Cornell Urban Scholars Program: A New Look at New York

Cornell Urban Scholars Program

The Cornell Urban Scholars Program (CUSP) is dedicated to supporting the efforts of New York City's most innovative non-profit organizations. CUSP achieves this goal by encouraging Cornell's most talented students to pursue public service careers with organizations working with New York City's poorest children, families, and communities. Thanks to the contribution of Peter Sloane, President of the August Heckscher Foundation for Children, Cornell University was able to create this public service program. This blog represents the thirty-one 2007 Cornell Urban Scholars that are dedicating their summers to non-profit organizations and local government agencies.

Monday, June 18, 2007

A New Look at New York

The Cornell Urban Scholars spent Friday June 15th learning about Brooklyn. After watching the Atlantic Yards Documentary, “Brooklyn Matters,” the group traveled to Fort Greene Brooklyn for a walking tour led by Keith Getter.

The tour included a walk through historic streets and local neighborhoods. Apart from a visit to the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Forte Green Park the group gauged community member opinions through on the spot interviews. Through conversations with local people, such as a fruit stand vendor, a bank teller, a man sitting on the sidewalk, and a park and recreation employee, the students were able to gather a different understanding of Brooklyn and the different roles that people play in the community.