Did you know that over 400,000 New Yorkers live in public housing?The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is the largest public housing authority in North America. Operating since the 1930's, the buildings are getting old and need repairs. In the past, NYCHA has suggested using its land as a source of money. Others think this is a bad idea and want NYCHA residents to have more of a say about what happens on NYCHA land.

CUP and teaching artist Chat Travieso worked with a group of public high school students from Lyons Community School to investigate perspectives on what to do with NYCHA land. The students talked to a Resident Association, developers, and community advocates. The crew took what they learned and created a poster that uses drawings to teach others what might happen on NYCHA land and who has a say about it. 

On June 12th, Space Jam had its debut at the Lower East Side Girls Club. Students shared stories of their experience and moderated a panel discussion featuring Marc Jahr, principal of an affordable housing financial consulting firm and former president of the New York City Housing Development Corporation. We talked about next steps from policy and organizing perspectives and ways to be involved when decisions about NYCHA land start getting made.