff Senne, and Larry Rivitz (bios on page 2). We will also welcome Maryland Secretary of Service and Civic Innovation, Paul Monteiro. This unique opportunity allows guests to connect directly with Ritz and explore his vision for a sustainable, equitable future. The event is open to all, and admission is simply a donation – cash or non-perishable food item - to the Loyola food pantry, supporting our commitment to community care.

Says Ritz: “Danielle, Jeff, and Seth have inspired me the entirety of my career, I’m proud to stand on their shoulders. To be able partner with them in their hometown, along with Eric Dorsey, a graduate of the very school that invited me, Larry Rivitz & Green Street Academy, to grow healthy schools and students is a dream come true. Further, combining a Justice Summit, 1,000 students, an abandoned greenhouse, and partnerships with an additional 26 Baltimore City and County Public Schools sponsored by Quest Diagnostics makes this the perfect recipe for “Impact, Service, Innovation, and Overall Awesome-Sauce.” Lizette and I have our work clothes packed, garden gloves on, and lap tops ready. HELLOOO Baltimore, join us starting April 8, come early, and don’t be late! I can’t wait to get there and get started.” Ritz goes on to say: “Special thanks Seth Goldman at Eat the Change and to all the staff at Just Ice Tea for their generous donation, helping me teach that being an activist and an entrepreneur can feel good, look good, taste good, and provide a more just, healthier way of life for our communities, our planet and ourselves – what lesson could be better than that? Let’s do this!”

Says Danielle Nierenberg: “I’ve seen the film, Generation Growth, and I love it. Across the country I have seen how inspired it has left folks, everywhere it shows. I am honored to lead a discussion about it with Stephen Ritz, Seth Goldman, Eric Dorsey, Jeff Senne, Larry Rivitz & Green Street Academy, students and staff from Loyola Blakefield and Maryland’s Secretary of Service and Civic Innovation, Paul Montiero, to inspire Maryland’s next generation of future farmers, healthy eaters, and sustainability champions at Loyola Blakefield and across the state. That these young scholars are coming together to grow something greater together and that Green Bronx Machine is partnering with Quest Diagnostics to sponsor an additional 26 schools in Baltimore, complete with Tower Gardens, whole-school curriculum, teacher training, and classroom cooking and serving supplies is all the more reason to come on out, join us, learn more, and celebrate this special moment. I’m thrilled to be a part of it and hope to see you there.”

Eric Dorsey states: “I met Stephen Ritz in 2023, and my first interaction with him included me saying, 'We have to bring this to Baltimore!’ Today, seeing 26 schools in Baltimore City and County now embracing Green Bronx Machine programs is a testament to the power of community and collaboration. Thank you, Loyola Blakefield, for providing a venue to celebrate this collaborative effort and bringing together so many passionate individuals driving this work. This event is the perfect kickoff for an amazing relationship, I am excited for the dialogue that will happen in the room. And best of all, you too can join! I hope to see you there."

Larry Rivitz, beloved advocate and Maryland educator / advocate added: Green Street Academy is excited to join with Loyola Blakefield in converting the tremendous energy and expertise offered by Stephen and Lizette Ritz and their Green Bronx Machine into life-long learning outcomes for our students and produce for their families and our community. Sustainability is the central pillar of our mission, and GSA has lead the way for fifteen years in Baltimore City Schools applying STEM studies to sustainable practices focussed around career skills, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance in the classroom, in our schoolyard habitat, and through GSA Farms, our school-based enterprise. We see partnering with Stephen and Lizette as a major step forward in nurturing the next generation of environmentally focused citizens.

Also, joining Ritz and friends will be Bethesda native, Jeff Senne, who adds: “Stephen and Lizette at Green Bronx Machine are perfect examples of what smart, hardworking, and committed people can do to change the world. Their work to engage, inspire, and act has created leverage in making change far beyond their beloved Bronx community and April 8 will be a day to experience and celebrate. They arrive at Loyola Blakefield “in servium,” modeling their lives lived in service to others so that others may follow. I’m grateful to play a small role in helping them scale their impact and change more lives, and especially excited to support them here in my home state of Maryland. I know this event will encourage others to find ways to engage in efforts to give every child an opportunity to meet their potential, no matter where they begin. I urge everyone to join us for a night of celebration and possibilities. I look forward to seeing you there!”

Justice Summit: April 9

On Wednesday, April 9, the Justice Summit will take place during the school day across various campus locations. Open to students, faculty, staff, partner schools, and honored guests, the Summit will feature workshops, presentations, and panel discussions focused on environmental care, sustainability, and social justice. Ritz will deliver the keynote address, inspiring collective action, with the day concluding in a prayer service.

For more information or to RSVP for the April 8 screening, visit loyolablakefield.org/justicesummit.

Panelist Bios

Eric Dorsey is a Baltimore-based entrepreneur and a partner/owner at Third Win Group (TWG). His diverse background spans sports, finance, and event management. After playing collegiate soccer, he began to work in various roles at major sporting events as well as roles within Baltimore City government and Maryland-based nonprofits. A 2023 Recipient of Sports Business Journal’s Rising Business Leader Award, Eric's expertise is in negotiation, event organization, and partnership campaign development. At TWG, he focuses on social impact sponsorship strategy, securing partnerships and other opportunities for athletes and entrepreneurs who strive to make a positive difference in their communities.

