Facebook NY

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to combating climate change. Learn more about how we’re expanding and improving our Climate Science Information Center, and introducing new ways for people to discover it.

This #BlackHistoryMonth, Facebook New York is celebrating the remarkable people on our NYC team who are igniting real, positive change and inspiring people around them to make a difference every day. This week, we’re proud to introduce you to Robert R., a Client Solutions Manager in our NYC office. Earlier this week, Robert shared his journey to Facebook. And today, he’s sharing his thoughts on the tech issues that will have the greatest impact on the Black community in the n...ear future. I believe one the biggest tech issues in relationship to the Black community is the lack of access to reliable digital connections. The pandemic has increased our adoption, and thus reliance on digital platforms by a decade. However, in the United States, 1 in 3 Black adults do not have home broadband, and Black households with one or more children age 17 or younger lack high-speed home internet (over 3.25 million Black children live in these households). While 1 in 5 of African Americans are smartphone-only internet users, mobile subscriptions have more restrictive data caps and pose challenges in completing tasks like homework and job applications. (Source: Expand Internet Access Among Black Households, Joint Center, August 4, 2020) In my opinion, this is due to the intersection of systemic social inequities that have plagued the Black community for decades. Thus, as much as tech companies work to improve their applications and software to be more accessible and representative of our nation, I believe they should also advocate for a more equitable distribution of the infrastructure needed to access technological advancement. I’m really proud to be a part of a peer group of young professionals leveraging technology to impact positive change on future generations. I’m particularly inspired by my friend Erika Hairston who recently founded Edlyft. Recognizing the difficulty of taking up Computer Science & the lack of access to mentorship and guidance that exists for underrepresented groups, Erika co-founded Edlyft to help students ace their computer science courses, receive mentorship and land jobs in the tech industry. She’s a great example of what technology can do when those who are building it understand the ways it has historically left people behind.

The Commerce Operations team is the driving force behind commerce experience, content management, and seller trust across the Facebook company’s apps and services. We chatted with three team members to learn more about the meaningful work they’re doing that impacts the APAC region as well as other parts of the world.

In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth, on Friday, February 26 at 6 PM ET, Facebook New York’s Black@ employee resource group is partnering with Million Watts to present #BlackisBorderless! The event will look to drive an intimate conversation with the brightest Black minds, who are pushing the culture within some of the world's biggest tech and digital companies. We'll be speaking about the pro’s of the Black tech experience, lifestyle, and the future of Black talent in the te...ch space. Moderated by Million Watts Co-Founder Diomara, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with panelists Isaiah Lawrence, Operations Manager at Giphy; Osagie Aisueni, Technical Engineer at Dropbox; Terrence Agbi Senior Product Manager at Forbes; and Facebook New York’s very own Digital Producer, LaMonday Baxter! We hope that you can join our conversation! Link to RSVP: https://blackisborderless.splashthat.com/

Being a working parent at Facebook has been a life changing experience for me. Antonia, a security program manager, talks about her experience raising her daughter while building a career at Facebook.

Last month, Head of Facebook Reality Labs Andrew Bosworth held an AMA on Instagram. From what his favorite FB Cafe food is to thoughts on future technology, check out the video below for some of the highlights.

Calling all East Coast engineers - Performance @Scale is coming to New York! On Wednesday, November 18, Facebook NYC will host the virtual conference, featuring talks that will explore the technical and organizational challenges of high-performance applications and services. Please join us and register below.

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, so must we. Here’s what Facebook’s US Policy Program team is doing to help small businesses transition their services online, help find financial relief, and manage through challenging times.

