Riis’s NSTAT team had a busy summer. The NSTAT program aims to bring together a diverse group of residents in select public housing developments to identify public safety issues and devise actionable solutions. Riis’s team works to reimagine public safety in Queensbridge Houses by fostering broad community participation in a series of activities and projects.
Over the summer, the team coordinated a community photography project in partnership with the Josephine Herrick Project. They held workshops for residents and exhibited pictures of residents throughout the development. They also launched a community mural project to promote the cultural diversity of the community. In July, the team hosted an anti-violence community day of healing as part of the city’s safe summer initiative. The event brought together multiple community partners and provided a range of resources and information on social services to residents of all ages. The event was a great success and helped to foster community unity and encourage healing.
As part of their action plan 2.0, the team will be implementing a youth music mentorship program for youth between the ages of 16-24. The youth will learn how to create music, work with mentors, and get valuable insight into the music industry. The team will also be hosting upcoming workshops for the yarning of trees in a continued effort to beautify the physical space. And, on September 23rd, they will host a LocalSTAT meeting where they will invite residents to give their input on how to best allocate $30,000 in funding for the community.
