Community Insights
An interdisciplinary team of social work researchers, computer scientists, computer scientists, designers, and researchers from Columbia University conducted research to analyze the patterns and changes in sentiment of quality of life, wellbeing, community, and living conditions among residents of New York City.
Social Media Analysis
Researchers examined social media posts to gain a better understanding of residents of diverse New York City housing communities (Neighborhood Navigator Sites) and how they feel about living in the city, the resources available to them, and how the built environment relates to their quality of life.
Qualitative Interviews
Researchers collaborated with various community-based organizations to recruit 69 residents for qualitative interviews from 10 Neighborhood Navigator sites. These interviews helped us gain insights into community members’ lived experiences, pain points, challenges, and opportunities for improvement and growth.
Meetings/ Focus Groups
Researchers conducted a series of online Community Advisory Board (CAB) meetings with 38 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents and community members from East New York, Queensbridge, Stapleton, East Harlem, Brownsville, Claremont, Red Hook, Rockaways and Washington Heights.
The CAB meetings explored and gathered additional information from residents regarding community wellbeing, safety, threats, concerns, goals, opportunities for improvement, local government, and technology. CAB participants also provided crucial feedback on the prototype of the Neighborhood Navigator.
