Last month, three New York City agencies unveiled a new $128 million multi-service center in Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood, featuring an extensive public art commission by local artist and community educator Jazmine Hayes.
Through the Department of Cultural Affairs' (DCLA) Percent for Art program, Hayes's four-part commission, I Am Protected (2026), graces each entryway to the building with symbolically empowering designs that channel the cultural history of Brownsville's residents and carve out space for youth ambition and curiosity.
“I genuinely want any child that walks through this door to be and feel protected,” Hayes said in an interview with Hyperallergic. “I want them to have affirmations of care, support, and community.”
Born and raised in the adjacent neighborhood of East New York, Hayes knew Brownsville well and was excited at the opportunity when DCLA reached out, especially after completing another public artwork nearby for the New York City Housing Authority's (NYCHA) Brownsville Houses the year before.