What is a pod?

A pod, also known as a “learning pod”, “pandemic pod” or “micro-school”, is a group of people - babies, toddlers, children or adults - who join together for in-person learning. Typically pods have 3-10 members, and are run by parents, teachers or tutors. 

A pod can replace school entirely, provide extracurricular activities, or replace school on days of remote learning. 

A pod’s curriculum may be entirely up to the pod’s members, similar to a home-school approach, be created by the teachers or the families themselves, or can have the curriculum of the school or schools children attend. 

Why create or join a pod?

Pods can be created or joined for various reasons, and it all depends on your circumstances and needs. 

Some people may want to join pods because they feel that is the safest option for their children during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Others may be interested in pods because of the unknown state of the public school system or because their kids’ schools were permanently closed. 

A pod can be a more affordable alternative to a daycare or nanny for younger children and babies. It can also provide a place for enrichment activities such as music, art and sports. 

Before forming or joining a pod, think about the main reasons you want to do so, and it’ll help you (and us) find the right fit for your family. 

What are the added values of a pod?

A pod can strengthen the connections within a given community, both between the children, their parents and the educators. Strong connections amplifies the resilience of communities to overcome all kinds of crises that might come. Pods also encourages inclusive and equitable communities and strives to reduce social injustice. 

Who runs a pod?

A pod may be facilitated by a certified teacher, a tutor,  alternating parents or any other caregiver. When considering who you’d like to facilitate your pod, think about whether you have time to personally invest in it, how old your children are, what their needs might be, and how much is your budget. There’s no right way to run a pod - each family has to figure out the right way for itself.

What is the difference between a pod’s organizer and a pod’s facilitator?

An organizer is the person who initiated the pod and created it on the Pod.NYC platform. They are also the ones who are in charge of logistics: reaching an agreement with the facilitator (if there is one), organizing the families and agreeing on a space to run the pod. 

A facilitator is the person who is running the educational aspect of the pod. They can be a teacher, tutor or other caregiver. 

An organizer and a facilitator can be the same person. For example, some pods are organized and facilitated by a professional teacher.

Where can a pod be held?

Anywhere, it all depends on your needs. A pod can be held indoors or outdoors. It can be held at a home, rotating between families’ homes, at the facilitator’s home, or at a different location rented specifically for the pod. You can always reach out to us if you're debating between options, or if you need help connecting to a space.

Who can create a pod? What does it mean if I created a pod?

Both facilitators and parents can create a pod. 

If a facilitator creates a pod, they are the organizer and the facilitator/teacher. 

If a parent creates the pod, they will either be looking for a facilitator, or the pod can be facilitated by parents.

What safety measures are taken? 

Every pod is different, and every pod has different safety measures - agreed upon in advance by its members. 

On the pod’s description on the platform you can see the safety measures this particular pod is taking (e.g. instructor wears a mask, pod is outdoors only etc.). If you start your own pod, you’d be asked about the safety measures you want to take.

What is Pods.NYC? 

Pods.NYC was established by Noa and Shlomit, two moms from Stuytown, the East Village, NYC, during the coronavirus pandemic. The isolation caused by the pandemic of themselves and their children, made them realize the importance of community ties and the potential of a community to help individuals connect and support each other. Noa and Shlomit founded Pods.nyc, as a way to help their community members connect with one another to create alternative solutions that fit the “new normal”. 

Unlike those who claim that a big city is not the ideal place to be during a pandemic, we feel the exact opposite. Thousands of people living tightly together create an infinite number of opportunities for collaborations. We want to encourage community stewardship and meaningful alliances that will turn the city we love into the most desirable place to be at, at any given time. 

Pods.NYC is a platform that presents various pods in the neighborhood, to which you can request to join. If you haven’t found what you're looking for, you can start your own pod with a few simple clicks, and it will be shown on the platform.  

You can also leave your info as a parent or facilitator, and you’ll be notified when a new pod that suits your needs opens up. 

Why Pods.NYC? 

We started Pods.NYC as a way to help unite the community and bring people who are neighbors closer together. Pods.NYC focuses only on one relatively small area of Manhattan, the East Village and its surroundings (Union Square, the Lower East Side, Stuytown, Greenwich Village and their area), in order to make it easier for families to connect with other like-minded families in their vicinity. Pods.NYC is a tool of community empowerment during challenging times, when it’s time to think outside the box, and utilize the neighborhood to find creative solutions for a resilient community. 

Will Pods.NYC be available in other neighborhoods of NYC or in other cities? 

As Pods.NYC is a tool for community empowerment, we are not rushing its expansion. We want to offer Pods.NYC only when we understand the needs of a specific neighborhood, and can use the current infrastructure to create meaningful connections. If you think your community answers this description please reach out to us!