named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
After School Programming
Provides daily after-school services to over 500 children, including STEAM activities, literacy, and health & nutrition education; includes intergenerational learning with seniors and partnerships with Columbia University’s Teachers College.
Emergency Food Pantry
Distributes food packages to over 5,000 New Yorkers annually, supporting food-insecure families in the community.
GenerationPMTO (Parent Management Training – Oregon Model)
12-session evidence-based program offering individualized support to parents to improve children's behavioral and emotional well-being.
Strong African American Families (SAAF)
Research-supported group intervention for African American parents/caregivers and children aged 10–14 to strengthen family relationships and conflict resolution skills.
Strong African American Families – Teen (SAAF-T)
Adaptation of SAAF for teens aged 14–16 and their caregivers, focusing on healthy development and family communication.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- After-school programming for children and youthOperates after-school programs at multiple public schools in New York City, including PS 36, PS/MS 129, PS/MS 161 (HARLEM CREATE), and PS 153, serving over 500 children daily. Programs focus on academic support, confidence and resilience building, and include activities such as STEM challenges and cultural celebrations.
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Back-to-School Supply Distribution 1 activity
- Back-to-school and educational support initiativesHosts back-to-school supply giveaways and participates in resource fairs such as the NYC ACS Back-to-School Resource Fair, distributing backpacks and school supplies to hundreds of children in Harlem and southeast Queens.
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Community Resource Navigation and Support Services 1 activity
- Community outreach and resource distributionOperates an outreach center in Jamaica, NY, and engages in community resource development, including maintaining updated resource lists during the pandemic, creating directories of free internet and reproductive health resources, and distributing school supplies at community fairs.
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Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
- Community technology accessEstablished the Vaughn Harper Computer Center to provide community access to computer services during evenings and on Saturdays, supporting digital equity for youth and families.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Emergency food pantry servicesOperates an Emergency Food Pantry that distributes food packages—including canned and dried goods, fresh produce, dairy, and meat—to more than 5,000 New Yorkers annually. Also developed and distributed food resource lists specific to Harlem and Queens.
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Parenting Education and Support Programs 1 activity
- Evidence-based group programs and parenting supportFacilitates evidence-based and evidence-informed group programs including GenerationPMTO (offered free over 12 weeks), Strong African-American Families, Parenting Journey, Parenting Skills, Domestic Violence Survivor's Group, and Youth Groups. Includes a seven-session program for African American youth aged 10–15 and caregivers to strengthen family relationships and reduce risky behaviors.
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Child Welfare and Protection Services 1 activity
- Family preservation and family support servicesProvides preventive family preservation services to support and stabilize families at risk of crisis, achieving a 98% rate of keeping children safely at home. Offers evidence-based interventions for children ages 0–17 and their caregivers to reduce child abuse, maltreatment, and neglect in Central Harlem.
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Regular School Community Meetings 1 activity
- Parent and caregiver engagement initiativesRebooted the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) in spring 2022 and hosts monthly virtual and quarterly in-person meetings between PAC members, organizational leadership, and staff to discuss program quality and service delivery. Also hosted a luncheon for PAC members on March 25, 2023, to foster dialogue.
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Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
- Seasonal and holiday support programsHosts an annual Holiday Toy Drive for over 1,200 children and provides holiday gifts to families in need, such as the seasonal giving initiative that supported twins Deante and Jeremiah and their mother Raymanda.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Summer camp programmingProvides summer camp programs serving over 300 children, with activities designed to support youth development and engagement during summer months.
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Supported Employment for Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
- Support services for children with developmental disabilitiesProvides specialized family support services for children with developmental disabilities, as part of a comprehensive suite of programs offered to families in New York City.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.88M
Contributions & grants$4.18M86%
Program service revenue$620K13%
Investment income$1K0%
Other revenue$82K
expenses
Total expenses$4.80M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$3.00M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$7.51M
Cash$85K
Investments$0
Liabilities$8.77M
Net assets$-1.26M
Liquid reserves0.2 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +9.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN DIXON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $186K |
board members · 8
- BISRAT MEKBEB — SECRETARY
- DAWN SPEAKS — VICE PRESIDENT
- DR BERT PETERSEN — BOARD MEMBER
- FLOR SALTIEL — PRESIDENT
- M NATASHA REID — BOARD MEMBER
- NANCY KLEAVER — BOARD MEMBER
- SANDRA FUMEI — TREASURER
- WENDY HEWLETT — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- Belkis Acevado Partner — Vice Chair of the Parent Advisory Council, supporting parent engagement and collaboration with agency leadership.
