The Point of Change: The Intersection of Art, Activism, and Community

By: Mandira Pai (M.R.P. ’26)

As the subway leaves behind the bustle of Manhattan, we see a shift from the dense skyscraper skyline to stocky, low-rise structures. The first glimpse of the Bronx, a dense patchwork of culture and history on concrete canvases, leaves us spellbound with its distinct contrast from the island we left behind.

Walking through the graffiti laden streets at Hunt’s point, we were met with a simple, unassuming façade with bright murals covering the side. We step inside and catch a glimpse of an evocative space dotted with material manifestations of the cultural pulse in the form artwork, posters, photographs.

The Point CDC, a vibrant community center guided by the Jemez principles, focuses their efforts on issues that directly affect the community such as air pollution caused by vehicles, traffic, heat island effect, accessibility to affordable fresh food, acquisition of land by last mile facilities and lack of access to green space and the Bronx waterfront area.

Dariella Rodriguez, an educator at the center, talked about how the Hunt’s point is one of the largest food distributors in the country but the people often do not benefit from the warehouses and distribution networks built there. Combined with the growing number of last mile facilities encroaching on the region, there has been a constant barrage of trucks and semis, leading to significant air quality issues. To combat this issue the center, as a key member of the NY Renews, was able to pass the Climate Leadership Community Protection Act (2019) which mandated that New York cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 85% and become carbon neutral by 2050. It also requires that 40% of state climate and energy funding be directed toward environmental justice communities. This was a powerful display of the kind of impact grassroots level activism can have on policy and governance.

She also mentioned the importance of power mapping and how we can use it to find out who the actors are, who will help us and how much power they have. Another tool mentioned in conversation was how neighboring communities can address common issues by forming a coalition. The Point, along with other communities, have formed such a coalition to mitigate last mile trucking facilities in New York City. The coalition is urging the NYC City Planning Commission to approve a zoning act that can control growth of warehouses and trucking facilities.

Hatuey Ramos-Fermin, the creative director of arts and education at the center, described the work that goes into organizing programs on civic leadership and creativity for young people and cultural community events such as The Fish Parade and Fem Flave. He emphasized the importance of centers building genuine relationships with the community, free from any transactional nature. He highlighted that when people are empowered with skills and enrichment, they will naturally advocate for the community’s well-being.

Our conversations and discussions at the community center left an indelible mark on us. The deep connection between the center and the residents at Hunt’s point left us with a realization that we are not just planners that formulate maps and policies on a computer system but active facilitators of empowerment. The stories recounted by Dariella, Hatuey and the numerous people at the center, filled us with an awareness that genuine leadership is about supporting others to share their stories, not about narrating our own. This experience also reinforced my belief in the crucial role that we as planners play in furthering climate justice, realizing that sustainable solutions can only be created if we work for the communities, with the communities.