This post has been long overdue since I’ve been busy moving back to NYC and settling into my campus dorm again, but here it is.
Reflecting on my time with We Can Make, I feel proud of the work we’ve done to build community, creativity, and care. One of my final contributions involved hands-on cleanup at Rodfords, where we also held important conversations and brainstorming sessions about future engagement and planning for the community space. I had the opportunity to canvas local businesses to promote the Making Together program, which brings neighbors together to build, share, and imagine better futures for the housing microsite. Many of the stores we visited were Arab or Middle Eastern-owned, and it was especially meaningful to connect through shared cultural backgrounds. That common ground helped build trust and made the conversations feel more personal and grounded, which I loved!
I also supported efforts to coordinate and advocate for community needs, working alongside residents and others in the planning process. A memorable moment was meeting with people at Lush Greens, a not-for-profit community market garden in Bristol where I joined neighborhood and council members for a check-in to strengthen collaboration around green and social spaces.
Before leaving, I used digital fabrication tools like the UV printer and laser cutter to create a photo keepsake of our team. It’s a beautiful reminder for me. Beyond contributing to architectural and planning processes, I was able to nurture relationships, share ideas, and build joy. I leave feeling inspired by what has been made and excited about what is still to come. I remain in contact with the team and look forward to the establishment of the homes
:)
I am a junior at Columbia University, majoring in Urban Studies with a specialization in Public Health, and a 2024 Laidlaw Scholar. My first summer research was with the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Preservation and Planning Mapping Historical New York Initiative. I digitized historical maps and census data, contributing to a digital atlas of early New York settlements, focusing on Queens and the Bronx. For my second summer, I worked with WeCanMake, a community land trust, on a mixed-use housing microsite in the UK.
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Laila, I really appreciate how your final reflection combined both lessons learned through work and the relationships and trust within the community that you built along the way. The way you connected with Arab and Middle Eastern-owned businesses through shared culture was especially powerful. Common ground can open doors to deeper trust and collaboration. I’ve experienced something similar in my own community project this summer, where learning the local culture and language became a bridge that built trust and allowed the work to feel more personal and impactful.
I also love that you took the time to create a keepsake with the UV printer and laser cutter. It feels like such a meaningful way to tie together the creativity, memory, and teamwork of your experience. It demonstrates the holistic spirit of your work that included both hands-on efforts and bigger-picture conversations. I hope you continue to share updates as the homes come to life! I hope you have been able to settle in nicely in New York!