ANA
FISYAK
FISYAK
PLANNING
RESEARCH
DEVELOPMENT
I’m an urban planner, researcher, and nonprofit strategist dedicated to a community-based approach. I have provided technical assistance for NYC communities and CBOs for over a decade, especially collaborating with organizations in low-income communities of color and environmental justice areas. I teach at Parsons/New School and SUNY. I am currently working with New York communities to develop offshore wind projects at Equinor.
My work intersects human ecology, climate change, public space, social determinants of health, and the arts. I’m a Faculty Fellow at the Urban Systems Lab, The New School and an Urban Design Forum Fellow. My work has been covered by World Architecture, The Grist, Resilience.org, and The Wave.
My work intersects human ecology, climate change, public space, social determinants of health, and the arts. I’m a Faculty Fellow at the Urban Systems Lab, The New School and an Urban Design Forum Fellow. My work has been covered by World Architecture, The Grist, Resilience.org, and The Wave.
Researching Environmental Stewardship's Role in Combating Eco-Anxiety for Climate Action
2020
ENGAGEMENT
RESEARCH
2020
ENGAGEMENT
RESEARCH
Ana Fisyak is named Faculty Fellow @ Urban Systems Lab | THE NEW SCHOOL for Healing Dunes . The project seeks to
understand how environmental conservation, especially the stewardship of
natural and nature-based features focused on protecting front line communities,
can help to improve mental health, combat eco-anxiety, and open larger
conversation in the community around climate change adaptation in a positive
and generative way. The research will focus on the Rockaway peninsula, in
partnership with local organizations. The Urban Systems Lab Fellowship
supports research and scholarly activity that further the USL’s commitment to
providing new insight into developing more equitable and resilient cities. For
more information about Urban Systems Lab visit http://urbansystemslab.com/.
The
sign reads “What creates health? Parks. Feeling. Trees. Ecology. Reefs.”
Photo by Giles Ashford. Images courtesy of RISE.
Photo by Giles Ashford. Images courtesy of RISE.
Enabling Rockaway Homeowners to Adapt to Coastal Flooding
2020
ENGAGEMENT
RESEARCH
PLANNING
Client: Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability & Equity (RISE)
Partners: Columbia University, Stevens Institute, New York Hall of Science
2020
ENGAGEMENT
RESEARCH
PLANNING
Client: Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability & Equity (RISE)
Partners: Columbia University, Stevens Institute, New York Hall of Science
The multi-disciplinary project aims to empower
homeowners across the Rockaway Peninsula to reduce
impacts of flooding on their homes, finances, and lives. Homeowners are uniquely at risk to flooding while also most able to take action; they also play an
important role as community innovators. Working in close collaboration with
civic associations to design, implement, and
evaluate three engagement strategies to understand how to best support
homeowners and catalyze preparedness and community-wide conversations about
coastal flooding. The research will be used to scale the project and develop a community toolkit that can be used to spur community dialogue about climate adaptation.
Images courtesy of RISE. Photos by Giles Ashford.
Measuring Public Life & Urban Justice in NYC's Plazas
2015
ENGAGEMENT
RESEARCH
Client: J Max Bond Center on Design for the Just City (at City College of New York)
Partners: Gehl Studio, Transportation Alternatives
Read the full report here.
2015
ENGAGEMENT
RESEARCH
Client: J Max Bond Center on Design for the Just City (at City College of New York)
Partners: Gehl Studio, Transportation Alternatives
Read the full report here.
The collaborative study started with a simple question: can the design
of public space have a positive impact
on public life and urban justice? The final report, Public Life and Urban Justice
in NYC Plazas, is the culmination of an
18-month collaboration to develop,
investigate, measure and evaluate how
NYC’s Public Plaza Program
and seven of its
plazas contribute to quality public life
and greater social justice. The economic
benefits of the program are widely
documented, but little is known about
how these places perform for people in
terms of the quality of public space and
robustness of public life.
Images courtesy of Gehl. Photo by Ana Fisyak.