An interdisciplinary research team from the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and NYU Tandon School of Engineering, initiated an oral history project aimed at exploring the effects of flooding on socially and economically disadvantaged populations in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. This pilot research project examined climate change through the lens of storytelling, networks, and infrastructure as an innovative way to investigate community resilience and risk communication.

The team conducted interviews with Latinx and Asian residents in their native languages to better understand the impact of this climate-related event on individuals whose stories are often not heard. The project highlights the significance of giving voice to community members and the power of social networks within the neighborhood to strengthen risk communication and inform local climate change policy.

A total of 10 stories (5 Latinx and 5 Asian participants) were collected and are now archived at NYU. The archive includes the original audio recordings, transcripts in the participants' native languages, as well as translated transcripts in English. These resources are accessible to anyone. Explore the archive.

This pilot project was funded by the NYU Climate Change Initiative. 

Header image: NASA Earth Observatory image by Robert Simmon, with data courtesy of the NASA/NOAA GOES Project Science team.