Current Construction
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- $18,300,000 of $18,800,000 goal 94.1%
The Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis) 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 fall of 2021.
We have secured $18,300,000 in funding for this two-year $18,800,000ย development and construction effort.
We need your help today to reach our goal of $18,800,000
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 BroSis is deeply committed to this expansion and their advice and leadership has been critical to the success of the effort.
BroSis was founded in 1995 and provides holistic and long-term support services to youth who range in age from eight to twenty-two. BroSis 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. BroSis is a locally based social justice organization with a national reach as we publish assorted curricula and collections of our membersโ 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 BroSis 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. BroSisโ 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.
BroSis has earned national recognition for our evidence-based model, receiving an array of awards, including from Oprah Winfrey, Ford Foundation, Brown University, New York Womenโs 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 this development is one of few buildings of its kind being built in NYC and the only one in Harlem โ 100% community educational use, no housing or retail or other areas of focus. This is solely a home for the development of BroSis, 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. BroSis is excited and proud of this vitally important step. We hope you will support us.
BroSis’ 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 BroSis’ services locally and nationally.
- Provide a space to train youth facilitators from around the country on BroSis’ proven model.
- Enhance the quality and depth of its programs.
Sneak peek inside our new home
Supporters
Government support for this project is provided by:ย Theย New York City Council and Council Member Mark Levine, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, ย the lateย New York State Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell, Jr., New York State Assemblyman Robert J. Rodriguezย and formerย New York State Assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright. Leading private supporters include:ย The Marlene Nathan Meyerson Family Foundation, The NoVo Foundation, Gladys and Roland Harriman Foundation,ย Ann and Weston Hicks,ย The Corbett Family Charitable Foundation, Lida Orzeck, Con Edison, Goldman Sonnenfeldt Foundation, Pinkerton Foundation, Walentas Foundation, Kevin Durant Charitable Foundationย and theย Rabbi Rachel Cowan Fund.
โThe 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, activists/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.โ
โThe 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 BroSis, and that when they go to college, they will be prepared both for their studies and campus life. BroSis is an organization where innovative ideas are realized with distinction, and Iโm excited to see what theyโll 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.โ
โThe 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.โ
โThe Brotherhood Sister Sol stands among New Yorkโs 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 Solโs 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.โ
