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In this enlightening clip of EYL, our host Rashad Bilal sits down with the multi-talented artist and advocate Alicia Keys to discuss a pressing issue that touches the lives of many New Yorkers: affordable housing. As a native New Yorker herself, Alicia Keys shares her personal experiences growing up in affordable housing designed specifically for artists. She candidly discusses how these programs provided her with the vital access and opportunities that shaped her illustrious career.

Rashad and Alicia delve into the current state of affordable housing in New York City, highlighting the dramatic rise in rental costs and the unfortunate phase-out of several beneficial housing programs. With the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan soaring to almost $4,000, they explore the stark realities facing young professionals and creatives who are being priced out of the city.

Alicia reflects on the invaluable role that these artist-specific housing programs played in her life, not just as a place to live but as a crucial support system that kept her rooted in a vibrant cultural environment. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining such programs to ensure that the city’s diverse cultural landscape continues to thrive. Both hosts argue that pricing artists and creatives out of the city ultimately harms the entire ecosystem, taking away from New York the very soul and creativity that define it.

The conversation goes beyond just housing to talk about the broader implications of access to creative spaces. Alicia shares her current efforts in creating fellowship programs for young people interested in set design, costume design, and other artistic fields. These programs aim to bridge the gap and offer invaluable learning opportunities under industry greats, ensuring that the next generation of artists has both the skills and the inspiration to contribute back to the city's cultural economy.

Join us in this compelling discussion that puts a spotlight on affordable housing, creative access, and the continuing efforts to keep New York City a welcoming hub for all artists and dreamers.

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