Tibor Huszár – Everywhere at Home

Reviewed by: Ordinary Days Ryan McKinney Ordinary Days. Music and lyrics by Adam Gwon. Directed by Marc Bruni. Roundabout Underground/Roundabout Theatre Company, Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre/Black Box Theatre, New York City. 19 November 2009. Now in its third season, "Roundabout Underground," the Roundabout Theatre Company's newest artistic initiative, was created to foster new work by emerging writers and directors, allowing artists to premiere their work via a fully realized production. Having previously presented Stephen Karam's Speech & Debate and Steven Levenson's The Language of Trees, Roundabout Underground tackled its first musical offering with Ordinary Days by emerging musical theatre composer Adam Gwon, a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and winner of the 2008 Fred Ebb Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre Songwriting. His work, which has been seen and developed at Primary Stages, York Theatre Company, and the Kennedy Center, includes Ethan Frome, The Boy Detective Fails, and Bernice Bobs Her Hair. In its Roundabout incarnation (the musical was previously showcased at the National Alliance of Musical Theatre Festival of New Works), Ordinary Days was a seventy-five-minute chamber musical intimately staged in the sixty-two-seat Black Box Theatre. It charts the paths of four New Yorkers, each trying to find him- or herself in the chaos of contemporary New York City. This familiar journey serves as an intriguing metaphor and parallel for the entire production: as the characters struggle to find their purpose, the musical struggles to find its voice. In the first third of the piece, as the characters grapple with happiness, this searching musical grapples with originality; in the second third of the piece, as the characters voice their fears and acknowledge their problems, Gwon gives those characters notably different and increasingly complex compositions through which to do so; and in the final third of the piece, as the characters begin to find fulfillment and an increased sense of maturity, the musical matures as well, using a welcomed sense of patience and nuance to fully explore its characters' journeys. Overall, the musical itself becomes a fifth character, finding itself and its voice just as the characters within that very musical do. As Ordinary Days begins, a series of solos introduces the four characters to the audience: Warren, a delightfully quirky personal assistant determined to stay positive amidst increasingly negative surroundings; Deb, a transplant to New York City hoping to find herself in her doctoral work on Virginia Woolf; and Claire and Jason, a couple dealing with the trials and tribulations of moving in together and the effects of cohabitation on a relationship. Although Click for larger view View full resolution Hunter Foster (Jason) and Lisa Brescia (Claire) in Ordinary Days. (Photo: Joan Marcus.) [End Page 470] Click for larger view View full resolution Hunter Foster (Jason), Kate Wetherhead (Deb), Jared Gertner (Warren), and Lisa Brescia (Claire) in Ordinary Days. (Photo: Joan Marcus.) effective in storytelling, this quartet of solos is ultimately a disappointing opening: the melodies often seem interchangeable and, furthermore, they often ring familiar, reminiscent of a previously heard Jason Robert Brown or Maltby and Shire composition. Although rich with exposition and aiding in character development, the melodies fail to ignite a musical spark in the ears of the audience—a perilous issue for a musical that is entirely sung. After the storylines intersect at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (a sequence that was amusing though ultimately forced), the musical began to find its footing in the second third of the piece. In the role of Jason, Hunter Foster sang the touchingly honest ballad "Favorite Places," and with that song, a far more interesting piece of musical theatre commenced. The song is unique, melodious and informative, and was beautifully performed by Foster, quickly redirecting a lackluster piece of musical theatre onto a new, more promising path. In the subsequent musical numbers, both the characters' relationships and the musical compositions take on an increased level of texture and complexity. Warren and Deb begin to discover a greater sense of purpose and friendship in each other, whereas Jason and Claire struggle to demolish the metaphorical walls in their relationship. It is at this point in...

