Chelsea UniOn Wednesday, May 29, the Uni went to Clement Clarke Moore Park in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan for the first of two deployments organized in conjunction with middle and high school students from nearby Avenues: The World School. For this deployment, students reached out to several other Chelsea-based schools and organizations in an effort to test the Uni as a shared community meeting space.

It worked!

  • Students from Quest to Learn came to workout in the park, and then stopped to read.
  • Students from nearby PS11’s Hands on History Afterschool Class taught by Chelsea resident Lesley Doyel with PS11 teacher Jessica Griffith, created a Chelsea Historic District cube with a walking guide that detailed Clement Clarke Moore’s life.
  • Friends of the High Line curated a cube.
  • Bob Arnold, known as “Ranger Bob” of Park Chelsea, curated a cube highlighting play and games, and offered a wonderful map of seating and amenities in Chelsea.
  • Avenues students curated several cubes, with favorite books selected by third graders, and handmade books on immigration made by eighth graders, among others.
  • Uni patrons and park visitors were treated to a performance by Kidz Theater.

Thanks to the West 400 Block Association for their support of this event, and to Lesley Doyel for her help with neighborhood contacts and the connection to PS11. A big thanks to Ivan Cestero and Kim Allen from Avenues Community Engagement and eighth grade student leaders Alma, Sabrina, Gianna, and Dominique for organizing!

Chelsea Uni

Chelsea Uni

Chelsea Uni

Chelsea Uni

Thanks to Avenues students for their role in coordinating this Uni deployment.

Thanks to Avenues students for their role in coordinating this Uni deployment.

Chelsea Uni

Bilingual Chinese/English books selected by Avenues students to share with the neighborhood.

Chelsea Uni

Chelsea Uni

Krystin Hence, Friends of the High Line, and Ivan Cestero,
Director, Avenues Community Engagement.

Chelsea Uni

Chelsea Uni

Ceramic cookies offered by some younger Avenues students.

Chelsea Uni

Students from PS11 with their outstanding cube and walking tour.

Chelsea Uni

Looking for ants to identify…

Chelsea Uni

Chelsea Uni

Chelsea Uni

Chelsea Uni

Chelsea Uni

Chelsea Uni

Kids brought musical theater: the song here was Aquarius from Hair!

Chelsea Uni

Chelsea Uni

Thanks everyone for a great day—returning to Chelsea on Sat, June 1.