New America’s Resilient Communities Program Announces Community Partners for RISE : NYC

New America’s Resilient Communities program, one of 11 projects being implemented through NYCEDC’s Resilient Innovations for a Stronger Economy (RISE : NYC) program, is thrilled to announce its partnership with six community anchor organizations in Superstorm Sandy-impacted neighborhoods citywide.

Each of these community-based anchor institutions will run a technology training program for local residents with New America’s support. The trainees will build local wireless networks that provide digital access as well as a critical resource for emergency preparedness.

New America’s six community partners include:

• The Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corporation, Far Rockaway, Queens

• The Point Community Development Corporation, Hunt’s Point, The Bronx

• Project Hospitality in partnership with the Staten Island Long-Term Recovery Organization, Midland Beach, Staten Island

• Silicon Harlem in partnership with the New Harlem East Merchant’s Association, East Harlem, Manhattan

• The Fifth Avenue Committee, Gowanus, Brooklyn

• The King’s Bay Y, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn

These community-based organizations are joined by New America’s technical implementation partner Sky-Packets, a local wireless firm that has installed public WiFi networks across New York City in addition to other U.S. and international cities. Along with Sky-Packets, trainees from the six neighborhoods will install wireless networking equipment to serve small businesses.

“We are thrilled to be working in partnership with these organizations, each of which is already doing vital work in its local community,” said Resilient Communities Director Greta Byrum. “We see our collaboration as unique opportunity to build digital infrastructure that is deeply rooted in community values and responsive to community needs.”

Resilient Communities Program Manager Houman Saberi added that “the RISE : NYC project is a testament to the idea that community resilience doesn’t just mean ‘bouncing back’ from a disaster—it means that bouncing back stronger and equipped with tools that empower communities.”

"Our team will be closely working with our community partners to create a visceral, safe, and collaborative environment to engage local residents to become Digital Stewards” elaborated Resilient Communities Technology Coordinator and Training Specialist Raul Enriquez.

Resilient Communities held five days of orientation and onboarding for its community partners August 9-10 and 16-18 to explore the ways local communications systems can bolster community preparedness and build local economies across New York City.