#WeekofGiving: Facebook New York’s Robert R. and Giving Back through The Bronx Community Relief Effort In celebration of Facebook New York’s second annual Week of Giving, we’re spotlighting a handful of employees who are giving back to New York non-profits and our community. Today, we share the story of Robert R., a Client Solutions Manager at Facebook New York and his work with The Bronx Community Relief Effort. The Bronx Community Relief Effort is a non-profit philanthrop...ic organization that provides effective, on-the-ground operations and support that are focused on meeting the most essential needs of the Bronx community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Donations collected are distributed in real-time within the community to those in critical need. In Robert’s words, Born and raised in the South Bronx, I understood intimately the challenges this community has faced through the years. When the pandemic hit, I knew those challenges would only worsen and I wanted to use my privilege working at Facebook to help my community when they needed it most. The Bronx Community Relief Effort gave me that chance, allowing me to leverage my skill set built at Facebook to help them establish a strong digital presence to raise funds and communicate with the broader community about the resources available. Since March, we’ve been able to leverage Facebook’s social good tools, raising funds that have led to supplies for students, PPE for essential workers, and grants for small businesses. The work being done during this crisis is only the beginning of what this organization will do for the Bronx and beyond.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our ability to get together with friends and family in person, Portal has helped to bridge the gap. Fisher House, a charity that builds homes where military and veteran families can stay free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital, has distributed 160 Portal TVs to VA facilities across the country, allowing veterans to stay close to their families even when they can’t be in the same room.

Leading teams through unpredictable circumstances is a challenge for even the most seasoned leaders. Recently, three senior leaders at Facebook came together during a virtual Women in Product panel to chat about how they've adapted their working styles amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

People wanted to be able to hug each other from far away, says Seattle-based Talia Ledner, a content strategist on the Feed Experience team, and we wanted to provide that for them in a lightweight way. Something genuine and helpful. Learn more about how Facebook developed its ‘hug’ reaction in the midst of a pandemic in order to help people feel closer together.

#WeekofGiving: Facebook New York’s Sophia L. and Mentoring with Apex for Youth In celebration of Facebook New York’s second annual Week of Giving, we’re spotlighting a handful of employees who are giving back to New York non-profits and our community. Today, we share the story of Sophia L., a global project manager at Facebook New York and her work with Apex for Youth, a non-profit that delivers possibilities to underserved Asian and immigrant youth from low-income families... in NYC. They recruit working professionals to volunteer and become positive role models who inspire youth to expand their horizons and envision what is possible for their lives. Through mentoring and educational programs that serve students from 1st to 12th grade, Apex volunteers guide and support youth to become confident, be ready for college and give back to the community. In Sophia’s words, Apex for Youth has allowed me to give back to the community closest to my heart. Over the last three years, I’ve helped Michelle reach for bigger opportunities and build confidence in her own voice. On the flip side, Michelle has taught me about the power of vulnerability, and challenged me to bring my best self to all parts of my life. Our relationship has proven that although I was introduced as the mentor, inspiration and learnings go both ways, unlocking the true beauty of Apex’s mission.

#WeekofGiving: Facebook New York’s Ankit V. and Paying it Forward with Here2Help From November 30 December 4, Facebook New York will be celebrating our second annual Week of Giving, a time where we rally our New York employees together to give back to our broader New York communities. It will look a little different this year, but we plan to have even more impact and will be focusing on employee-led fundraisers leveraging the Facebook Fundraising tool, educational spotlight...s and a handful of virtual volunteer opportunities. Throughout the week, we’ll celebrate a handful of employees who are giving back to New York non-profits and our community. Today, we share the story of Ankit V., a New York-based Client Solutions Manager on our Global Marketing Solutions team and his involvement with Here2Help, an Instagram-based mentorship initiative founded by Instagram employee Fana Y. Here2Help helps professionals who recently lost their job due to COVID and new grads who missed out on recruitment opportunities this year, gain access to mentors from a diverse range of backgrounds that are here to help mentees craft their resumes, gain career advice, and regain their confidence as they re-enter the workforce. In Ankit’s words, The Here2Help organization offered me an opportunity to pay it forward as a mentor by providing advice, perspective, and most importantly opening doors for those most affected by an unstable job market and crisis. Over the past few months, I’ve seen the power of the incredible Here2Help community in helping people land meaningful careers and develop strong relationships with mentors, all while championing each other to be the best version of ourselves. To learn more about Here2Help, please visit: https://www.instagram.com/here2help/.

