Cornerstone Organization: Children’s Arts & Science Workshops, Inc.

The Children's Arts & Science Workshops, Inc. was founded in response to the teachers’ strike in 1968. Concerned for their children’s education and safety, parents in Washington Heights set up temporary classrooms in a local church. There, community volunteers conducted classes during the day and provided After-school services. The initiative proved so successful that at the strike’s end, the decision was made to continue after-school programming and weekend workshops specializing in dance, music, and visual arts... and the rest is history! In 2024, we have ~25+ sites operating across Uptown and the Bronx. We were created to engage at-risk youth in a range of age-appropriate programs and activities that will increase their self-esteem and confidence, and prepare them to participate fully as productive members of society.

Location: Bronx River Community Center, 1619 East 174 Street, Bronx NY 10472.

Existing Programs include after-school and evening activities run by the Children’s Arts & Science Workshops, Inc., senior programs (Acacia network), and access to parent/family support services. Activities offered to youth are centered around science and arts, recreation, social-emotional learning and literacy.

Facilities: Over 10,000 square feet of space, the Bronx River Community Center is equipped with over 7 classrooms, an indoor gym with a stage for performances, an outdoor stage area, a fully equipped Mac lab, a large cafeteria, a kitchen, a game room, a recording studio and much more. Within these facilities, you will have access to most spaces for programming, and there is storage for art materials and areas of opportunity to present art throughout the spaces. Some neighboring organizations include the CORE Family Enrichment Center; the Bronx River Alliance and more. The residency-dedicated space is flexible and will be discussed with the site partner.

Site Background & Resident Feedback: Bronx River Houses was developed in the early 1940s. It currently has over 3000 residents across 9 buildings. The population is composed primarily of Hispanic, Afro-Latino, and African-American resident populations. The development has blossomed into a thriving epicenter of creativity and community engagement. While the Bronx River Housing Development boasts a rich and multifaceted history, its cultural significance transcends mere brick and mortar. From impromptu performances to organized events, the development pulses with the rhythms of breakdancing, art, and hip-hop music. Recognizing the untapped potential of Bronx River, initiatives like the artist-in-residence program seek to amplify its hidden treasures, shedding light on its vibrant cultural landscape and empowering residents and outsiders alike to acknowledge and cherish its intrinsic value.

Notable figures from the development include football player Darren Carrington and lead singer of Chiffons, Judy Craig.

PHCF and partners engaged residents in surveying and community brainstorming. Bronx River Houses residents identifies the following areas of interest:

● dance,

● painting, and

● creative technology

Residents noted that art programming can take place in and outside the community center in different play spaces (playground, basketball court). Some community needs mentioned include youth programming, education, and employment, and health and wellness. Other considerations for art programming include creating something new or innovative, and making use of existing resources.

Some historical or cultural aspects mentioned to be highlighted include

the community center, indigenous history, Starlight park, being the home of hip-hop and residents that have been living in the Bronx River for a long time.

Words to describe art include: contributed, creative and open, cultured, excited, happy, entertained, inspired, hopeful, acknowledgment (community getting attention that it deserves), proud, cozy, comfortable, peaceful, good, wonderful, amazing, alive

Other notable interests included fashion, film/photography, music, performance/theater. Community needs also mentioned included environmental justice, older adult/senior support, outdoor beautification, and food justice, intergenerational programming, and food justice, NYCHA privatization.

Some takeaways from the event:

-Residents mentioned music and talent show

-Be known as a family oriented project

-One challenge is that the community “doesn’t get seen” as it should

-Not each building is the same/different art at each entrance

-Photography, dancing, singing, basketball, food, design colorful backgrounds (red-orange-yellow, green-blue-purple, pink)

-Bio-public art + bio building material showcase

-Showcase art from community

-Intergenerational art classes/inclusive

-Resident poetry slam

-Address certain challenges/bring awareness: section 8, housing stigma/crisis, discrimination

-Healthy homes art

-AI art show/digital gallery

-Open studio for all mediums

-Healthy affordable housing and living, reducing use of toxic materials.

