We are celebrating 15 years — and counting — of stories that are deeply researched and deeply felt, that build a historical record of what the city has been.
With the highest rate of poverty and the highest number of unemployed young adults in Brooklyn, Brownsville’s 86,000 residents struggle with the realities and reputation of their neighborhood; high rates of violent crime and incarceration, as well as police surveillance, are the legacy of a long history of resource deprivation. But, from the first birth control clinic and children’s library in the US in the early 20th century to the work of organizations like the Brownsville Community Justice Center and Made in Brownsville today, community spaces have also stood against tired narratives of poverty and violence, promising new opportunity and neighborhood pride. In this video produced for UO by youth creative agency and innovation hub Made in Brownsville, residents speak to their experience of the neighborhood and where safety can and can’t be found.
The views expressed here are those of the authors only and do not reflect the position of The Architectural League of New York.
An examination of the pervasive and often overlooked infrastructure of criminal justice in New York and the spaces that could serve a more just city.
In This Series