Jayson Gittens

My name is Jayson Gittens, and I'm a student at Canarsie High School in Brooklyn, New York. I'm currently an Operator with Brooklyn Level Up's EcoPower '26 program, working across the Environment & Data and Story & Media tracks. This is my third summer with BKLVLUP, and each year I've returned with a sharper sense of what I want to build and who I want to build it for.

I do environmental fieldwork, community research and media that actually reaches people. I've tested backyard soil for lead, mapped desolate lots using NASA ARSET remote sensing tools, and produced a step-by-step NYC garbage disposal guide with a scannable QR resource list. I care about making information usable — not just correct, but easy to find when someone needs it.

What drives me is the idea that if you have the ability to help, you should. That mindset shows up in how I prepare for presentations, how I take feedback, and how I keep showing up even when I'm sore, tired or intimidated. Basketball keeps me disciplined. Gaming keeps me sharp on systems and strategy. Both of those show up in the work.

This summer I focused on public voice: how to talk to a crowd, how to invite someone to your table without making them feel interrupted, and how to turn real data into something a neighbor can act on. I'm looking for internships, research opportunities, job shadowing and mentorship where I can keep learning while contributing.