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LA COLMENA NYC INC DBA LA COLMENA F/K/A STATEN ISLAND COMMUNITY JOB CENTER
STATEN ISLAND, NY · EIN 472787706 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P20 · Human Services · Medium ($1M-$10M)
revenue
$4.0M
expenses
$4.0M
net assets
$840K
employees
30
program ratio
84%
mission · from form 990

THE CENTER WAS FORMED TO AID IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO MAY BE FACING PREJUDICE, POSSESS LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH AND LACK AWARENESS OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE CENTER HAS CREATED FIVE CATEGORIES OF PROGRAMS: ADVOCACY, CULTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, CAPACITY BUILDING / INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT.

profile · synthesized from sources

La Colmena NYC, formerly Staten Island Community Job Center, supports immigrant communities in New York, particularly day laborers and low-income families, by addressing employment, language barriers, and social integration. The organization offers workforce development, cultural programming, advocacy, and leadership training, with a focus on Mexican and Mixteco Indigenous populations. It operates primarily on Staten Island and serves immigrants facing discrimination and limited access to resources.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.20M
    EDUCATION: WE ASSIST DAY LABORERS IN OBTAINING JOBS THAT ARE SAFE WORKERS ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY SUCH AS PROVIDING CERTIFIED OSHA 10 AND 30 CONSTRUCTION TRAINING. WE PROVIDE REFERRALS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO WORKERS FACING WAGE THEFT, WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS AND DISCRIMINATION.
  2. #2 $533K
    ADVOCACY: TO EMPOWER IMMIGRANT WORKERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ORGANIZING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND VOLUNTEERISM. WE ASSIST WITH DACA APPLICATIONS/RENEWALS, COLLEGE READINESS WORKSHOPS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE LUNICORNS COMMITTEE IS THE FIRST LATINX LGTBQIA GROUP ON STATEN ISLAND AND IT HAS CREATED A SPACE FOR ORIENTATION, LEGAL REFERRAL SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING FOR LGBTQIA LATINX IMMIGRANTS. THROUGH THE COMMITTEES WE HAVE DEVELOPED A BRIDGE WITH
named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

Advocacy & Leadership Development
Empowers immigrant youth and adults through organizing, DACA application support, college readiness workshops, and leadership training.
Butterfly Effect Committee
Engages young people in leadership development, volunteerism, and community outreach to combat stereotypes and build cross-cultural bonds on Staten Island.
Cultural Organizing & Folklorico Dance
Preserves Mexican and Mixteco Indigenous cultural traditions through folkloric dance groups like L'Unicorns and community celebrations, including parades on Staten Island.
Economic Development & Workforce Training
Supports immigrant workers with skills development and connects small business owners with a low-cost labor force to promote economic self-sufficiency.
L'Unicorns Committee
First Latinx LGBTQIA group on Staten Island, providing orientation, legal referrals, and community-building for LGBTQIA Latinx immigrants.
OSHA 10 and 30 Construction Training
Provides certified occupational health and safety training for day laborers to secure safe employment and includes referrals for wage theft, workplace accidents, and discrimination.
Radio Jornalera New York
Community radio station run by and for day laborers, amplifying immigrant voices and issues; part of a national network supporting day laborer communities.
activities · 14 groups