- Beyond Meat Partner — Corporate partner that provided a $15,000 donation and facilitated a Knicks game experience for youth.
- Beyond Meat Partner — Provided a $20,000 donation to support programming and combat food insecurity in NYC.
- Children's Village Partner — Collaborates with Children's Village to produce and distribute resource guides, including food and internet access directories.
- Children's Village Partner — Strategic partnership with Children's Village to serve vulnerable children.
- Columbia University's Teachers College Partner — Collaborates to provide educational opportunities for after-school program participants.
- Garden of Dreams Foundation Partner — Collaborated with Harlem Dowling to deliver holiday gifts and host events for children and families.
- Garden of Dreams Foundation Partner — Collaborated with Harlem Dowling to distribute food and holiday gifts to community members.
- Garden of Dreams Foundation Partner — Partner organization that provided a memorable experience for Harlem Dowling's children through Knicks Kids’ Day.
- GenerationPMTO Partner — Implements the Parent Management Training Oregon model in parenting programs.
- Golden Gate Chapter #40 Partner — Co-hosted a back-to-school supply giveaway for Harlem Dowling participants.
- Lewis Hayden Lodge #69 Partner — Co-hosted a back-to-school supply giveaway for Harlem Dowling participants.
- Logan Gardens Partner — Partners on the Intergenerational Service Learning program with seniors.
- MSG Partner — Partner that hosted Harlem Dowling's participants at Madison Square Garden for Knicks Kids’ Day.
- NY Assemblyman Edward Gibbs Partner — Joined NY Knicks Alumni and Harlem Dowling in distributing holiday gifts to a local family.
- NY Knicks Alumni Partner — Participated in food distribution and holiday gift giving events with Harlem Dowling.
- NYC Administration for Children’s Services Government — Partnered with Harlem Dowling on the annual Back-to-School Resource Fair in Queens.
- NYC Administration for Children’s Services Partner — Collaborates with Harlem Dowling on the annual Back-to-School Resource Fair to provide school supplies and connect families with services.
- NYC Department of Community Development Funder — Funded summer camp programs serving over 300 children.
- NYC Department of Community Development Government — Primary funder of summer camp programs
- NYC Youth Partner — Collaborates on summer camp programming for students from local public schools
- New York Knicks Alumni Partner — Provided holiday gifts to children and families through the Garden of Dreams Foundation.
- PS 153 Partner — Source school for youth participating in summer camp programs
- PS 36 Partner — Source school for youth participating in summer camp programs
- Qumar Dennis Ekwobi Partner — Chairperson of the Parent Advisory Council, representing parent and caregiver perspectives in organizational decision-making.
- The Children's Village Partner — Strategic partner with shared history and mission in child welfare and community service in New York City.
- Vaughn Harper Partner — Longtime friend and supporter who hosted an annual Holiday Toy Drive and inspired the creation of the Vaughn Harper Computer Center.
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.
- Client-Choice Model for Dignity and Engagementmethodology: client_choiceBy allowing clients to choose their own school supplies, we promote dignity and autonomy, which increases engagement and program effectiveness because choice fosters ownership and reduces stigma in service delivery.
- Evidence-Based Parenting Interventionsmethodology: evidence_based_parentingBy delivering structured, research-supported parenting programs (e.g., SAAF, GenerationPMTO), we improve parent-child relationships and reduce child maltreatment, because standardized, clinically validated curricula produce measurable improvements in family dynamics and child behavior.
- High-Contact, Relationship-Based Caremethodology: relationship_based_careThrough consistent, personalized relationships with staff, we promote healing and growth among vulnerable individuals and families because sustained relational engagement builds trust and enables deeper behavioral and emotional change.
- Parent Advisory Councils for Program Co-Designmethodology: parent_advisory_councilBy involving parents as advisory partners, we improve program quality and family navigation of services because lived experience ensures relevance, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness in service design and implementation.
- Strength-Based, Family-Centered Approachmethodology: strength_based_family_centeredBy focusing on family strengths and centering care around family systems, we improve child well-being and support family preservation, because empowering existing family assets leads to more sustainable and culturally resonant outcomes.