Justfix.nyc Newsletter September 2020
Written for justfix.nyc
Dear Friend,
While it may feel like it’s been March for the past six months, the calendar says September.
Our sentiments exactly, @Smorgasboredom. The impacts of COVID-19 persist, and Governor Cuomo hasn't canceled rent. And yet, we’re encouraged by the organizers who keep showing everyone that a pandemic can’t take out tenant power. As for us, our tools remain available 24-7 so you can stay in your home and keep exercising your rights.
Meet the Design Advisory Council
At JustFix.nyc, we value centering tenants, and we augment, not replace, the support systems that keep tenants in their homes and communities. We've put that value into action by building self-service tools co-designed with tenant leaders, organizers, and attorneys from our housing ecosystem. But our community has wondered (and we have too)—what if our tools encouraged tenants to take action together, instead of alone?
We’re excited to share that we are answering that question in real time with the Design Advisory Council (DAC). DAC participants are tenant leaders and organizers from across New York City who are partnering with us to bridge the gap between technology and organizing, establish a Community-Led Equity-Driven design process, and launch a new organizing feature in 2021!
Since the DAC has kicked off in July 2020, we’ve explored the relationship between organizing and technology, brainstormed common organizing problems, and created criteria to help us evaluate which problem to work on more deeply. Soon, we'll be coming up with potential solutions.
We can’t wait to continue learning from and growing with each other, and are so grateful to our DAC partners at Carroll Gardens Association, Chhaya CDC, Community Action for Safe Apartments, Flatbush Tenants Coalition, IMPACCT BK, and Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition.
Want to keep up with the DAC in real time? Follow us on Twitter, where we live tweet our DAC meetings using #DesignAdvisoryCouncil.
Q&A with Sydney Jones, Engineering Intern
It was a unique summer to be interning at JustFix.nyc, but Sydney Jones, a rising senior at Stanford University currently living in Washington state, rose to the challenge, becoming a true asset to our team. She dove right in, exploring a way to inform Who Owns What users about product changes and updates, right inside the site. We’ll miss her insight, creativity, and fresh perspective on our work, and we can’t wait to see what she does next. Before she left, we sat down to chat all about her experience.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Why did you want to do an internship at JustFix.nyc?
It was the social impact component. I took a class called compassionate design, about designing for people with disabilities, and wanted to work for an organization focused on technology for social justice.
What did you work on?
I researched how to inform Who Owns What (WOW) users about new site features and how to use them. Tahnee [Pantig, Senior UX/UI Designer] and Johanna [Bassetti, Director of Product], mentioned that we don’t currently have a way to tell WOW visitors about updates and new features. Not everyone follows us on social media or reads our newsletter [editor’s note: yet!], but it would be great to show WOW users how we are making it easier to do landlord research.
What was it like interning remotely from Spokane, WA?
At first I was nervous whether I would do this internship at all, but it helped that everyone was working remotely anyway. It was also hard to wake up at 6am, but fortunately the work can be done over Zoom, and communicated online.
How did this internship inform what you want to do in the future?
I know so much more about the type of organization I want to work for. There can be a social good tech company that considers their impact and is really thoughtful about every step. It does exist!
JustFix.nyc is a very conscientious organization and I really liked working here.
New Info on Housing During Coronavirus
The latest Eviction Moratorium bans evictions until at least 10/1. Wondering what that means for you?
Read more »
Confused about the difference between a rent freeze, rent suspension, and canceling rent?
Learn more »
Until Next Time
Thanks for rocking with us. If you enjoyed this newsletter why not send it to a friend?
We’ll see you again next month.
Onwards,
Ilana Novick
Communications Associate
https://mailchi.mp/justfix/justfixnyc-newsletter-september-2020-issue?e=[UNIQID]