Earlier today, I had the distinct honor of joining Mayor Eric Adams, Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser, and other leaders from across New York City at the Bronx River Houses for a press conference focused on the expansion of broadband access to New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments all across New York.

The expansion of “Big Apple Connect” — the nation’s largest municipal broadband program — by nearly 50 percent, is a life changing initiative that will provide free internet and basic cable television service to a total of 202 NYCHA developments, and reach approximately 300,000 New Yorkers – essentially the size of a small city. BRIC is proud to support our city leaders as they work to increase media access and media literacy for the communities we serve.

Through our community engagement department and programs like the Intergenerational Community Arts Council (ICAC), BRIC has a long history of serving and working alongside our friends and neighbors in NYCHA housing. This initiative from the mayor’s office will enable us to take that relationship to the next level by helping develop a media literacy pipeline for NYCHA residents. We plan to provide residents with the tools and resources to grow their skills not only as artists and creatives but as positive members of their communities.

Serving New Yorkers – especially those who don’t benefit from power and privilege – through media education and the arts is at the heart of what BRIC does each and every day. We invite you to join us in supporting that work in the months ahead as we strive to not only increase media literacy in NYCHA houses, but for all New Yorkers in the years to come.