March 24, 2016

An Interview with the Lower East Side Girls Club

Lee Llambelis, Deputy Commissioner for Community Partnerships and STEAM Initiatives visited the Lower East Side Girls Club (LESGC) and the WGRL/Girls Out Loud sound design studios where she was interviewed by teen reporters from WGRL/Girl’s Club radio program. Through Girls Out Loud, the LES girls bring their unique voice to the world. The sound design studio is the site for live programming, podcasting, and digital journalism activities.

Deputy Commissioner Llambelis spoke to the girls about careers for young women in STEAM, specifically in the built environment, and shared her journey to her present position at DDC. She also emphasized the importance of doing well in school, pursing internships and getting involved in local communities to effect positive change.  

The LESGC is located in a green building with a LEED gold rating that incorporates a number of innovative building elements including green roofs and building integrated system that employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells to supply solar power. It is also home to the East Village Planetarium, a 64 seat 30′ dome that teaches earth and sky science, astro-visualization and digital design to schools and small group classes. The Media Center offers computer stations with free wireless Internet access, and classes in graphic design, web design and digital photography. Digital filmmaking and editing classes also take place here.