Earn Your Leisure

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 b