Creative Transformation: Arts, Culture, and Public Housing Communities
Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts New York Roundtable
July 27, 2015 at the Rockefeller Foundation

Recognizing an opportunity to further integrate arts and culture into the transformation of public housing communities, NOCD-NY brought together a diverse range of tenant leaders, residents, elected officials and staff, city agencies, artists, cultural institutions, advocates, funders and community organizations in an Arts, Culturem and Public Housing Roundtable on July 27, 2015. Drawing on interviews carried out in the field, the roundtable was designed to:

• Showcase exemplary partnerships that illustrated equitable, long-term approaches

• Identify barriers and challenges

• Develop recommendations and discuss how to move them into action

• Identify pilot project(s) that could be supported

• Build and strengthened relationships amongst participants. 

AGENDA

12:30            Lunch

1:00    Welcome & Framing

1:20    Examples

Presenters will share their examples, participants can ask clarifying questions, and a respondent will identify broader themes and issues.

Cultural Engagement on NYCHA Sites                                

Frances Lucerna, El Puente (Brooklyn)

Laura Timme and Samantha Johnson, University Settlement (Manhattan/Brooklyn)

Adama Fassah & Adisatu Colandra-Kabba, Park Hill Market, and Naomi Sturm, Staten Island Arts (Staten Island)

Response – Nicholas Dagen Bloom, New York Institute of Technology

Community Revitalization Strategies in the Bronx  

Christine Licata, Casita Maria

Elizabeth Hamby, artist

Suzette Walker-Camara, Betances Center

Response – Carmen Piñeiro, Community Voices Heard

Arts-Initiated Models 

Amy Sananman, Groundswell (Citywide)

James Bartlett, MoCADA (Brooklyn)

Maria Soriano and Nahisha McCoy Freeman, Dance Theatre Etcetera (Brooklyn)

2:50            Discussion

3:10            Break

3:20            Vision & Opportunities

Arts & Culture

Lakai Worrell, Purelements: An Evolution in Dance

Sheila Lewandowski, The Chocolate Factory

Residents & Activists

Damaris Reyes, GOLES

Akrm Ahmed, Community Voices Heard

Dereese Huff, Tenant Association President, Campos Plaza

Cathy Dang, CAAAV

National Perspective

Jamie Bennett, ArtPlace

Milly Hawk Daniel, PolicyLink

NYC Policy Perspective

City Councilmember Brad Lander

Deputy Commissioner Edwin Torres, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs

Associate Commissioner Darryl Rattray, Community Centers and Strategic Partnerships, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development

Rasmia Kirmani-Frye, Office of Public/Private Partnerships, NYC Housing Authority

4:20            Recommendations – Lightning Round – 1 minute each                    

4:30            Recommendations Discussion

4:55            Wrap Up

5:00            Roundtable Ends