ICI partners high school and college-aged youth researchers from across the five boroughs with adult researchers who are CUNY SPS Youth Studies professors, alumni and/or current students as well as students from aligned doctoral programs.

Launched in 2014, ICI’s organizational trajectory has been shaped by intergenerational cohorts of youth and adult researchers.

Annually, ICI’s main research cohort is composed of 10 youth researchers and 3-4 adult co-researchers who foster a deeply collaborative and caring community that extends across the entire year. As scholar-activists, we engage in ongoing critical discussions about our diverse cultures, rich histories, and multifaceted identities in relation to research and policy.

This ongoing dialogue serves as a vital conduit for introspection, exploring our own proximity to power and the nuanced dynamics of systemic oppression. Guided by principles of community-building, ICI alumni remain connected to our expansive network through opportunities to contribute to short-term projects and outreach initiatives.

Our Team

Tina

As a young person growing into herself in NYC, Tina is excited to be with the ICI crew in interfacing with youth voices to envision NYC's future!
Waeza

Waeza, an NYC-based writer and human rights advocate, emphasizes justice and equality. Committed to ICI's values and broader social justice, she strives for positive change.
Siara

Siara is thrilled to be part of the ICI cohort and looks forward to conducting valuable research for her community.
Yushan

Yushan (she/her) is a youth activist in her senior year of high school. She joined ICI in hopes of expanding her community and aiding the underprivileged; her passion for connectivity motivates her active learning and participation.
Meftahul

Meftahul is a 16-year-old junior in high school who recently joined the ICI team in hopes of finally making a change in the underrepresented communities of NYC. She truly enjoys her time in ICI and hopes to continue a future centered around youth activism.
Aissata

Aissata is a 17-year-old senior in Brooklyn. She is passionate about politics and hopes to continue using her voice to fight for New Yorkers.
Salimatou

Salimatou is an ICI researcher. She hopes that through the work that ICI does that New York can be a more inclusive, tolerating and enjoyable place for all the people that live there.
Samiha

From Brooklyn, Samiha seeks change through education and advocacy. She’s delighted to join ICI to address social issues with a research based and youth-driven approach!
Afsana

Afsana is a high school senior with a passion for community engagement. As an ICI researcher, she hopes to be a voice for change in NYC.
Sarah

Sarah Zeller-Berkman, PhD is the Director of the Intergenerational Change Initiative. Her work with ICI has taught her a tremendous amount about the challenges, joys and possibilities of using research to push for local action and city-wide policy change.
Jen
Rachel

As ICI program manager and adult co-researcher, Rachel feels grateful to work alongside brilliant, powerful NYC youth researchers who are deeply committed to social justice.
Andrea

Andrea is a scholar-activist, artist, and Ph.D. candidate in New York, documenting the experiences of immigrants through community-driven change, justice, and healing-centered praxis.