Cornerstone Organization: Grand St. Settlement

The settlement house model came to New York when the city was at critical mass. In 1916, Grand St. Settlement opened its doors, creating a community that would transcend place and time. Their goal is to empower people, support families, and encourage community members to advocate for themselves and others.

Location: Bushwick Hylan Community Center, 50 Humboldt Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206.

Existing Programs include early childhood, kids after school activities and youth evening activities, senior programs, and support for individuals with families. Some neighboring organizations include The Wick, Los Sures, and Office of Neighborhood Safety resident team.

Facilities: Kitchen, game room, clubhouse coordinator space, STEM lab, workout room, open gym with auditorium stage, senior space, and several classrooms. The residency dedicated space is flexible and will be decided through consultation with the site partner.

Site Background & Resident Feedback: Bushwick Houses were developed in the early 1960s. The community is home to over 2,500 residents residing in eight buildings. The population is composed primarily of Hispanic and African-Americans residents.

PHCF and partners engaged residents in surveying and community brainstorming. Bushwick Houses residents identifies the following areas of interest:

● Visual arts,

● Dance, and

● Music

Residents noted that art programming should take place in and outside the community center ie. building entrance/lobby and play spaces. Some community needs mentioned include youth programming and safety. Other considerations for art programming include creating something new or innovative, and making use of existing resources.

Other notable interests included architecture/design, creative technology, film/photography, performance/theater, spoken word, sculpture/site installation. Community needs also mentioned included Health & Wellness, Education and employment services, intergenerational programs, older adult/senior support, community safety, and environmental justice.

Words to describe art include: alive, comfortable, content, creative, free, good, welcoming, feel good about their neighbor, happy, inspired, involved, to be known, love, proud, safe, and whole.

Some noted takeaways from the event:

-The art should be inside buildings.

-More art for children to stop bullying.

-Partnering with artbridge (past experience).

-Art should reflect the neighborhood, cultures, and nationalities.

-Grounds are bland, need color and inspiration.

-Can be a mix of mediums, visual art and music.

-Flower art + flower beds.

-Community center as a safe haven, art should be in the central area.

-Art should be vibrant, on grounds/walls outside.

-Fashion and clothing, graffiti.

-Artwork on basketball court + playgrounds.

-Art inspiration like inside the “F” Train.

-Ancestral, cultural art.

Cornerstone Organization: SCAN-Harbor

SCAN-Harbor Founded in 1977, SCAN-Harbor is a non-profit youth and family service organization that provides a variety of integrated support to the highest risk children and families of Harlem, East Harlem and the South Bronx. With programs as diverse as early childhood education, substance abuse treatment, violence prevention, performing arts, literacy programs, LGBTQ support, after school activities and events, employment skills training, and youth leadership, SCAN-Harbor’s positive approach builds on individual, family, and group strengths.

Location: King Towers Community Center, 2 W 115th St, New York, NY 10026.

Existing Programs include after school activities and youth evening activities, senior programs, and parent/family support. Other programs include karate, kitchen demonstrations, double dutch/hula hoop, podcasting, heavy lifting, sound engineering, sewing machine, printer/plotter, youth council, art room, “Big park” socials, and rooms are “a canvas at night”.

Facilities: Kitchen, classrooms, art room, game room, music/audio studio, weight room, large convening spaces, and two floors with elevator. Some partnering organizations include New York Junior League, Good Shepherd, and Children Village. SCAN-Harbor also hosts its Get Healthy East Harlem program, promoting health habits from its participants. The residency dedicated space is flexible and will be decided through consultation with the site partner. For now, the artist can be stationed in a classroom.

