named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
CSA Distribution & Food Demos
Community Supported Agriculture program providing locally farmed foods along with cooking demonstrations
Community Wellness Program
Culturally rooted programming including Salsa Music History Listening Sessions, Ancestral Rumba Drumming Classes, and cultural exhibitions that nurture mind, body, and community
Food Justice Program
Includes emergency food distribution, a 24/7 community fridge, mutual aid cooking, and a CSA program to expand access to fresh, organic food
Sala de Pepe Salsa Listening Sessions
Interactive music and storytelling sessions led by neighborhood historian Pepe Flores that explore the cultural roots of salsa in Loisaida
Youth Climate Justice
After-school program for teens focused on climate justice, environmental racism, and grassroots organizing, including paid leadership opportunities and stipends
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
- Community organizing and neighborhood outreachOrganizes community campaigns, hosts events, and conducts outreach in the Loisaida neighborhood to support local issues and collective action.
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Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Community space rental for program supportRents out event spaces to generate support for youth programs, food access initiatives, and community organizing efforts.
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
- Cultural arts and heritage programmingHosts cultural events including Sala de Pepe Salsa Listening Sessions, Ancestral Rumba Drumming Classes, and Cultural Arts & Exhibitions featuring vejigante mask-making and contemporary art to promote healing, community care, and preservation of Afro-Caribbean traditions.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Emergency and ongoing food distribution servicesOperates emergency food distribution programs, including weekly CSA distributions, food demonstrations, and monthly food distributions serving hundreds of individuals. Since April 2020, has distributed over 450,000 pounds of food. Maintains a 24/7 community fridge and runs a mutual aid kitchen providing shared meals.
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Youth Workforce Development in Food & Environment 1 activity
- Youth Climate Justice and leadership development programOffers a structured program for teens focused on climate justice, environmental racism, food sovereignty, and grassroots organizing, including training in research, campaigning, and community mobilization. Participants receive paid stipends and internships as part of youth leadership development.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Youth mentoring and after-school programmingProvides after-school and summer programs for nearly 200 local youth and teens, offering mentoring, political education, and support for youth-led climate justice projects.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$483K
Contributions & grants$297K61%
Program service revenue$171K35%
Investment income$4K1%
Other revenue$12K
expenses
Total expenses$731K
Program expenses58%
Admin / overhead42%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$274K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$270K
Cash$144K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.89M
Net assets$-1.62M
Liquid reserves2.4 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -25.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOWARD BRANDSTEIN | EXC. DIR THR | 10 | $18K |
board members · 4
- AMINATA MARAESA — CHAIRPERSON
- ASHWIN RASTOGI — TREASURER
- PERI TORRES — SECRETARY
- SARAH JOHNSON — VICE CHAIR
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Dungeons & Dragons Club Partner — Hosts gaming events at the Sixth Street Community Center.
- From Paper to Print Partner — Hosts print-based workshops at the Sixth Street Community Center.
- Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram to share updates and engage with the community.
- Kettlebell Fitness Partner — Hosts fitness classes at the Sixth Street Community Center.
- Loisaida Network — Community-based organization rooted in the Loisaida neighborhood, collaborating with local cultural and activist groups.
- Lower East Side Partner — Geographic community served by the Youth Climate Justice program
- Meledez Martial Arts Partner — Hosts martial arts classes at the Sixth Street Community Center.
- Open Rumba Jam Partner — Hosts community drumming jam sessions at the Sixth Street Community Center.
- Pepe Flores Partner — Neighborhood Music Historian who leads the Sala de Pepe Salsa Listening Sessions, sharing firsthand stories and historical context.
- Raúl Ayala Partner — Master Artisan and leader of the Ayala family who provided traditional vejigante masks for the Loíza en Loisaida exhibition.
- Rumba Drum Class Partner — Hosts drumming classes at the Sixth Street Community Center.
- Salsa Listening Sessions Partner — Hosts music events focused on salsa at the Sixth Street Community Center.
- Yoga with Paz Partner — Hosts yoga classes at the Sixth Street Community Center.
strategies · 4
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.
- Culturally Rooted Community Wellnessmethodology: culturally_rooted_wellness, community_based_wellnessBy grounding wellness in cultural traditions and community-based practices, we nurture collective well-being because shared heritage and creative expression strengthen resilience and belonging.
- Integrated Services Modelmethodology: integrated-servicesBy integrating health, nutrition, education, and disaster resilience services, we address root causes of community vulnerability because interconnected needs require coordinated, holistic solutions.
- Mutual Aid and Community-Led Food Sovereigntymethodology: mutual_aid, food-sovereignty-through-community-led-food-systemsBy advancing food sovereignty through mutual aid and community-led food systems, we expand equitable access to nutritious food because dignity-driven, decentralized models foster trust, reduce stigma, and increase participation.
- Youth-Led Climate Justice Educationmethodology: experiential-education, youth-led-community-actionBy engaging teens in experiential learning and real-world organizing around climate and social justice, we cultivate lasting leadership and community change because youth agency drives meaningful, culturally relevant solutions.