Cornerstone Community Centers

Cornerstones operate in public housing developments maintained by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Cornerstones operate year-round during non-school hours, on weekdays, weekends and in the summer and they represent a Citywide collaboration between the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).

The variety of services offered include academic enhancement, afterschool programs and summer camps, career awareness/school-to-work transition, civic engagement/community building, community events, culture and arts, leadership/mentorship programs, life skills development, recreation/health and fitness, and snacks, lunch and evening meals on weekdays. Seven of our nine Cornerstones participate in the City’s Young Men’s Initiative (YMI). Among the highlights of our Cornerstone Centers are: State of the Art Computer Labs, Music Recording Studios, Dance Studios, Fitness and Work-out facilities.

At our Cornerstones, we have developed a number of partnerships to enrich our service offerings. At the Cypress Hills Cornerstone, the Rogosin Institute – an independent, not-for-profit institution for research, treatment and prevention of kidney disease – donated equipment to outfit a computer lab for our participants.

Our partnership with Theater of War Productions brought a re-enactment of Hercules to the Pink Houses Cornerstone. Theatre of War promotes community-specific, theater-based projects that address pressing public health and social issues. After the performance, community members discussed how they could continue to support anti-violence measures within their families and the community.

Brooklyn-born ‘west elm’ has been giving back to Brooklyn through CAMBA’s Cornerstones including redesigning and furnishing the Teen Lounge and the Young Men’s Initiative meeting space at the Albany Cornerstone in Crown Heights. They also redesigned and furnished the Recreation Room, Teen Lounge, Art Room, Reception area and Dining Room at Brevoort Cornerstone in Bedford Stuyvesant.  There have been significant increases in attendance and active participation at the cornerstone programs after the redesigns. West elm plans to continue to work with 2 Cornerstones a year until all of our sites have been upgraded. Their generosity demonstrates the importance and impact of corporate philanthropy.

These are just a few of the varied programs that bring communities and generations together, with a focus on a stronger, safer Brooklyn. To sign up to receive text message updates about our Cornerstone programs, click here.

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