Supporting Religion and Spirituality to Enhance Quality of Life of People With Intellectual Disability: A Jewish Perspective

This chapter discusses how media use changes when everyday life undergoes change, focusing on major life transitions. I briefly introduce different perspectives on evolving media repertoires across the life course, and argue for the relevance of studying periods of destabilization and reorientation, when elements of media repertoires and modes of public connection are temporarily or more permanently transformed. I argue that easily adaptable media technologies such as smartphones tend to become more important in unsettled circumstances, as easy-to-reach for tools for new forms of self-expression, information-seeking or social contact, in accordance with shifting social roles and everyday circumstances. The primary empirical material analyzed in the chapter is a small qualitative interview study with mothers, about their media use the first year with a new-born.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Related Dementias (ADRD) are a growing concern across the globe. Unfortunately, racial/ethnic minorities in the United States (U.S.), such as Chinese Americans, have lower ADRD knowledge, and these individuals are less likely to be targeted and engaged in recommended dementia prevention and care. The objective of this study is to examine knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about healthy aging and ADRD among older Chinese Americans living in New York City. Chinese Americans with very low English proficiency were recruited from a senior center in New York City. Accordingly, surveys were translated and focus groups were conducted in Mandarin or Cantonese. Questionnaires assessed demographic and health characteristics. Focus groups followed an open-ended protocol which was guided by the published literature. Focus group discussions were audio recorded, transcribed, and translated to English for qualitative analysis. Analysis of qualitative data proceeded according to the constant comparative method. A total of 18 participants were recruited. Average age of participants was 76.4years and participants were 72.2% female. The majority were married (72.2%). Participants reported chronic conditions, including diabetes (38.9%) and dyslipidemia (22.2%). Participants commonly reported that their health limited their ability to accomplish things (66.7%) and achieve things (66.7%). While 16.7% of participants reported no bodily pain, slight pain was reported by 44.4%, moderate pain by 33.3%, and extreme pain by 5.6%. Qualitative analysis revealed several prominent themes, including: (1) perceptions about normal aging; (2) fears about loneliness and cognitive decline; (3) understanding of healthy aging; (4) cultural influences on aging; and (5) perceptions of ADRD. Results from this study highlight a set of cultural beliefs about healthy aging as well as knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs pertaining to ADRD. These results may inform opportunities for increasing healthy aging practices and knowledge about dementia among underserved older Chinese Americans.

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS in New York City (NYC). Black churches in NYC have a history of engaging in community mobilisation; however, research suggests that churches play a role in promoting stigma against Black MSM, which impedes prevention efforts. The goal of this study was to explore church ideologies surrounding sexuality and health, and the relationship of these ideologies to church mobilisation in response to HIV/AIDS among Black MSM. We conducted interviews and focus groups with pastors and parishioners at Black churches in NYC. Three prominent themes were identified: (1) ‘Love the sinner, hate the sin’ – distinguishing behaviour and identity; (2) ‘Don't ask, don't tell’ – keeping same-sex behaviour private; and (3) ‘Your body is a temple’ – connecting physical and spiritual health. We discuss the implications of these ideologies for church mobilisation and HIV prevention efforts. In doing so, we pay close attention to how ideologies may both impede and facilitate church dialogue around sexuality and heightened responses to the HIV crisis affecting Black MSM.

BackgroundHIV surveillance data can be used to improve patient outcomes.ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe and present findings from the HIV care continuum dashboards (CCDs) initiative, which uses surveillance data to quantify and track outcomes for HIV patients at major clinical institutions in New York City.MethodsHIV surveillance data collected since 2011 were used to provide high-volume New York City clinical facilities with their performance on two key outcomes: linkage to care (LTC), among patients newly diagnosed with HIV and viral load suppression (VLS), among patients in HIV care.ResultsThe initiative included 21 facilities covering 33.78% (1135/3360) of new HIV diagnoses and 46.34% (28,405/61,298) of patients in HIV care in New York City in 2011 and was extended to a total of 47 sites covering 44.23% (1008/2279) of new diagnoses and 69.59% (43,897/63,083) of New York City patients in care in 2016. Since feedback of outcomes to providers began, aggregate LTC has improved by 1 percentage point and VLS by 16 percentage points.ConclusionsDisseminating information on key facility–level HIV outcomes promotes collaboration between public health and the clinical community to end the HIV epidemic. Similar initiatives can be adopted by other jurisdictions with mature surveillance systems and supportive laws and policies.