Seth Goldman is Co-Founder of JUST ICE TEA, an organic, Fair Trade bottled tea, and PLNT Burger, a plant-based quick-serve restaurant, alongside Chef Spike Mendelsohn. He also co-founded Honest Tea, chairs Beyond Meat’s board, and in 2023 became Chair of Mission Guardians for Tony’s Chocolonely, focusing on exploitation-free supply chains. Recognized with awards like the Washington DC Business Hall of Fame and EARTHDAY.ORG’s Climate Visionary of the Year, Seth holds degrees from Harvard College (1987) and Yale School of Management (1995). He co-authored the bestselling comic Mission in a Bottle about Honest Tea’s journey and sale to Coca-Cola.

Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank, is a renowned expert on sustainable agriculture and food systems. She co-founded Food Tank in 2013 with Bernard Pollack to foster a global community for healthy eaters, partnering with 250+ institutions like The Rockefeller Foundation and U.N. FAO. A 2020 Julia Child Award recipient, she has written extensively on factory farming, gender, and sustainable innovations. Food Tank promotes food system solutions through daily publications, podcasts, interviews, and global Summits. Previously, Danielle traveled to 35+ countries, meeting farmers, scientists, and policymakers to document strategies against hunger and environmental harm.

Stephen Ritz, an acclaimed educator and author of The Power of a Plant, founded Green Bronx Machine. Known as America's favorite teacher and a 2015 Global Teacher Prize Top Ten Finalist, he created the world’s first edible classroom, growing over 350,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx. His initiatives, impacting 300,000+ students globally, have earned awards like NYC STEM Champions, seven Anthem Awards, and an Emmy for a PBS episode. Celebrated at the Obama White House and featured in Generation Growth, Ritz has trained 10,000+ teachers. A CNN COVID Food Hero and 2024 Food Waste Warrior, he serves as a Senior Fellow at Babson College and consults globally.

Lawrence “Larry” Rivitz is Co-Founder/Co-Chair of Green Street Academy in West Baltimore and a serial entrepreneur. He founded Marketing Initiative LLC, a national strategic marketing consultancy in 1993. The firm focused on brand strategy and business development for emerging businesses and non-profit organizations. He currently serves as Board Member on the Governor’s Department of Service and Civic Innovation and previously as Founder/Board Chair of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship and Bet on Baltimore/Dent Education as well as Board Member of the Center for Urban Families and Venture for America. Prior to founding his consulting firm, Larry served as a corporate retail executive and consultant to mall developers, big box retailers, and mass market chains. He holds a BA from Washington University, St. Louis, MO, MA from Ohio University, Athens, OH, and MBA from Loyola University, Baltimore, MD.

Jeff Senne is a sustainability and ESG expert with over 20 years of experience across private, public, and non-profit sectors. As Founder and CEO of Sandbar Solutions, LLC, he advises Fortune 500 companies, SMEs, and non-profits on driving value through strategy and execution. His career includes key roles at PwC, the United Nations Global Compact, the African Development Bank, and UNDP in Chile, where he led impactful sustainability and governance initiatives. A recognized thought leader, Jeff hosts the podcast "Making Waves on Purpose" and has worked in 40+ countries, speaking three languages. He holds an MA from the United Nations University for Peace and a BA from the University of Illinois.

About Loyola Blakefield:
Loyola Blakefield, a Catholic, college preparatory school, established by the Jesuits and imbued with the spirit of Ignatius Loyola, forms men to serve with and for others. The Loyola student is preparing to graduate as a man of integrity, who, because he strives “to find God in all things,” is open to growth, intellectually ambitious, religious, loving, and committed to diversity and doing justice. Named Top Workplace for 13 consecutive years and Baltimore’s Best Private School, three years in a row, Loyola Blakefield students perform over 1,500 hours of community service per year, with 100% of graduates accepted into college. It's a place where lessons are learned, passions are discovered, and friendships are forged. Learn more at https://www.loyolablakefield.org.

About Green Bronx Machine:
Green Bronx Machine is an award-winning, nationally acclaimed non-profit that builds healthy, equitable, and resilient communities through inspired education, local food systems, and 21st Century workforce development. Dedicated to cultivating minds and harvesting hope, their school-based model incorporates urban agriculture and Tower Garden supported by their whole-school curriculum aligned to key school performance indicators to grow high performing schools and happy, healthy children. Reaching over 1,000 schools nationally and serving over 325,000 students daily, Green Bronx Machine was named a 2024 Fast Company Most Innovative Company and also offers an online educational platform, complete with instructional videos, free lesson plans, and downloadable teacher resources: Green Bronx Machine KIDS! The organization is presently featured in an award-winning documentary, Generation Growth, which highlights their expansion and success in communities across the nation. Individuals or groups interested in hosting a “Generation Growth” in-person or virtual screening or learning about additional ways to partner with Green Bronx Machine’s mission can contact Stephen Ritz at Stephen.Ritz@greenbronxmachine.org or 917.873.6449.

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