CYPRESS HILLS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

YOUTH AND HUMAN SERVICES THE CYPRESS HILLS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CHLDC) SERVED 3,907 CHILDREN IN HIGH QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMMING IN FY24. WE ENGAGED YOUNG PEOPLE IN EVIDENCE-BASED LITERACY BUILDING PROGRAMMING, ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, RECREATION AND SPORTS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. OUR ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL STRATEGIES AND MODELS TO STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES OF OUR YOUTH. AT OUR BEACON SCHOOL-BASED COMMUNITY CENTERS AT JHS 218 AND PS 214 WE SERVED 1,386 CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH EDUCATION, RECREATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING OUR COUNSELORS IN TRAINING INITIATIVE WHICH IS THE FIRST RUNG OUR INTERNAL LADDERS OF LEADERSHIP WHICH ENHANCES THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF OUR YOUTH AND TRAINS THEM FOR CAREERS IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AT OUR ORGANIZATION. IN FY24 OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER {MSSSC) EDUCATED 524 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL CHOICE PROCESS AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION AND SUPPORTED OVER 200 EIGHTH GRADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH THE CITY'S COMPLEX HIGH SCHOOL CHOICE PROCESS, ENABLING 99% OF OUR STUDENTS TO SECURE ADMISSION TO HIGH SCHOOLS WITH GRADUATION RATES ABOVE 75%.

CAREER & EDUCATION, SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING -CHLDC SERVED 1,267 RESIDENTS THROUGH OUR CAREER & EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN FY24 WHICH INCLUDES THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM AND SECTOR SPECIFIC JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH CARE, IT, CULINARY AND CONSTRUCTION SKILLS. WE ASSISTED 212 PARTICIPANTS IN OBTAINING ONE OR MORE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WORKFORCE CREDENTIALS AND PLACED 150 PARTICIPANTS IN JOBS WITH AN AVERAGE WAGE OF $19.50 AN HOUR. CH LDC PROVIDED ORGANIZING SUPPORT TO THE CYPRESS HILLS BUSINESS PARTNERS MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION TO PLAN CLEAN-UPS, GRAFFITI REMOVAL DAYS, LIGHTING UPGRADES AND CAME ONE STEP CLOSER WITH THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL TO ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ON FULTON STREET TO SUSTAIN THEIR SAFETY, SANITATION AND REVITALIZATION EFFORTS ON THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR. WE WORKED WITH 122 SMALL BUSINESS OPERATORS TO PUT TOGETHER BUSINESS PLANS, IMPROVE THEIR MARKETING AND ACCOUNTING AND SECURE FINANCING PRODUCTS. IN FY24 OUR COMMUNITY KITCHEN/SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR WORKED WITH 27 FOOD ENTREPRENEURS ON LICENSING, BUSINESS PLANNING, FINANCING, AND MARKETING. CHLDC MOBILIZES LOCAL RESIDENTS AND MERCHANTS THROUGH THE EAST NEW YORK COALITION FOR COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT TO DEMAND HOUSING, TRANSIT AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR THE COMMUNITY. LAST YEAR, 500+ RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN MEETINGS AND ACTIONS TO STOP THE DISPLACEMENT OF BLACK AND LATINO, LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME PEOPLE FROM EAST NEW YORK. THE COALITION INCLUDES OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, CLERGY MEMBERS, HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS AND MERCHANTS. THEY ARE ALSO ADVOCATING FOR TRANSIT EQUITY AND INVESTMENTS IN THE BROADWAY JUNCTION HUB. OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TEAM AT CH LDC SUPPORTS YOUTH ACTIVISTS IN A GRASSROOTS GROUP "FUTURE OF TOMORROW" THAT IS SEEKING MORE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR GUIDANCE AND COLLEGE ACCESS SUPPORT AS WELL AS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMMING. CH LDC IS INCUBATING THE EAST NEW YORK COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, WHICH IS ADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITY CONTROL OF PUBLIC LAND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.