The National Public Housing Museum, the nation’s first cultural institution dedicated to telling the story of public housing in the United States, proudly announced today that its inaugural membership card will feature artwork from Derval Fairweather, who grew up in New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Amsterdam Houses. Fairweather’s vibrant and inspiring design was selected from a NYCHA-wide art competition hosted in collaboration with the Public Housing Community Fund, the National Public Housing Museum, and NYCHA’s Office of Public-Private Partnerships (OPPP).
Fairweather’s artwork, which beautifully depicts a group of children reading together, captures the essence of community and resilience within public housing. This meaningful piece will be prominently displayed on the museum’s membership card, symbolizing pride and a shared sense of connection for public housing residents across the country.
“Public housing residents have always been a source of creativity, strength, and inspiration, and this collaboration with the National Public Housing Museum highlights the incredible talent within our communities,” said Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Public Housing Community Fund. “Derval Fairweather’s artwork captures the essence of what makes public housing so special: a spirit of togetherness and resilience. We are honored to support this initiative and encourage all NYCHA residents to celebrate their stories by becoming museum members.”
“The NYCHA community is home to a wellspring of artistic talent and creativity, as beautifully illustrated by the submissions received through this competition,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “We are so proud that Derval’s artwork will adorn the National Public Housing Museum’s inaugural membership card and applaud the museum’s commitment to recognizing the past, present and future of our nation’s public housing. We send our deepest appreciation to the National Public Housing Museum and the Public Housing Community Fund in facilitating and supporting this opportunity.”
As the grand prize winner, Fairweather received a $500 cash prize and two roundtrip tickets, generously provided by JetBlue. He will also enjoy hotel accommodations in Chicago to visit the National Public Housing Museum when its permanent home opens in early 2025.
“JetBlue is honored to support the championing of artist discovery and creativity in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority, the Public Housing Community Fund and the National Public Housing Museum,” said Icema Gibbs, vice president of CSR and DEI, JetBlue. “We are proud to give back to the communities we live, work and fly, and we wish for Derval Fairweather to continue cultivating inspiration wherever his travels lead.”
The art competition, which attracted over 50 creative submissions, showcased scenes of everyday life in public housing, from images of grandparents and neighbors to depictions of playgrounds and home interiors. A panel of distinguished judges, including internationally acclaimed artist Derrick Adams, High Line Art Director & Chief Curator Cecilia Alemani, and activist Khaliah Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali, reviewed the entries alongside staff from the National Public Housing Museum, the Public Housing Community Fund, and NYCHA OPPP.
Four artists were named runners-up: Cephus Bradley, Tamera Masom, Jessica Severiano, and Tori Watson. These artists will have the opportunity to sell their work through the museum’s cooperative store for one year, receiving proceeds from the sales.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Public Housing Community Fund and NYCHA residents on the museum’s inaugural membership card. As the oldest and largest public housing community in the US, your story is central to our mission,” said Dr. Lisa Yun Lee, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the National Public Housing Museum. “This is your museum, and we invite all NYCHA residents to sign up for free memberships today and be a part of this journey.”
The National Public Housing Museum honors the stories and experiences of public housing residents, not just in its home city of Chicago but across the U.S. Currently under construction in the last remaining building of the 1930s –Jane Addams Homes on Chicago’s Near West Side– the museum is scheduled to open to the public in early 2025. The museum is dedicated to interpreting the American experience in public housing through art, oral histories, artifacts, music, and programming. Throughout the museum, visitors will encounter collaborations with numerous current and former New York public housing residents, including Fairweather and others such as DJ Spinderella of Salt-N-Pepa, who grew up in the Pink Houses in Brooklyn; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who grew up in a Bronx development that was later renamed in her honor; and artist Jayah Arnett, whose viral My Projects Runway shares public housing stories through family archives.
Museum membership, free to NYCHA residents, includes complimentary admission, guided tours of three historic apartments, discounts at the museum shop, and access to exclusive digital content. NYCHA residents are encouraged to join and take advantage of these unique benefits by visiting here and using the discount code NYCHA24. For more information or additional assistance registering, e-mail membership@nphm.org.
About the Public Housing Community Fund
The Public Housing Community Fund is an independent not-for-profit organization that creates and leverages resources and relationships to enhance the opportunities and quality of life for New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents and their communities while uplifting the importance of public housing in New York City. For more information, please visit communityfund.nyc.
About New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 520,808 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. In addition, NYCHA connects residents to critical programs and services from external and internal partners, with a focus on economic opportunity, youth, seniors, and social services. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city.
About the National Public Housing Museum
Over the past century, more than 10 million people across the United States have called public housing home. In the late 1990s, as thousands of public housing units across the country were being demolished, public housing residents began to dream about creating a museum to preserve their collective voices, memories, and the histories of public housing across the nation. They wanted their children and grandchildren, and the public at large, to know more about their place in the American experience and to understand the public policies that helped to shape their families. In 2007, civic leaders, preservationists, historians, cultural experts, and many others joined with residents to help incorporate the National Public Housing Museum, which has since then offered transformative programs that connect the past with contemporary issues of social justice and human rights. The Museum’s permanent home is under construction at the historic Jane Addams Homes at 919 South Ada Street in Chicago’s Near West Side, and is set to open to the public in January 2025. For more information, please visit nphm.org.
About JetBlue
JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando and San Juan. JetBlue carries customers to more than 100 destinations throughout the United States, Latin America, Caribbean, Canada and Europe. For more information and the best fares, please visit jetblue.com.
