Reflections from New York – Climate, Community, and Collaboration

Working on a transatlantic project that centres climate justice, I faced a tricky decision: do I fly to New York for in-person work, or do we continue entirely remotely? We ultimately decided that spending time face-to-face with partners and running concept workshops at this stage of the project was essential.

A team photo outside of King Manor.

And so, I booked a week in New York, and not just any week. It is Climate Week NYC, the International Human Rights Festival in Queens, and the UN General Assembly all at once.

Our partners here aren’t just navigating the complexities of our international collaboration—they’re also living through uncertain times. In such times, the moments we come together feel all the more meaningful, grounding us in community and solidarity.

This week turned out to be far more worthwhile than I had imagined. It brought me closer to my team, deepened my understanding of the place-based needs of their projects, and gave us the space to dream together. We made significant strides in planning for our 2026 community storytelling summer and our 2027 community exhibitions.

Queens Central Library & the Power of Archives

A highlight was visiting Queens Central Library, home to the Queens Memory Project, one of our earliest partners in NY. After nearly two years of remote partnership, it was fantastic to finally connect in person with its director Meral and her team.

We toured the physical and digital archives with lead archivist (and side-hustle musician!) Eric, who offered fascinating insights into the collections.

I was especially drawn to the giant city maps, re-edited multiple times to reflect both physical and semantic changes. We looked closely at one of Jamaica, a key area for our project. It was fascinating to see how human interventions in the environment had been recorded, and to reflect on the motivations behind those changes, especially in a project like ours, which hopes to inspire adaptations, iterations, and re-visionings of urban landscapes that no longer serve us in a heating world.

Scoping the 2027 Exhibition

Later, the team that will be working with Meral to develop our 2027 exhibition joined us for lunch and a collaborative afternoon of visioning. It was wonderful getting to know Dacia, Faye, Aimai and Michael, and to understand the possibilities, challenges, and opportunities so far in advance.

They were excited to have such a long lead-in time for an exhibition, and this trip gave us the chance to co-create a first draft vision and start building a timeline. Our conversations were made even more inspiring by the unique vegetarian café they brought me to - The Panorama of My Silence-Heart Café. If you're ever in Jamaica, Queens, do seek it out.

Workshop at King Manor Museum

The next day, we held a full-day workshop at the King Manor Museum.
A huge thank you to artist Harun Morrison for the use of his environmental question cards - just like at our London symposium, they sparked deep and meaningful conversations. This session brought everyone together: our two storytellers-in-residence DaeQuan and Roxanne, who presented their emerging stories; our NYC-based academics Kara and Danny, who shared insights on the Urban Heat Island Effect; and all our wonderful partners from Queens Memory Project, Newtown Creek Alliance, and, of course, King Manor Museum.

As a museum professional myself, I appreciated the chance to explore the historic house of Rufus King, gaining a deeper understanding of his role in the U.S. Constitution and his local legacies and forward-thinking attitudes for his time. Our hosts, Kelsey, Veronica, and Hannah were incredible, and we even managed a behind-the-scenes tour with Hannah during our lunch break.

It was an intense day, but we were well-supported:

• Catered by the fantastic local team at Bella Luna

• Captured by filmmaker Rebecca Blandon (representing Chocolate Films)

• Energised by the in-person dynamic that allowed for honest conversations, focused planning, and creative breakthroughs

A Walk Along Newtown Creek

Another powerful day was spent at the unique site of another partner, Newtown Creek Alliance. Despite many attempts to understand this location remotely, it all came together during Hart’s walking tour.

We walked through humid rain and discovered many of the unique features of the creek. From rain gardens and film studios to slick-surfaced waters, industrial operations, and the city’s water sanitation hub, the landscape was striking and complex. I even saw the New York “eggs” (anaerobic digesters at the water treatment plant) for the first time.

Hart and DaeQuan are facing a specific set of challenges in telling stories that reflect everyday experiences of urban heat and health in this industrial setting, particularly for those working year-round in environments with little shade and high heat exposure. There are real barriers here, linguistic, logistical, and infrastructural, but they’re both so committed and creative. I’m exploring ways to support further, including offering more team time and funding for translators to help bridge divides and find ways into the stories of the creek.

American Museum of Natural History

That evening, at a Climate Week event at the American Museum of Natural History, I watched a lightning lecture about those very same “eggs” and the water sanitation issues of New York. Later under the iconic blue whale, Kara and Danny from Melting Metropolis gave a brilliant and captivating presentation on the Urban Heat Island Effect.

The night was electric, where music met policy, and strangers engaged in inspired dialogue. Toward the end, I met Aja Two Crows from the Governors Island team (whom I’d only met remotely until then). They’re working on an exciting storytelling initiative of their own, and I had the chance to share my climate story with one of their audio producers.

Closing Reflections

The trip isn’t over yet. There’s still time to try that legendary sour cherry pecan crumb pie from Petee’s Pies, to enjoy a final night of arts and activism at the International Human Rights Festival in Queens, and to see the Ai Weiwei arts intervention on Roosevelt Island.

The community I’ve experienced here has felt powerful, rich, and deeply motivated by the challenges people face. Being in New York during Climate Week didn’t feel odd or indulgent, it felt important.

And for our Melting Metropolis Community Partnership Project, it felt essential.

I love this incredible team and eagerly anticipate the stories that will emerge, and the storytelling that will inspire.