The Harlem in Transition Project
HarlemLive is an award-winning, critically acclaimed web magazine produced by teens from New York City. It is a journalism, technology, and leadership program that teaches students ages 13 to 21 how to run an online newspaper. The publication "HarlemLive," includes news articles, investigative stories, opinion pieces, personal essays, poetry, photography, and video documentaries. The students organize events, conduct workshops, and sit on panels, increasing their networking and public speaking abilities. The program is located on 123rd Street in Manhattan, the heart of Harlem's commercial district.
I worked as an investigative reporter covering the Harlem in Transition project. Low-income families were being pushed out of their central park north homes by upper-class individuals looking to raise the market value and take advantage of the prime location and beautiful view of central park.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Playing2Win is the oldest Community Technology Center in the Country. Founded by Toni Stone in 1980; its mission was to provide the surrounding high-risk neighborhood of East Harlem with the hardware, software, and related technologies of the time. P2W is also a project of Boy's Harbor, a 60-year old, multiservice youth organization serving over 4,000 young people and their families. P2W partnered with the Institute for Learning Technologies (ILT) at Columbia University; ILT provided instructional and technical support for P2W and P2W provided internships for Teachers' College students. I was an intern at P2W for two years and worked as an instructional technologist and reporter.