Hot! In the City
Students investigate how extreme heat impacts New Yorkers.
On the same day in New York City, surface temperatures can sometimes vary between 20 degrees or more between different neighborhoods. Why are some neighborhoods hotter than others? What is the urban heat island effect? How does it impact us and what can we do about it?
In the spring of 2022, Teaching Artist Alex Cabana collaborated with students from the Academy of Urban Planning and Engineering (AUPE) to take a closer look at extreme heat and the urban heat island effect. To investigate the issue, students talked to community members in Bushwick, interviewed stakeholders working on the issue, and created mixed media art to process the information.
The team gathered what they learned and created this booklet to teach others about the urban heat island effect, the impact of extreme heat on New Yorkers, and what changes we need to make to navigate and survive extreme heat in the city.
Check out more photos of students in action here!
"[Compared to a regular classroom] this project was more interactive with society and the outside world. There was also a lot of freedom and creativity involved with what we did."
— Hailey Dejesus, AUPE Student
Check out the Project
The cover and a spread from the project that explains what we can do to combat extreme heat in the city, featuring student drawings and quotes from interviewees Daphne Lundi and Luis Ortiz.
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Project Collaborators
CUP
Educational Partner
Academy of Urban Planning and Engineering
Darby Young
Jorge Sandoval
Valerie Vu
Michael Schulman
Teaching Artist
Students
Enzi Albert, Stephanie Alvarado, Sara Alvarez, Charly Ascencion, Emely Baez, Angelica Beof, Ocean Cabrera, Sincere Davis, Hailey Dejesus, Emily Frias, Ky-Mani Gobin, Alan Gonzalez, Omar Hernandez, Medina Lekperi, Justeen Minaya, Perfection Okoli, Kevin Perez, Enzo Pichardo, Jazlene Rivera, Xaias Sarasti, Mirahn Seward, Elisha Shabazz, Katelyn Sierra, Vincent Slaughter, Mia Torres, Kymar Waterman, Holiday Woodside
Special Thanks
Daphne Lundi and Luis Ortiz
Product Details
16 pages, 7" x 7"
Funding Support
This project was made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.