Tamra Cosby, a poet from South Side Jamaica, Queens, and a current resident of Astoria Houses, uses her art to challenge stigmas surrounding residents of public housing. In this powerful audio story, Tamra speaks candidly about her upbringing, the impact of gun violence, and the effects of gentrification while highlighting poetry as a tool for healing and community empowerment. At the Public Housing Community Funds the From Roots to Arts artist-in-residence at Astoria Houses, she is actively creating spaces for dialogue, self-expression, and change.Through her words, she reshapes the narrative of public housing residents, proving that art has the power to transform lives and communities.
The director, Kemi “TRUTHIS” Karim is an interdisciplinary artist, community organizer, and founder of TRUTHIS Studios, a Brooklyn-based creative collective. Grounded in themes of shared spaces and belonging, Karim’s work delves into identity, womanhood, and the lived experiences that shape and define communities. Her practice centers on how individuals represent themselves, uplift one another, and celebrate cultural pride and resilience despite systemic barriers.
Using medium-format digital and film photography, filmmaking, and digital design, Karim captures both individual and collective narratives, fostering spaces for deep conversation, healing, and perspective shifts. Her work is dedicated to education, empowerment, and storytelling that challenges stereotypes while honoring the beauty and complexity of her subjects. She is best known for A GREAT DAY IN BROOKLYN, an acclaimed annual festival celebrating arts and culture in the borough.
Karim currently serves as the Senior Manager of Art and culture at the Public Housing Community Fund, where she spearheads initiatives to bring transformative arts programming to NYCHA communities. She holds a BA in Public Relations from Howard University.
From Roots to Arts: Celebrating NYCHA’s Cultural Heritage is an innovative artist-in-residency pilot program designed to enrich and expand culture, heritage, and art narratives within public housing by placing local artists and residents at the forefront of this endeavor. The program aims to redefine how stories are told and the type of art produced and featured in public housing.
Harnessing the framework of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Cornerstone Program across five NYCHA campuses spanning all five boroughs, this 20-month residency endeavor offers dedicated spaces within community centers, fostering an environment where artists can immerse themselves and interact with residents and the community.
After engaging the community, NYCHA residents determined what types of art mediums they wanted to explore and the Fund designed an Open Call looking for artists to work in each community. NYCHA residents, community partners, and the Fund selected five artist-in-residence to serve in each borough: Richmond Terrace Houses, Staten Island; Bushwick Houses, Brooklyn; Bronx River Houses, Bronx; King Towers, Manhattan; and Astoria Houses, Queens.
Working together in NYCHA communities and listening to the residents makes for stronger neighborhoods.
