In Partnership with the Civic Organization BetaNYC, the Pop-Up Will Explore How Technology Can Meet the Challenges Facing NYC in the 21st Century

CUNY will highlight the many ways that technology can be used to empower communities by transforming a space in the Oculus in Lower Manhattan into The NYC Public Interest Technology Pop-Up, a 10-day immersive event space showcasing how technology can be harnessed for justice, equity and community empowerment.  

The event, which runs from Oct. 27 through Nov. 6, is the centerpiece of a grant CUNY received from the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) to expand the University’s efforts to promote technology for the public good and guide students to careers.  

The pop-up will turn a storefront on the south concourse of the Oculus into a public space that is part gallery, part workshop and part futuristic collaborative space. It will feature hands-on demonstrations, art, games, films and creative activities that showcase the use of technology as a tool for an equitable and just future. The space will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free. Full information and a daily schedule of events is here. 

NYC PIT Pop-Up seeks to explore the ways in which technology can meet the challenges facing New York City in the 21st century. Each day the pop-up will zoom in on a different theme, ranging from climate change and human rights to data mapping and techno spirituality. 

The $145,000 PIT-UN Challenge Grant, one of 10 awarded to universities across the country, supports skills development, apprenticeships, career workshops and other projects developed by CUNY students, faculty and civic and workforce partners. The grant is led by Kathleen Cumiskey, professor of psychology at the College of Staten Island and the CUNY Graduate Center and director of the CUNY PIT Lab; and Effie MacLachlan, director of grants and research programs in the CUNY Office of Research.  

The project, titled “Pipelines and Pop-ups: Generating Pathways into Careers in Public Interest Technology,” is a collaboration with BetaNYC, a partner project of the Fund for the City of New York that is dedicated to promoting open data, civic engagement and public-interest technology.  

“I am delighted to witness the continued growth of PIT-UN at CUNY, particularly the strategic partnerships established with BetaNYC and the innovative ways in which public interest technology is equipping our students with essential digital, data and literacy skills,” said Rosemarie Wesson, associate vice chancellor and university vice provost for research. “The PIT Pop-Up at the Oculus provides a unique opportunity for the public to engage with the intersection of technology, art, science and community, further elevating the visibility of public interest technology as an emerging and vital field of study for the next generation of technologists.” 

“Together, we are creating exciting hands-on learning experiences for our students that translate into marketable tech skills,” said Kathleen Cumiskey, director of the CUNY PIT Lab. “The NYC PIT Pop-Up exemplifies our goal to build a strong community of cross-sector professionals in NYC who use data and technology to make a positive impact on society. We hope to advance the next generation of tech-minded civic leaders.” 

“The PIT pop-up is capitalizing on a unique opportunity to place public technology in front of over a million commuters, shoppers, and visitors. We are excited to be a partner,” said Noel Hidalgo, executive director of BetaNYC. “CUNY is integral to the economic and public service landscape of New York City. Together, we are building a public interest tech ecosystem and apprenticeship program to cultivate the next generation of public interest professionals, equipping them with essential digital and data literacy skills. At the pop-up, residents, neighbors and tourists alike will get to explore what the future can offer if we center public interest within digital tools and services. Together, we aim to strengthen our communities by demystifying technology, data and AI and by making them accessible to all.”     

A separate but related event during the pop-up’s 10-day run will be a screening of “Tech for Us,” a Roadtrip Nation documentary that explores how young people use technology to serve the common good. It features Anthoni Garcia, a recent graduate of CUNY’s College of Staten Island who now serves as the PIT Lab manager and whose path to civic-technology work is an example of public-interest tech in action. The film will be screened at the New York City College of Technology on Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Theater at City Tech, 275 Jay St., Brooklyn, followed by a conversation with Garcia and Noel Hidalgo, BetaNYC executive director. More information and request free tickets here. 

PIT Pioneers

CUNY was one of 21 founding members of PIT-UN, a national coalition of universities created in 2019 to promote a new generation of tech professionals and policy leaders committed to strengthening public-interest technology as a discipline and career field.  

The coalition now numbers 63 universities, and since 2019 its Network Challenge grants program has provided over $16 million to member universities to create new courses, certificates and degrees, provide internships and fellowships, build research centers and create community and government partnerships. CUNY’s participation, known as PIT@CUNY, has drawn faculty and projects from across the University.    

Elected officials are excited about the opportunities that the project will create.  

“By fostering partnerships and creating accessible educational pathways, we are equipping the next generation of leaders with the skills they need to leverage technology for social good,” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, chair of the Internet and Technology Committee. “Together, we can ensure that our city thrives through innovation and inclusivity.” 

“By investing in accessible tech education and building innovative hubs like the PIT Lab, we are preparing a new generation of civic-minded technologists who will harness the power of data and technology to address social challenges and uplift underserved communities,” said NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, chair of the Technology Committee. “This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking initiative that will drive equity and innovation in New York City’s tech landscape.” 

* – Story courtesy of CUNY Communications