Site Background & Resident Feedback: King Towers Houses was developed in the early 1950s. It currently has over 2800 residents across 10 buildings. The population is composed primarily of African-American, Hispanic, and Asian resident populations. The site boasts large play spaces ie. basketball courts. Residents are engaged with the center, primarily more seniors than youth. Notable figures from the development include fashion and music locals like Got the Scouts, Mike Unseen, and Nail the Gang, and more. It is also known for its basketball history, King Dome basketball courts similar to Rucker Park/And 1 era. The community has always been engaged with building its own culture. An important example of that engagement comes from the renaming of the center itself, from the formerly titled Foster Center. To honor Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., an effort was spearheaded by the community of residents who live in and around King Towers to use his name for their home.

PHCF and partners engaged residents in surveying and community brainstorming. King Towers Houses residents identifies the following areas of interest:

● Visual arts,

● Fashion, and

● Performance

Residents noted that art programming can take place outside the community center in different outdoor areas, ie. play and under-utilized space as well as the community center. Some community needs mentioned include youth programming, health and wellness, and community safety. Other historical references included Harlem history, the birth of salsa, and deep fashion roots. *Other considerations for art programming include creating something new or innovative, and making use of existing resources.

Other notable interests included dance, painting, and film/photography. Community needs also mentioned include food justice, intergenerational programming, environmental justice, parental/family programs, and outdoor beautification.

Words to describe art include: connection, able to tell a story, alive, happy, cheerful, peace, awesome, beautiful, better, calm, celebrated, cultural, empowered, good, great, gucci, safe, inspired, hopeful, important, vibrant, amazing, uplifted, aware, involved, not alone, loved, serene, creative, chill, free, wanted (belonging), warm, welcoming.

Some takeaways from the event:

-Sound engineering

-Affirmations on posts/plaques throughout neighborhood

-Mixed cultural art (all races)

-Sketching, making squishies, origami

-Focus on queer citizens and what they’ve been through

-Focus on mental health and disabled neighbors

-Show that not all people in our neighborhood are violent

Cornerstone Organization: HANAC, Inc

HANAC programming was developed by New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to engage year-round programming for adults and youth who reside in NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) housing developments. The Program is designed to encourage self-advocacy, embrace individual self-worth, build self-appreciation of all skills and talents, and maintain a strong dedication of working towards the overall common good of the community.

Location: Astoria Houses Community Center, 4-25 Astoria Blvd, Astoria, NY 11102.

Existing Programs include early childhood, kids after school activities and youth evening activities, senior programs, and parent/family support. Other programs include art nights, the Young Men’s Initiative, and annual center themes like Black Panther.

Facilities: Hydroponic lab, Computer lab, wellness space, dance room, Kitchen, game room, and several classrooms. Some neighboring organizations include Socrates Sculpture Park, Noguchi Museum, Urban Upbound, and next to the ferry. The residency dedicated space is flexible and will be decided through consultation with the site partner. For now, the artist can be stationed in a classroom or open lobby space.

Site Background & Resident Feedback: Astoria Houses was developed in the early 1950s. It currently has over 2700 residents across 22 buildings. The population is composed primarily of Hispanic, Afro-Latino, African-American, and Asian resident populations. The site boasts a large outdoor stage area with a view of the East River along with a large outdoor basketball court both used during the annual Family Day event. Notable figures from the development include Chamika Coldsclaw, Remy Ma, Tyrone Green and more. The center mentioned a range of focus areas including showcasing the pillars of their community to inform young and future residents; highlighting African stories; addressing mental health; connect with life and water adjacent to development; engage with the new private development on site; and lastly to “expand on who we are”.

PHCF and partners engaged residents in surveying and community brainstorming. Astoria Houses residents identifies the following areas of interest:

● Visual arts,

● Dance, and

● Fashion

Residents noted that art programming can take place in and outside the community center in different play spaces (playground, basketball court). Some community needs mentioned include youth programming, outdoor beautification, and intergenerational programs. Other considerations for art programming include creating something new or innovative, and making use of existing resources.

