New Yorkers are famous for minding their own business—but if you ask them, they’ve got plenty of opinions. So it’s interesting that a new website, called, “Change by Us NYC,” is soliciting ideas about how to make the city greener and more livable.
The site, which went live on July 7, promises to directly connect people who live and work in New York’s five boroughs with city government in order to put words into action. It is operated by New York City’s Office of the Mayor, in partnership with the Citizens Committee for New York City, Pratt Center for Community Development, ioby, and the United States Forest Service.
ChangesbyUsNYC is the latest platform created by Local Projects — known for its innovative work on StoryCorps and the 9/11 Memorial Museum — and the urban think tank, CEOs for Cities. It is funded with the support of the Rockefeller Foundation, the Knight Foundation, and the Case Foundation.
City officials described the project as “a social network for grass-roots leaders.” They said their goal was to exploit the opportunities offered by social media to spur professionals, volunteers, and city employees to share information about ways to improve conditions and team up for specific projects.
Change by Us NYC will help users raise money to start projects like community composting or creating a new open space. The city’s Department of Environmental Protection will use the site to identify and guide projects that could be eligible for a program that disburses millions of dollars in grants to beautify neighborhoods, reduce sewer overflow into New York Harbor, or undertake other infrastructure projects.
“Change by Us NYC enables New Yorkers across the city to become stewards of their own local communities and team up with the city government and other neighbors to make good things happen,” said David Bragdon, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability.
The site currently features ideas that already are works in progress, including the Bronx River Cleanup MillionTreesNYC, and Vegetable Garden at St. Luke and St. Matthew.
Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard (News - Alert) Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
