Community Hubs, Belonging and Anti-Displacement Strategies

On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, NOCD-NY partnered with The Chocolate Factory Theater to co-host a peer learning exchange on Community Hubs, Belonging and Anti-Displacement Strategies. We asked the group: How do organizations based in rapidly changing neighborhoods build meaningful relationships with neighbors while fighting displacement? What role do artists play in this process?

In rapidly changing neighborhoods, cultural organizations are often seen by long term residents as agents of displacement. Cultural organizations and artists alongside neighbors can play pivotal roles in combating gentrification and strengthening a sense of rootedness and belonging. Nevertheless, when neighbors have multiple competing perspectives, priorities, and visions for their communities, the answers to these questions can be complex and difficult to navigate.

This discussion invited community hubs and cultural anchors to share and reflect on their experiences—both successes and challenges—to find ways to address the nuanced role of cultural hubs as part of anti-displacement strategies.

This event was part of Reimagining New York City, a citywide series of visioning sessions and exchanges to incorporate the wisdom, imagination, and creative practices of community cultural organizations, artists, and neighborhood residents in decision making and transformative change.

Reimagining New York City is supported by The New York Community Trust, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, 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.