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By Jeremy | June 9, 2005
Generation Xcel opened its first youth center nine years ago this summer in a New York City public housing project named after
Jacob Riis. A Dutch immigrant in the late 1800s, Riis employed new technology as one of the first
photojournalists in exposing the harsh living condions of the urban poor. His most influential book,
How the Other Half Lives, demanded economic justice for the poorest of New York City's poor and helped galvanize public opinion in support of some of the first housing reform efforts in the nation. It's an honor to
carry on this tradition.
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
"Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31: 8-9)
Topics: history, jacob riis, lower east side, new york, photography, politics, poverty, social justice, urban | 1 Comment »
June 10th, 2005 at 9:49 am
Wow. Thanks for posting this. I grew up in those projects and my mom still lives there right on FDR and 6th Street. Ave D was were I spent most of my life…