BackgroundThere are limited data regarding the clinical impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH). In this study, we compared outcomes for PLWH with COVID-19 to a matched comparison group.MethodsWe identified 88 PLWH hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in our hospital system in New York City between 12 March and 23 April 2020. We collected data on baseline clinical characteristics, laboratory values, HIV status, treatment, and outcomes from this group and matched comparators (1 PLWH to up to 5 patients by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and calendar week of infection). We compared clinical characteristics and outcomes (death, mechanical ventilation, hospital discharge) for these groups, as well as cumulative incidence of death by HIV status.ResultsPatients did not differ significantly by HIV status by age, sex, or race/ethnicity due to the matching algorithm. PLWH hospitalized with COVID-19 had high proportions of HIV virologic control on antiretroviral therapy. PLWH had greater proportions of smoking (P < .001) and comorbid illness than uninfected comparators. There was no difference in COVID-19 severity on admission by HIV status (P = .15). Poor outcomes for hospitalized PLWH were frequent but similar to proportions in comparators; 18% required mechanical ventilation and 21% died during follow-up (compared with 23% and 20%, respectively). There was similar cumulative incidence of death over time by HIV status (P = .94).ConclusionsWe found no differences in adverse outcomes associated with HIV infection for hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared with a demographically similar patient group.

Many scholars acknowledge the need for rigorous research in landscape architecture to improve practice and teaching, and several recent studies have explored research trends in the discipline. This study continues this exploration by reviewing the articles published in the three prominent English-language landscape architecture journals: Landscape Journal, Landscape Review, and the Journal of Landscape Architecture. Specifically, this study analyzes the abstracts from 441 research articles to determine specific themes and publishing trends over 31 years (1982–2013). Findings indicate that “history” is by far the most prominent research theme, followed by “social and cultural processes and issues” and “aesthetics.” Several themes—such as “sustainability and green infrastructure,” “participation and collaboration,” and “research methods and methodologies”—have become more prominent in recent years. However, topics of current social and political concern—such as “climate change,” “active living,” “energy,” and “health”—are not yet prominent themes in the research literature, and could be key areas for future contribution. With the exception of a few themes, findings also suggest a moderate degree of alignment between research and practice. The article concludes with recommendations for future areas of research that will better position landscape architecture as a research-oriented profession with broad social relevance.

The Medical Director Should Be a Teacher

Antiretroviral treatment has greatly improved the survival of people living with diagnosed HIV (PLWDH), but little information is available on the time since diagnosis among them. Using New York City HIV surveillance data, we described the trend in the number of years since diagnosis among PLWDH during 2010-2019 and reported the mean, median, and interquartile range (IQR) of years since diagnosis among PLWDH in New York City in 2019, overall and by gender, race and ethnicity, and transmission risk. The median number of years since diagnosis among PLWDH in New York City increased from 10.5 years (IQR, 6.3-15.6) in 2010 to 16.3 years (IQR, 8.9-22.1) in 2019. By gender, transgender people had the shortest time since diagnosis, with a median of 11.4 years (IQR, 5.6-17.9), compared with men (median = 15.2 years; IQR, 8.1-21.6) and women (median, 18.5 years; IQR, 12.0-23.0). By race and ethnicity, non-Hispanic White people had been living with the diagnosis for the longest time (median = 17.4 years; IQR, 9.5-23.5), and Asian/Pacific Islander people had been living with the diagnosis for the shortest time (median = 10.1 years; IQR, 4.7-17.0). With an expected and continuing increase in the number of years since HIV diagnosis among PLWDH, programs that provide treatment and support services will need to be expanded, updated, and improved.

