On Monday, December 12, 2022, a citywide network of artists, neighborhood leaders, activists and policymakers assembled for our Reimagining New York City Online Forum. You can view the Zoom recording here. Our Reimagining New York City initiative incorporates the wisdom, imagination, and creative practices of community cultural organizations, artists, and neighborhood residents to affect decision making and transformative change.

Questions animating the discussion included: How do we reimagine just economies and movement building where culture and collaboration are through lines? How do we reimagine community belonging, racial equity and transformative spaces and places? We discussed themes such as climate and environmental justice, cultural hubs, neighborhood cultural strategy, immigration, racial equity, youth priorities, and more.

The event built on visioning sessions and exchanges that have been convening as part of the initiative for over a year and featured DeeArah Wright (artist and cultural organizer), Arif Ullah (South Bronx Unite), Arnaldo J. López (Pregones/PRTT), Libertad Guerra (The Clemente Solo Vélez Cultural & Educational Center), Caron Atlas (NOCD-NY and Arts & Democracy), Hatuey Ramos-Fermín (THE POINT), and others. Participants cross fertilized across groups and carried conversations and recommendations to the next level.

This event was supported by The New York Community Trust, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council, and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

Images, clockwise from top left (c/o NOCD-NY): Public Space discussion hosted at The Clemente, "Reimagine" mural with Girls Write Too! at THE POINT's Fish Parade, Brooklyn Utopias Interactive Performance Tour of Gowanus and discussion with Artichoke Dance, Cultural Hubs discussion co-presented with Chocolate Factory Theater, Climate Justice with Raquel de Anda and CityLore, Gowanus Community Center discussion with resident organizers, and Youth Forum to Reimagine New York City.