FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 2022

CONTACT: media@nycha.nyc.gov

NYCHA Celebrates First-Ever Citywide Youth Media Project with Culmination Event at Lincoln Center

More than 70 young people partnered with five community-based organizations to gain an introduction to media production skills for the purpose of creating diverse multimedia content

NEW YORK – On Tuesday, October 18, the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center served as the venue for a culmination event for the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) first-ever Youth Media Project, an eight-week program exposing young people between the ages of 14 and 24 to media production disciplines. Organized by NYCHA’s Office of Public-Private Partnerships, the program paired approximately 72 participants with media instructors and production facilities from five community-based organizations: Abstrak Visions, Black Film Space, BronxNet, Cloe’s Corner, and Manhattan Neighborhood Network. Youth participants gained valuable skills in publishing, journalism, broadcasting, podcasting, videography, and pre- and post-production.

“Young New Yorkers deserve every opportunity to succeed and pursue their dream. The Youth Media Project is opening another pathway for 72 young NYCHA residents to do just that,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Our creative economy is a driving force in our city’s comeback, and this program is going to help us develop the most capable workforce and attract more projects and more investment in New York City. There is no better way to bring our city back than with our brightest young people leading the way.”

“Providing NYCHA’s young people with an education in media production offers them an opportunity to articulate the issues that matter to them in a supportive and therapeutic setting,” said NYCHA Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “The range of talent that was fostered through the Youth Media Project and the dedication of our partners was truly remarkable, and we hope that this vital program receives the backing needed to continue operating in the years to come.”

“Congratulations to all the participants and organizers of NYCHA’s Youth Media Project," said NYC Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Anne del Castillo. "This new program looks to cultivate our city's diverse talent pool, where young New Yorkers have the opportunity to become the next generation of leaders fueling New York City’s creative economy."

"We are proud to celebrate the talents of our young neighbors and NYCHA residents participating in the Youth Media Project, who have accomplished so much in just a few weeks," said Leah Johnson, Executive Vice President of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. "We hope everyone enjoyed themselves, made connections with neighbors, and – most importantly – expressed themselves creatively during their time with us."

"Participating in the Youth Media Project with NYCHA's Office of Public-Private Partnerships was the highlight of our summer,” said Manhattan News Network Director of Media Education Tiffany Blount. “The student's ability to use our resources and absorb the material in such a short period was a joy to see. The future of those kids is bright and we’re happy to have played a small part in their creative growth."

"BronxNet is honored to be among the community-based organizations to partner with NYCHA on the first ever citywide Youth Media Project,” said BronxNet Director of Education Timothy Coleman. “Bronx youth excel when they know that those working with them have faith in their abilities and facilitate access to a supportive and creative outlet. Our experience with the NYCHA youth was one that also inspired our team to reflect on our work and our impact on Bronx future leaders. We look forward to our continued partnership with NYCHA."

"Programs like this are essential to ending violence within communities because it gives youth an outlet to redirect their energy. By letting youth experience first-hand how to be a creative, change influencer, or entrepreneur they realize a new life is within their grasp,” said Cloe’s Corner Program Manager Ashley Heurtelou. “The youth media project gave students concrete, eye-opening steps to make a fun, thoughtful piece that before would have seemed overwhelming and impossible to them. You never know how you can positively affect the youth if you don't provide more programs like this to understand how impactful they are."

“Most of our students started off inexperienced and now feel equipped to make use of accessible technology to join the world of content creation,” said Black Film Space Co-Founder Lande Youssef. “Black Film Space’s goal was to empower our youth participants about prioritizing the structure of a well-composed story. We are proud to say that they did indeed learn that. We are grateful for this opportunity through NYCHA!"

The Youth Media Project was made possible through surplus funding available from a $2 million grant provided in July 2021 by the City of New York to support the creation of anti-violence programming. Developed as part of a holistic approach towards public safety, the media program was dovetailed with a youth basketball league and crisis prevention workshops at NYCHA campuses throughout the city. The cost to fund the youth media component was $185,000, with a contract term from July 11, 2022, through September 2, 2022. This funding included costs for classes, use of space, transportation assistance and stipends at $15 per hour.

Open to all NYCHA residents, information sessions were held on July 22 and 29. Flyers were posted in NYCHA developments, shared on social media, and emailed to resident leaders and community-based organizations that serve NYCHA youth. The information sessions generated 415 RSVPs and 158 total applications were submitted to join the program.

Five unique community-based organizations were tapped to provide instruction to the 72 participants who enrolled: Abstrak Visions, Black Film Space, BronxNet, Cloe’s Corner, and Manhattan Neighborhood Network. Participants were taught how to storyboard their respective projects across a variety of mediums that included fiction and nonfiction publishing, narrative journalism, broadcast journalism, videography, podcasting and film post-production.

The participants who completed the program produced more than four hours of media content thanks to the instruction and facility access provided by the community partners. Some of the benefits reported by participants included the ability to learn in a supportive teaching environment; the ability to connect with peers; the familiarity gained in film/video production; the expertise and assistance of teaching instructors; learning the inner workings of film/video production; and the confidence gained from being in front of the camera.

NYCHA’s Department of Communications is also collaborating with the Office of Public-Private Partnerships, the participating community-based organizations, and youth participants to create a short film documenting the Youth Media Project overall. Lincoln Center graciously provided the David Rubenstein Atrium as a gallery to exhibit the final projects. Cornel’s Catering Company provided hors d’oeuvres during the event. Headed by Chef Cornel of Forest Houses, the business venture received valuable training under NYCHA’s REES Catering Business Pathways program.

Among the current participants, there will be five individuals/groups whose work will be highlighted as part of an Ultimate Showcase – an exclusive recognition for youth who wish to further work on a project that can be used as a capstone project, whether that is to have a portfolio piece for school applications or in pursuit of a career in media production.

The recognition gained through the Ultimate Showcase will enable young people to gain valuable transferable skills like that of an artist working on commission, in which selected recipients will create and manage budgets for their own pieces, create a commissioned piece, and present it before the public as a showcase winner.

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About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to roughly 1 in 16 New Yorkers across over 177,000 apartments within 335 housing developments. NYCHA serves over 339,000 residents through the conventional public housing program (Section 9), over 29,000 residents at developments that have been converted to PACT/RAD, and over 92,000 families through federal rent subsidies (the Section 8 Leased Housing Program). In addition, NYCHA connects residents to opportunities in financial empowerment, business development, career advancement, and educational programs. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city.