What’s the Problem?
In Astoria, high child poverty rates and the rising cost of property values are leading to struggling families and a struggling community. The public education system isn’t providing underprivileged students with opportunities that are allowing them to succeed in college and beyond. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
What’s the Solution
When it comes to poverty the goal should be to have solutions with long-term effects. Intervening during childhood, could disrupt this cycle and provide the children with opportunities that will help them climb the social ladder and avoid falling into the complex system that is poverty, impossible to navigate when you run out of options.
The Pitch
A public community center for school-age children to explore their interest and turn them into a career that provides for them and their future families. With little to no resouces children in poverty often fall behind in school and after school. This center gives them equal opportunity to succeed in life, as their more economically advantaged peers, we can break the cycle of poverty and create a more fiscally healthy community that benefits all.
What to bring to Astoria
Successful programs exist – we just need to bring these ideas of inclusive and accesible learning experiences to Astoria
Center
Inspired by STEAM programs, the center will provide educational experiences in the artistic, culinary, and computer science fields. Along with this, there will be mentors available to coach the children and provide them with useful experience regarding how to take this knowledge to the next level – college and career advice.
Who are the target users?
Upper middle and High school age children. With college on the horizon, they need the motivation and quality resources to prepare them for college and career life. This is vital to their success.
Materials/ Resources
Money – Public funding, philanthropical resources Building Structure – Construction Materials, Brick, Timber, etc. – Sustainable practices will prioritized/ preferred/ practiced Labor – People in construction, Maintenace, teaching/ mentor/ intern, and volunteer positions – People in the local community will be given most consideration The Community of Astoria
Location, 3128 14th St, Astoria, NY 11106
Price : $1,700,000
Monthly cost (est.) : $8,000 – $9,000 or more with additions/ repairs
Design Process
