
In her interview, Jessica Fielding reflects on her family’s deep-rooted history in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. She recalls how her paternal grandmother, the first in her family born in the U.S., and her aunt Roseanne were early organizers in Cooper Square alongside figures like Fran Goldin. Jessica is the fourth generation of her family to live in the neighborhood and to advocate for affordable housing. Growing up, she attended school in Little Italy and lived in a multigenerational household that maintained strong ties to the community, where her family played a key role in tenant organizing.
Jessica looks back fondly on the Lower East Side she grew up in, a predominantly Italian working-class neighborhood, and how it gradually transformed into a more diverse community, with growing Latinx population. Despite these shifts, a strong sense of interdependence remained, bolstered by her family’s involvement in the Cooper Square Committee. She recounts the deteriorating conditions of the tenements they lived in during the 1990s, which led to temporary relocations while the City and the Cooper Square Committee worked to rehabilitate the buildings. After returning to their improved home, Jessica became more aware of the challenges posed by real estate speculation and rising rents in the area.
By the early 2010s, encouraged by housing activist Fran Goldin, Jessica took on leadership roles within Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association, serving as a floor captain and later as treasurer. This marked a pivotal point in her journey, as she gained greater autonomy and took on more responsibility in the fight for housing affordability. Alongside her involvement in housing justice organizations like the 89 East Third Street Tenant Association, Jessica also oversaw critical initiatives such as securing a large grant for the Bea Arthur Homes for LGBTQ+ Youth and housing victims of a gas explosion on East Sixth Street.
Jessica’s commitment to Cooper Square extends beyond organizing. She has worked to enhance programs for elderly and youth tenants and integrates her professional expertise in finance into her leadership roles. In reflecting on her family’s legacy, she expresses her hope that her children will continue the work of community care and organizing that her family has been part of for generations. As a resident of Cooper Square, Jessica credits the neighborhood for providing her with opportunities, including attending college, and she remains dedicated to ensuring future generations can thrive in the community her family has long fought to preserve.