June 26, 2016

DDC STEAM Initiatives Participates in Boogie on the Boulevard Street Festival

The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Steam Initiatives Division participated in the annual Boogie on the Boulevard street festival. Boogie on the Boulevard is a celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets. Nearly one mile of the Grand Concourse center lanes opened for playing, walking, and biking. Boogie on the Boulevard transforms that space into an active recreational and creative area full of vibrant cultural, health and energetic programming.

STEAM Initiatives Deputy Commissioner Lee Llambelis, Program Coordinators Anthony Martin, Sandrine Fermino, Jillian Ramos, Tatiana Vargas, and Executive Assistant Darlene Merchant spoke to community members about the agency’s ongoing mission to establish a diverse and inclusive pipeline into fields of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction. They also distributed information about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and spoke to parents about what they need to know to help their children prepare for STEAM educational opportunities, internships and potential careers. Festival attendees played the DDC “Wheel of STEAM” game and had the opportunity to respond to age appropriate STEAM related questions.

DDC Program Coordinators also organized a mural painting activity for community members as a construction site beautification exercise for Bronx neighborhoods. The youth visiting the street fair painted murals of the New York City skyline and of STEAM related tools. Approximately 400 children and adults participated in the day’s activities.