When it comes to tapping team members’ creative potential, Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer, or Schrep, believes leaders can help remove the day-to-day roadblocks that can hinder creative thinking. Schrep shares how cultivating a transparent culture helps software engineers unlock their creativity and empowers them to do their best work:

Interested in what’s happening at Facebook Reality Labs? Heidi, a Facebook Reality Labs engineering leader, shares her story with us in our recurring series, Five Minutes With.

New York has a vibrant business and tech community and we’re excited about expanding our presence within the city! We recently acquired office space at the 107-year-old James A. Farley Building in Midtown Manhattan with plans for it to become a dedicated hub for our tech and engineering teams. #tbt

Layla A., Product Lead for Instagram Shopping, loves to help businesses of all shapes and sizes thrive, especially after helping her family’s online business take off. Today, she leads the New York-based product team that is building the new Shop tab within Instagram, which is a personalized and immersive experience. Learn more about how Layla and her team are shaping the future of digital commerce:

During these challenging times, Facebook is committed to helping businesses grow and reach new audiences. Facebook Shops, which launched in May, makes it possible for a business of any size to create a customized digital storefront and sell its products and services online. Commerce Platform and Marketplace teams in Seattle and London are driving critical parts of the shop projects. Here is how they make it possible:

The world and how we connect with one another is changing, Manohar P., Director of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Facebook. Manohar recently joined fellow leaders from Facebook AI Research (FAIR), Facebook AI Applied Research (FAIAR), and Facebook Reality Labs (FRL) for a virtual discussion to share learnings and insights from their research. Here’s what they said about their work:

Facebook has always been dedicated to building up the core technologies that enable people to connect, work, play and learn remotely. One big part of this technological progress has been the creation of the very best VR device at a price that makes it accessible for more people than ever before. Learn more about how we’re making VR for everyone.

Research permeates everything we do at Facebook. We recently caught up with three PhD research scientists to discuss why they chose to join Facebook, the real-world impact of their work, and their advice for candidates.

In the spring of 2019, virtual filmmakers filmed the interior and exterior of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Just a few weeks later, the 850-year-old landmark was nearly destroyed in a fire. Chloé Rochereuil and her team partnered with Oculus to create a new documentary called Rebuilding Notre Dame. Virtual reality films are increasingly becoming a sophisticated tool for storytelling, Check out how they were able to accomplish bringing the cathedral back to life.

The audio team at Facebook Reality Labs Research is working on novel technologies that enable us to hear better in noisy environments with our future AR Glasses. Check out a behind-the-scenes look at the current demos and prototype technology.

At Facebook, we’ve adapted our hiring and onboarding process to meet the new realities of working from home. We relied on a collaborative effort across our recruiting team as we shift thousands of interviews into virtual formats. To learn more about the experience, we spoke with five Facebook engineers who shared insights on the process and how they prepped for their interviews.

At Facebook, we believe that everyone, regardless of whether or not they’re a manager, can demonstrate strong leadership and have a positive influence on the people around them. We recently caught up with two senior-level individual contributors within the Design organization to hear about their roles and the impact they make.

Paper Beast invites you to explore an AI simulation run wild literally. The world of Paper Beast is full of motion and life, and a robust physics engine governs everything in the game. We spoke with Pixel Reef founder, Erik Chahi, who selected some of his favorite visuals from the game and provided us with insights on each. If you're ready to embark on a virtual safari, then grab your gear and jump into Paper Beast on the Oculus Platform.

MRIs are often the best tool for diagnosing health problems, but even with recent advances, it takes a significant amount of time for the scanner to gather the necessary data. Facebook AI researchers have partnered with doctors and medical imaging experts at NYU Langone Health to solve this problem and advance artificial intelligence research. Learn about their work: