Pandemic Response: New York's Neighborhoods Now Initiative

Video Summary: In New York City and across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected communities of color. This crisis threatens to shutter small businesses and expand the racial wealth gap in neighborhoods that already lack access to resources and capital as a result of long-term structural inequity and racism. In response, the Urban Design Forum and Van Alen Institute launched Neighborhoods Now to channel pro bono resources from New York–based design firms into community-driven recovery strategies. From outdoor eateries to moderating lease negotiations to repurposing vacant space to getting the word out, this panel reviews the successes of Neighborhoods Now and imagines the post-pandemic applications for diverse and equitable neighborhoods across the country.