Abstract from Street Lab

When we launched a portable reading room called the Uni in 2011, we understood the impact it could could have for kids in low-income NYC neighborhoods who are at risk for “summer slide” and achievement gaps. Thus began our work to transform the street-level environment of the neediest NYC streets with pop-up reading rooms, drawing studios, and more—complete with staff and high quality materials, free for all. The Uni Project brought our best programs to play streets, playgrounds, and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments and aligned our work with citywide initiatives focused on resource equity and community safety. All of that work continues today and is embedded in the ongoing work of Street Lab, where a majority of our work serves mid to low-income communities.