SEVEN ISSUES
A NEW YORK CITY THINK TANK
CLIENT: WNET
Conferences: Issues & Ideas, Partnership Development, Community Engagement
Photos: Joseph Sinnott
Photos: Joseph Sinnott
Photos: Joseph Sinnott
ABOUT
Seven Issues was an all-day conference with 125+ thought leaders and nonprofit executives from across New York City for a day of workshops on strategic responses to the top seven issues affecting New Yorkers. For most conference-goers, this was their first meeting with counterparts from across the five boroughs.
The participants were leaders and key officials from New York City The participants represented hospitals and healthcare providers, colleges and universities, economic development groups, art organizations, cultural institutions, social service organizations, legal services organizations, religious institutions, and more, as well as independent artists, activists, journalists, and community organizers. Together, they shared case studies and tough questions around gentrification, systemic racism, ethnic and religious discrimination, healthcare and mental health, political accountability and transparency, cultural representation, and cultural sustainability.
The event generated new programming ideas for WNET and knowledge sharing for the attendees.
PROGrAM
Gentrification
Zulma Cruz | Staten Island Hunger Task Force
Sally Dunford | West Bronx Housing and Neighborhood Resource Center
Alison Fleminger | University Settlement
Regina Myer | Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
Annetta Seecharran | Chhaya CDC
Robyne Walker Murphy | Groundswell NYC
Systemic Racism
Dr. Lisa M. Coleman | New York University
Novella Ford | Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Russell Frederick | Kamoinge, Inc.
Shanelle Gabriel | Urban Word NYC
Eun Lee | The Dream Unfinished: An Activist Orchestra
Gonzalo Mercado | La Colmena
Justine Olderman | The Bronx Defenders
Sofía Snow | Urban Word NYC
Ethnic & Religious Discrimination
Dr. Debbie Almontaser | Muslim Community Network
Widad Hassan | NYC Commission on Human Rights
Erum Jaffer | South Asian Youth Action (SAYA)
Thahitun Mariam | NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
Elianne Ramos & Christiaan Perez | LatinoJustice PRLDEF
Rev. Dr. Terry Troia | Project Hospitality
Healthcare & Mental Health
Kelly Mallinson | Choices Women’s Medical Center, Inc.
Cleon Edwards | NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
Linda Rodriguez |The Child Center of NY
Fern A. Zagor, LCSW | Staten Island Mental Health Society
Alina Moran | NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Hospital
Political Transparency & Accountability
Susan M. Dooha | Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY
Robert Fanuzzi, Ph.D. | St. John’s University of Staten Island
Rev. Kaji Douša | The Park Avenue Christian Church
Katy Rubin | Theatre of the Oppressed NYC
Adam Friedman | Pratt Center for Community Development
Julienne Verdi | Move Forward Staten Island
Cultural Representation
Juan Carlos Aguirre | Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture Without Borders
Bobby Digi | Canvas Institute
Bill Aguado | En Foco, Inc.
Kristin Wallace & Tom Ferrie | Maker Park Radio
John Wang | Queens Night Market
Beth Stryker | ArteEast
Cultural Sustainability
Rob Fields | Weeksville Heritage Center
Susan Fenley | Sundog Theatre
Pat Cruz | Harlem Stage
Kim Cullen | New York Live Arts
Eric G. Pryor | Harlem School of the Arts
Cathy Hung | Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning
Alec Duffy & Jordana De La Cruz | JACK
PROJECT TEAM
Brian Tate, Conference Design/Curator
Mary Burke, Director, Public Programs, WNET
Maggie Bower, Project Specialist, WNET
RELATED PROJECTS
CROSS-SECTOR CONVENINGS
CROWDFUNDING & ARTISTS OF COLOR