Capital Campaign

The Brotherhood/Sister Sol (Bro/Sis) is proud to announce that on October 12th, 2018 we broke ground on our new home. This 20,000 square foot capital project provides critical support to one of the leading citywide youth development organizations in New York City. This development allows for the creation of the necessary physical site for an organization that is being modeled across the country.

Completion is scheduled for the spring of 2021.

We have secured $17,600,000 in funding for this two-year $18,700,000 development and construction effort.

We need your help today to reach our goal of $18,700,000

The architectural firm Urban Architectural Initiatives, designed the building and Gilbane Building Company, one of the largest privately held and family-owned construction companies in the field, manages the project. Our government relations firm, one that has been critical to the success of this project, is Kasirer Consulting. The Board of Directors of Bro/Sis is deeply committed to this expansion and their advice and leadership has been critical to the success of the effort.

Bro/Sis was founded in 1995 and provides holistic and long-term support services to youth who range in age from eight to twenty-two. Bro/Sis offers wrap around evidence-based programming such as four to six year rites of passage programming, thorough five day a week after school care, school and home counseling, summer camps, job training, college preparation, employment opportunities, community organizing training, and a month long international study program to Africa and Latin America. Bro/Sis is a locally based social justice organization with a national reach as we publish assorted curricula and collections of our members’ writings; train educators throughout the nation on our approach; and organize and advance policy around issues of education, immigration, the environment and criminal justice issues.

The themes of Bro/Sis are Community, Knowledge, Positivity and Future. Our educational model is based on our Curriculum Focus Issues, which include themes of leadership development, educational achievement, sexual responsibility, sexism and misogyny, conflict resolution and violence prevention, political education and social justice, Pan-African and Latino/a history, and global awareness. Bro/Sis’ Theory of Change is to provide multi-layered support, guidance, education and love to our membership, to teach them to have self-discipline and form order in their lives, and then to offer opportunities and access so that they may develop agency.

Bro/Sis has earned national recognition for our evidence-based model, receiving an array of awards, including from Oprah Winfrey, Ford Foundation, Brown University, New York Women’s Foundation, Fund for the City of New York, the National Recreation Foundation, and the New York State Department of Education.

This new building will be an expanded state of the art site for our children and the community and a model for the educational field. Assorted New York State and New York City agencies have stated that that this development is one of few buildings of its kind being built in NYC and the only one in Harlem – 100% community educational use, no housing or retail or other areas of focus. This is solely a home for the development of Bro/Sis, a space to work to change policies that will more broadly and systemically help our children and a site to train in the field so that others can improve their youth development outcomes. Bro/Sis is excited and proud of this vitally important step. We hope you will support us.

$17,600,000 of $18,700,000 goal

Bro/Sis Vision for The Future

Create the only state-of-the-art youth focused community center with a technology center and 3-lot environmental education center in Harlem.

Create pathways out of poverty for children in New York City and across the nation.

Work to address the access and opportunity gaps that challenge our youth.

Meet the growing demand for Bro/Sis’ services locally and nationally.

Provide a space to train youth facilitators from around the country on Bro/Sis’ proven model.

Enhance the quality and depth of its programs.

Supporters

Government support for this project is provided by: The New York City Council and Council Member Mark Levine, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, the late New York State Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell, Jr., New York State Assemblyman Robert J. Rodriguez and former New York State Assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright. Leading private supporters include: The Marlene Nathan Meyerson Family Foundation, The NoVo Foundation, 2M Companies, Ann and Weston Hicks, The Corbett Family Charitable Foundation and the Rabbi Rachel Cowan Fund.

“The Brotherhood/Sister Sol is an exceptional organization that gives kids of all ages access to one-of-a-kind programs that develop and nurture the whole person. They serve youth locally and across the city, emphasizing the importance of being members of a community. I have seen first-hand the impact they have on children and their families by fostering independence, creativity, responsibility, and confidence in the children they serve. From after school programs that teach leadership skills, to green markets and job training, The Brotherhood/Sister Sol is making a difference in the lives of countless New Yorkers. Moreover, their programs are run by some of the most talented and inspirational leaders New York has to offer, dedicated not just to developing the youth they serve but also giving them opportunities to succeed later in life.”

Mark Levine, provided $1 million dollars in funding

New York City Council Member

“I truly believe the power of community can really lift people up, especially when a community comes together and gives back to young people. I also believe that such opportunities, when presented, can be the gateway for a whole new world and The Brotherhood/Sister Sol does just that. The NYC Council is proud to have given over $6.2 million in capital funding to help The Brotherhood/Sister Sol continue to carry out their mission of providing services that will help inspire and uplift our youth.”

Melissa Mark-Viverito

former New York City Council Speaker

“The Brotherhood/Sister Sol is one of the most unique youth development organizations in the country. I know their work well and they teach young people to become social change makers, activist/artists and to succeed in life. Their work is transformational and their new building in Harlem will allow for the further development of an essential organization that works every day for equity, equality and opportunity.It will represent the solidifying of an institution.”

Harry Belafonte

Artist & Humanitarian

“The Brotherhood/Sister Sol is one of the best youth development organizations in New York City. From the top leadership to the front line staff, the quality of their work with young people is second to none. I have participated in youth greenmarkets, summer camp programs, and celebratory gatherings in their garden, but I know that the young people also travel all over the world with Bro/Sis, and that when they go to college, they will be prepared both for their studies and campus life. Bro/Sis is an organization where innovative ideas are realized with distinction, and I’m excited to see what they’ll be able to do with the new green building they have planned. I fully support their efforts to build this model out-of-school time facility in Harlem.”

Gale A. Brewer, provided $250,000 in funding

Manhattan Borough President

“The Brotherhood/Sister Sol stands among New York’s most vital youth development organizations. Its groundbreaking work serves as a national model for keeping young people from becoming involved in crime. We are proud to invest $2M in The Brotherhood/Sister Sol’s capital campaign to create a state-of-the-art home in West Harlem and empower thousands more young New Yorkers with the tools they need to succeed.”

Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Manhattan District Attorney

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