named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Health and Wellness Initiative
Program improving access to physical, emotional, social, and spiritual resources in the community through partnerships with local organizations like NYC Love Kitchen.
Pathways Mentoring
Youth mentoring program that pairs community leaders with middle and high school students in Washington Heights and Inwood for weekly meetings, character development, and long-term support; includes summer employment initiatives and school engagement.
Uptown Youth Collective
Community coalition led by Viva Uptown that connects 19 local schools, organizations, churches, police districts, and businesses to support youth development and community unity.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 2 activities
- Uptown Youth CollectiveOperates the Uptown Youth Collective in collaboration with 19 to 23 schools, organizations, churches, police precincts, and local businesses to support youth development and community engagement through quarterly meetings and coordinated initiatives.
- Uptown Youth CouncilOperates the Uptown Youth Council, a student leadership group that collaborates with community leaders, engages in advocacy, and includes three senior apprentices or mentees in collective governance and community projects.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Annual Hike the Heights Community EventOrganizes an annual community celebration event, Hike the Heights, held on the first Saturday of June to celebrate the Washington Heights and Inwood neighborhoods through inclusive community participation.
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Public Space Beautification and Maintenance 1 activity
- Community Beautification ProjectsOrganizes volunteer-led beautification activities including mural painting, park cleanups, and flower planting to enhance public spaces and foster community pride in Washington Heights and Inwood.
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Nonprofit Internship Programs 1 activity
- Community Intern Support ProgramSupports one community organizing intern per month through stipends or program costs, currently hosting two community interns to build local leadership capacity.
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Gun Violence Prevention & Intervention 1 activity
- Credible Messenger Mentoring ProgramRuns the Credible Messenger mentoring program, the first Latino-led firearm and gang violence intervention initiative in northern Manhattan, which serves youth at risk or with justice system involvement through structured mentoring and community-based support.
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Family-School Engagement Programs 1 activity
- Mentor-Student-Parent EngagementFacilitates bi-monthly mentor-mentee activities and holds mentor-student-parent meetings twice per year in the fall and spring to strengthen relationships and support student development.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Partnership with NYC Love KitchenPartners with NYC Love Kitchen to provide access to freshly cooked meals, emergency food pantry services, and community service referrals for residents in need in the Washington Heights and Inwood area.
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Intake and Referral Coordination 1 activity
- Rapid Referral SystemImplements a Rapid Referral System to connect youth and young adults with urgent needs to trusted partner organizations through warm handoffs, ensuring timely access to support services.
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Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
- Summer Youth Employment InitiativeRuns an annual summer youth employment initiative for 4–6 students and supports additional mentees in enrolling in the neighborhood Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), providing work experience and career development opportunities.
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Youth One-on-One Mentoring 1 activity
- Youth Mentoring ProgramOperates a weekly mentoring program that pairs community leaders and volunteers with middle school students for one-on-one interactions, including shared breakfasts and 45 minutes of developmental activities during the academic year. The program emphasizes character development, leadership, and long-term support, with 13 mentor-student pairs active for six years or more.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$56K
Contributions & grants$56K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$54K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$38K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$19K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$18K
1 years on record · 2022–2022
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KERLIN CALDERON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 5 | $12K |
board members · 2
- DENISE HYKES — DIRECTOR
- REYN CABINTE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- Church of the Heights Partner — Organization that leads Activo, a youth ministry meeting Friday nights for youth in the WaHI community.
- Church of the Heights Partner — Partner organization running Activo youth ministry in the WaHI community.
- Gospel-centered churches of our neighborhoods Partner — Collaborates with local churches to develop leadership, programs, and community renewal initiatives.
- Grace Tabernacle Partner — Collaborating partner in the South Bronx since Viva Uptown's inception.
- Grace Tabernacle Partner — Founding partner organization located in the South Bronx.
- Inwood Academy Partner — Hosts the Pathways Mentoring program and refers students who would benefit from adult mentorship.
- Inwood Academy Partner — School partner where Pathways Mentoring program began and serves students
- MBCY league Partner — Collaborates on youth sports programming; coaches alert mentors to student achievements and events.
- NYC Love Kitchen Partner — Collaborates with Viva Uptown to provide freshly prepared meals, emergency food pantry access, and community service referrals.
- NYC Love Kitchen Partner — Partner organization providing emergency food services and referrals, in collaboration with Viva Uptown.
- Police Precinct 33 Partner — Collaborates with Viva Uptown on the Uptown Youth Collective to support youth and families.
- Police Precinct 34 Partner — Collaborates with Viva Uptown on the Uptown Youth Collective to support youth and families.
- Police Precincts 34 and 33 Partner — Collaborates with Police Precincts 34 and 33 as part of the Uptown Youth Collective partnership to support youth and families.
- The Love Kitchen Partner — Provides summer employment opportunities for mentored youth.
- Uptown Youth Collective Coalition — Collaborative network co-facilitated by Viva Uptown with 23 member organizations.
- Uptown Youth Collective Partner — Collaborative network of 23 schools, churches, and neighborhood organizations that meets quarterly to support youth in the community.
- Young Life Partner — Partner organization conducting youth programming in the WaHI community.
- Young Life Partner — Partner organization hosting Friday night gatherings for youth in the WaHI community and offering summer programs.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Asset-Based, Cross-Sector Community Engagementmethodology: asset_based_community_developmentBy identifying and leveraging existing community strengths and coordinating across schools, churches, law enforcement, and organizations, we build a resilient safety net and increase collective capacity, because local assets and collaboration — not just external resources — are the foundation of sustainable community development.
- Credible Messenger Mentoring to Reduce Violencemethodology: credible_messengerBy engaging trusted community figures with lived experience in gang and firearm violence to mentor at-risk youth, we reduce involvement in violence, because shared identity and credibility enable deeper trust and more effective behavioral intervention, particularly in Latino and Latinx communities.
- Faith-Based Community Mobilization and Healingmethodology: faith_based_community_mobilizationBy grounding programs in the Christian gospel and mobilizing local churches as hubs for service and leadership, we advance community healing and renewal, because shared faith creates relational trust, motivates service, and empowers residents to address systemic and social fractures collectively.
- Integrated Community Engagement for Holistic Well-Beingmethodology: integrated_community_engagementBy combining spiritual practice, youth leadership development, and community organizing in regular gatherings, we foster sustained engagement and holistic well-being (shalom), because integrated, relational experiences address spiritual, social, and systemic needs simultaneously.
- Relational Mentoring for Youth Developmentmethodology: relational_mentoringBy providing consistent, long-term mentoring relationships — including one-on-one meetings, shared meals, and family engagement — we support academic progress, personal stability, and community connection in youth, because sustained, caring adult presence builds trust and demonstrates personal investment, which transforms student outcomes.