NYC Gentrification & Development

This course guides students and educators through various areas of New York City to learn about and address problems associated with urban gentrification, development and underdevelopment. The course is open to all institutions of secondary education. We will engage and mediate directly with civic leaders, activists, nonprofit organizations, and local residents on varying sides of the debate concerning the future paths for communities and how they may be optimally served.

Discovering New York City and immersing ourselves in its diverse neighborhoods and cultures are both sweet and essential to our mission. We will explore the city’s many ethnic neighborhoods, closely examine current urban development models, meet grassroots activists, engage with community arts, and attend a college seminar on urban planning. A variety of recreational activities and very much fun are of course part of the experience. No background on the subject is necessary.

In order to mediate and design effectively, this course will survey New York City history beginning with Native American tribes – First Nation in recognition that major U.S. cities are predominantly (but not exclusively) defined by human migration and diversity. Participants will become familiar with a comprehensive range of agendas and narratives regarding how urban centers evolved historically, and how they ought to develop. As the course progresses students will be encouraged to develop their own critical thought, progressively becoming more discerning consumers of current events.

Through direct engagement with the community, student inquiry, classroom sessions, and collaborative design, we will attempt to create an artifact that effectively addresses problems associated with gentrification and urban development in NYC while also respecting the affected people and their range of agendas. Successful completion of the course will translate to a comprehension of:

• Modern history of New York City beginning with Native American-First Nation
• The role of human migration and diversity in urban settings 
• The dynamics of gentrification and urban development
• The range of competing narratives
• The collaborative design process

The story of NYC is the story of immigration, historically and currently. Walking the footsteps of those who arrived in the US 100 years ago or just yesterday – families, entrepreneurs, social activists, artists, and gangsters – helps to inform understandings of current dilemmas and debates. We will see how these neighborhoods were shaped by U.S. Immigration Policy which itself has changed over time. We will also learn about contemporary challenges facing these communities with which we are engaging. Fuggetaboutit !