Other notable interests included architecture/design, creative technology, film/photography, performance/theater, spoken word, sculpture/site installation. Community needs also mentioned included Health & Wellness, Education and employment services, older adult/senior support, community safety, and environmental justice.

Words to describe art include: alive, amazing, appreciated, beautiful, free, happy, proud, intrigued, joy, motivated, pleased, satisfied, safe, calm, supported

Some noted takeaways from the event:

-Stop violence/shootings

-Colors, flowers, grass, birds, nature

-cake, cooking, culinary artists, tastings

-Digital art classes

-Have old school community events

-Building states, moving pictures

-An artist from the area

-Modern art, fashion design

-Artist like a boogie wit a hoodie, SZA

-A clean, safe community

-Hair artist

Cornerstone Organization: Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island

The Jewish Community Center of Staten Island was founded in 1929 with the goal of creating a home for the Jewish community by offering social, recreational, and educational activities. Over time, that mission expanded to help anyone who walked through the doors of any of our facilities. The JCC has become a true community center—not just for the Jewish community, but for the entirety of Staten Island. The JCC of Staten Island is dedicated to encouraging harmony throughout the community by providing facilities and programs that are open to all.

Location: Richmond Terrace Community Center, 71 Jersey St, Staten Island, NY 10301.

Existing Programs provide year-round out of school time activities, evening and weekend programming for youth ages 5 to 21 and programs for adults 22+, including seniors. We also offer 8-week summer camp programs, including weekends. There is a youth council and advisory board with strong parent involvement.

Facilities: Computer lab, large outdoor basketball courts, dance room, kitchen, cafeteria, exercise room, open/game space, teacher/staff lounge with lockers, and music room.

Some neighboring organizations include Distinguished Gentlemen and Sister to Sister. The residency dedicated space is flexible and will be decided through consultation with the site partner. For now, the artist can be stationed in various rooms or open spaces.

Site Background & Resident Feedback: Richmond Terrace Houses was developed in the early 1950s. It currently has over a 1000 residents across 6 buildings. The population is composed primarily of African-American and Hispanic resident populations. The site boasts a large outdoor basketball court. It will also have a multi-purpose/flex space upgrade by Snohetta in the coming months with retractable walls, sound proofing, and one-sided window for privacy.

Notable figures from the development include Dominique Ealy (WPL), Mac Wilds, Nigel Wyac, and Charles Fall and more. They have created a wellness space/library named after Marina Alvarez, a distinguished resident to remember her legacy. Certain activities and events included a Black History month live museum, solar system artwork themes, outdoor gardening, and a competition to decorate the center doors.

PHCF and partners engaged residents in surveying and community brainstorming. Richmond Terrace Houses residents identifies the following areas of interest:

● Dance,

● Painting, and

● Visual arts

Residents noted that art programming can take place in and outside the community center in different play spaces (playground, basketball court). **Some community needs mentioned include youth programming, health and wellness, and education and employment services. Other considerations for art programming include creating something new or innovative, and making use of existing resources.

Other notable interests included music, performance/theater, creative technology, sculpture/site installations, architecture/design, film/photography. Other community needs include older/senior support, food and environmental justice, transportation assistance, community safety, parents/family, outdoor beautification.

Words to describe art include: calm, ecstatic, educated, excited, inspired, cultivate talent and ideas, happy, good to be a part of it, open minded, powerful, relaxed, seen and heard, welcomed, like there is hope.

Some takeaways from the event:

-Music, dance

-Pool + game day, water events

-Family games + sports outside

-Food multicultural festival

-Interactive music chimes, sculptures

-Performing arts, dance performances, public art displays

-Pull cultural items to make sculpture/art piece

-Bring about mental health and wealth awareness

-Ways to express and release emotions through dance and music

-Public garden

-Plant knowledge and care

-Grow things and use for food event

-Video games, coding/creative technology, game design, video games/sports

-Musical installments, participatory music piece

-Art/painting, pottery

-self-defense classes

-magic class, theater