Reviewed by: Civil Rights in New York City: From World War II to the Giuliani Era by Clarence Taylor David Lucander Civil Rights in New York City: From World War II to the Giuliani Era. By Clarence Taylor. New York: Fordham University Press, 2011, 282 pages, $18.00 Paper, $65.00 Cloth. As the metropolitan area with the largest African American population in the United States, New York City holds a special place in this country's history of race relations. Indeed, New York City often serves as an entry point for discussions of urban issues such as poverty, gentrification, police brutality, under-performing schools, and the various forms of activism combating these societal ills. Likewise, as the center of artistic production associated with the Harlem Renaissance and the birthplace of hip hop, New York City has long been recognized as the cultural capital of Black America. Somehow, however, New York City's seminal place in the story of the civil rights movement has been largely overlooked. Recent historiography has paid increasing attention to civil rights activism and race relations in the urban north, and this edited volume directs its focus squarely on New York City. As a group, these article-length essays reveal that New York City has been, and is, a center of civil rights activism and should be considered alongside Montgomery and Selma whenever one thinks about the geography of the struggle against racism or the civil rights movement. Edited by Clarence Taylor, professor emeritus at Baruch College, this collection of ten independent chapters is a valuable addition to those studying the history of New York City. Further, scholars exploring the struggle for civil rights in the north, urban history, and general African American history will find Civil Rights in New York City an important contribution to the field. Each of the writers featured is the author of a book-length study about his or her subject. In this regard, Civil Rights in New York City functions as a scholarly mixtape—it is both an entry into more detailed works as well as a streamlined single-volume synopsis of several longer studies. Taylor's introductory essay provides context for the larger events shaping the period covered in this book. He identifies four key aspects of the northern struggle for civil rights: a secular left that included various stripes [End Page 133] of radicals, religious communities, Black Nationalism, and the ethos of Cold War liberalism. The introduction is cogently written and accurately describes the book's contents, but it could be improved with a general discussion about the post-World War II history of New York City or a detailed exploration of the city's racial landscape. Civil Rights in New York City is especially strong in the themes of schools, society, and politics. In a separate essay, Clarence Taylor uncovers the history of radical teachers advancing an anti-racist curriculum during the Roosevelt era and revisits the political debate about school integration during the late 1960s. Daniel Perlstein's article offers a new interpretation of Bayard Rustin's role in the 1968 Ocean Hill-Brownsville crisis, while Martha Biondi poignantly writes about how City University's open enrollment policy expanded the Black and Latino middle class. Biondi's article is a standout within this group. She builds on solid but oft-neglected research about open admissions by adding her own oral histories with student activists of that period. The result is a convincing argument about the socially transformative power of higher education and a subtle reminder that working in schools is a way to make a living while making a difference. Mayoral leadership is another recurrent subject in this volume. Jerald Podair writes about Rudolph Giuliani's "One City, One Standard" policy and the rise of aggressive policing tactics that resulted in racially disproportionate use of "stop and frisk" tactics. In Podair's assessment, Giuliani's "race-neutral policy decisions led to race-skewed results" (215) in criminal justice, municipal spending priorities, and poverty relief. Wilbur C. Rich recounts racial conflagrations such as the Red Apple and Crown Heights incidents during the David Dinkins era. Likewise, many of the events discussed in this book directly pertain to...

“They didn't have to build that much”: A qualitative study on the emotional response to urban change in the Montreal context

This phenomenological study was designed to investigate the experience of Jamaican teachers recruited to serve in elementary and high schools in New York City. The study explored three broad questions: (1) What was teaching like for the participants before they assumed their assignments in the US? (2) What is teaching in the US like for them? and (3) What meanings/insights do they derive from their experience teaching in the US? The findings indicate that the immigrants’ experienced profound cultural dissonance in the classroom as their experiences in the US differed significantly from their previous experience in Jamaica. This dissonance was illustrated by four prominent themes that emerged from data collected through in-depth interviews: (1) lack of respect for teachers and other adults; (2) disregard for teacher authority; (3) lack of student appreciation for the teacher’s work; and (4) student apathy towards education. The cultural dissonance immigrants experienced made them more sensitive to the condition of African American and other minorities, disrupted their strong sense of nationalism, and engendered a growing allegiance to the black Diaspora.

The structured inequalities of capital investment and disinvestment are prominent themes in critical urban and regional research, but many accounts portray ‘capital’ as a global, faceless and placeless abstraction operating according to a hidden, unitary logic. Sweeping political‐economic shifts in the last generation demonstrate that capital may shape urban and regional processes in many different ways, and each of these manifestations creates distinct constraints and opportunities. In this paper, we analyze a new institutional configuration in the USA that is reshaping access to wealth among the poor – a policy ‘consensus’ to expand home‐ownership among long‐excluded populations. This shift has opened access to some low‐ and moderate‐income households, and racial and ethnic minorities, but the necessary corollary is a greater polarization between those who are able to own and those who are not. We provide a critical analysis of these changes, drawing on national housing finance statistics as well as a multivariate analysis of differences between owners and renters in the 1990s in New York City. As home‐ownership strengthens its role as a privatized form of stealth urban and housing policy in the USA, its continued expansion drives a corresponding reconstruction of its value for different groups, and inscribes a sharper axis of property‐rights inequalities among owners and renters in the working classes.

Communication and Connection Fostered Care Engagement During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study of People Living With HIV in New York City.