I'm a parent, teacher, humanitarian, urban environmental steward, creative artist and activist, building **a new, replicable model of ethical, community-driven STEAM learning and Generative AI fluency**.
This program, co-founded with Adriana DeCesare, is the engine of the **"Bridging Tomorrow"** initiative, aiming to close the technological literacy gaps for underserved NYC youth.
The curriculum uses Generative AI as **"Augmented Intelligence"** to enhance, not replace, human capacity.
The iGentix framework ensures students become responsible digital citizens by focusing on core ethical values.
The work connects hands-on conservation—like raising endangered monarch butterflies at the **Inwood Butterfly Sanctuary**—with cutting-edge digital strategy.
When Meta’s AI systems mistakenly banned links to the **Wings Without Borders** conservation project for "animal abuse", the sanctuary responded with a pioneering campaign called the **#CensorshipChallenge**.
Your unique position stems from a consistent 40-year record of integrating art, technology, and activism for social change in New York City and beyond.
Following 9/11, you founded **ArtAID** and installed the **first memorials** on the public viewing platforms at Ground Zero. Your work, including the iconic **"Firefighters Angel,"** is now part of the permanent collection of the **National September 11th Memorial and Museum**.
9/11 Memorial Museum Verification LinkYou served as **Project Manager for the Google Fast Gigabit Trial RFI (2010)** at the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA), a strategic initiative focused on bringing ultra-high-speed internet to **low- and middle-income residents** to **bridge the digital divide**.
In the 1980s (as Keith Piaseczny), you initiated the **"Demolished by Neglect"** project in Detroit, using installation art to make invisible urban decay visible, demonstrating pre-internet viral activism and a commitment to **free speech**.
This is a concise, timestamped case (original timestamps preserved for context) detailing Keith De Cesare's qualifications and how the funding would unlock massive scale for his work in New York City.
Keith's work honors New York’s past, serves its present, and prepares its future. His pattern is constant: identify an urgent need, craft a practical solution, and act immediately.
Immediately after 9/11, Keith founded *Art Aid* and built the first memorials at Ground Zero—creating spaces for grieving before official agencies responded. This work is now part of the city's memory and proves his capacity to deliver under pressure.
Long before the phrase was mainstream, Keith helped bring high-speed internet to nearly half a million underserved residents—seeding opportunity at scale. He also created the **Inwood Butterfly Sanctuary**, an elegant solution to two connected problems: vanishing monarch habitat and limited access to nature for city kids.
Keith developed a holistic, project-based AI curriculum piloted in Washington Heights. This is not typical coding; it’s personalized, ethics-forward instruction designed to produce creative, critical thinkers who can wield AI responsibly. The next digital divide won't be access alone; it will be who understands and uses AI thoughtfully.
If Keith built all this with limited funds and volunteer hours, imagine what could be done when his full potential is unlocked.
iVirtue Platform: Learn about the umbrella company for the Generative Learning AI strategies.
www.ivirtue.comInwood Butterfly Sanctuary: Official site for the award-winning conservation work in Northern Manhattan.
Inwood Butterfly Sanctuary Official SiteSpectrum NY1 Feature: Report recognizing Keith De Cesare’s work as a community hero.
View NY1 "New Yorker of the Week"AI-Generated Summary: A comprehensive overview of the vision and qualifications, created using Google NotebookLM (Gemini Pro 2.5).
Listen to the Professional Audio SummaryHover over the link titles to view a brief synopsis of the content.
A gallery of curated video content, generated using NotebookLM, detailing Keith De Cesare's work and vision.