What they do

  • Immigration Legal Services 2 activities
    • Community education and rights workshops
      Conducts Know Your Rights sessions, immigrant rights workshops, and legal orientations to inform community members about their legal protections. In FY24, delivered 20 Immigrant Rights Workshops reaching 525 attendees, generating 30 requests for legal services and 42 for social services.
    • Immigration legal services and support
      Provides direct legal assistance for immigration processes including asylum applications, Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), Temporary Protected Status, DACA renewals, and address and court changes. In FY24, completed 168 asylum applications and 83 EADs, and served 328 unique individuals with legal aid.
  • Child Care Provider Support Services 1 activity
    • Capacity building for worker-led training
      Runs the We Rise Nanny Training Program, which certifies caregivers and trains them to lead community modules on labor rights and caregiving skills. Since 2023, certified 35 women across three cycles and trained 16 new trainers and 23 participants in 2024.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Cultural and community celebration events
      Organizes cultural events including the Annual Mexican Independence Day Parade on Port Richmond Avenue, park festivities with over 1,500 participants, and other celebrations that promote cultural expression and community unity.
  • Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
    • Folkloric arts and youth cultural programming
      Preserves and teaches Latinx cultural traditions through folkloric dance groups including L'Unicorns and a children’s Folklórico dance group, and supports intergenerational cultural transmission and identity building.
  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
    • Food distribution services
      Hosts regular food pantries to support food-insecure individuals and families. In FY24, hosted 38 food pantries and served 2,030 individuals.
  • LGBTQ+ Immigrant and Asylum Support Services 1 activity
    • LGBTQIA+ community support and organizing
      Operates the L'Unicorns Committee, Staten Island’s first Latinx LGBTQIA group, offering orientation, legal referrals, community building, and advocacy to support queer immigrant identities.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Leadership development and community organizing
      Empowers immigrant workers and youth through organizing, leadership development, volunteerism, and community integration initiatives. Supports DACA applicants, college readiness, employment opportunities, and combats stereotypes by building bridges between immigrant and non-immigrant communities.
  • Distribution of PPE and Crisis Supplies 1 activity
    • Pandemic emergency response efforts
      Responded to the March 2020 pandemic by producing and distributing over 200 face masks, including donations to frontline workers such as police officers and bus drivers.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Public art and community-led urban revitalization
      Leads public art projects such as a mural in Port Richmond by issuing artist RFPs and forming community selection committees. Conducted a Commercial District Needs Assessment of Port Richmond Ave and Forest Ave and held three community engagement meetings to share findings and support commercial revitalization.
  • Community and Public Broadcasting Services 1 activity
    • Radio programming by and for day laborers
      Hosts Radio Jornalera New York, a radio station run by and for day laborers, focused on amplifying worker voices and issues, and connected to a national network supporting day laborer advocacy.
  • Public Benefits Navigation and Enrollment 1 activity
    • Support for public benefits enrollment
      Assists individuals in accessing public benefits through programs like NYC Benefits and Promise NYC. Helped over 500 individuals apply for benefits and enrolled 23 children in childcare vouchers via Promise NYC.
  • Worker Rights Advocacy & Wage Protection 1 activity
    • Worker safety and rights training
      Provides OSHA 10 and 30 construction safety training and conducts workshops on wage theft, workplace accidents, and discrimination to protect day laborers’ rights and improve working conditions.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Workforce development and job training programs
      Operates workforce development initiatives including the Uplift Workforce Development Program, which provides hands-on workplace training and workshops in ESL, resume writing, domestic worker rights, and civic engagement. In FY24, provided 1,093 job referrals and completed 25 OSHA-30 training courses (training 613 students) and 26 Fall Prevention and Drug and Alcohol Awareness courses (training 658 students).
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Economic development and small business support
      Connects small business owners with immigrant workers to provide low-cost labor while creating workforce development opportunities, fostering equitable economic growth in immigrant communities.
    • Research on immigrant workforce contributions
      Co-authored a report on the economic contribution of the Latinx immigrant workforce to Staten Island's economy before and during the pandemic, providing data-driven insights into immigrant labor impact.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.97M
Contributions & grants$3.93M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$37K
expenses
Total expenses$3.97M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$1.96M
Grants paid out$112K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.92M
Cash$332K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.08M
Net assets$840K
Liquid reserves1.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +26.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
YESENIA MATA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $147K
board members · 6
  • ALEJANDRA MORAN — DIRECTOR
  • ARMANDO VILLANUEVA — DIRECTOR
  • CRYSTAL VERA-MONTALVO — DIRECTOR
  • MARGARITA SANCHEZ PHD — SECRETARY
  • SASHA FOSTER-ANDRES — BOARD CHAIR & TREASURER
  • THERESA THANJAN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 21

Who they work with

  • Center for an Urban Future Partner — Collaborated on a report featuring policy ideas from NYC leaders and experts to advance equity in New York City.
  • College of Staten Island Partner — Partnered to offer beginner English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
  • Communities Together for Health Equity (CTHE) Coalition — Member coalition of over 70 NYC community-based organizations working to ensure comprehensive services for underserved communities with a focus on health equity.
  • Cornell University’s Worker Institute Partner — Collaborates with La Colmena on the We Rise Nanny Training Program to certify domestic workers and train community instructors.
  • Essex Avenue Foundation Partner — Collaborates with La Colmena on the Essex Workforce Program to provide hospitality training and stipends to asylum seekers.
  • Madeleine Bravo Partner — Legal Services Coordinator at La Colmena NYC Inc, responsible for coordinating legal services and serving as a point of contact for clients.
  • MakerSpace Partner — Donated sewing machines to support the Mujeres Liderando mask project during the pandemic.
  • Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Government — Partnered with La Colmena to conduct Immigrant Rights Workshops across Staten Island.
  • NYC Department of Small Business Services Government — Partnered with La Colmena to fund and support the Commercial District Needs Assessment and the Neighborhood 360° Grant initiative in Port Richmond.
  • NYPD Immigrant Affairs Partner — Collaborated to deliver the "Civics Do’s and Don’ts" workshop educating participants on their rights and responsibilities when interacting with law enforcement and navigating civic life.
  • National Day Laborer Organizing Network Partner — Member of the Day Laborer Workforce Initiative Coalition to advance labor rights and improve conditions for day laborers.
  • ORG Permanent Modernity Partner — Collaborated with La Colmena and Van Alen Institute to develop a District Design Concept and Shop Local Toolkit for Port Richmond Avenue.
  • Port Richmond Ave Partner — Hosted the Mexican Independence Day parade and festivities on Port Richmond Avenue.
  • Promise NYC Partner — Partner organization providing child care assistance; La Colmena helps enroll eligible families in its program.
  • Radio Jornalera New York Partner — Hosts Radio Jornalera New York, a radio station run by and for day laborers, amplifying their voices and issues.
  • Rosanna Valencia Partner — Designer who collaborated with La Colmena and Van Alen Institute to develop a District Design Concept and Shop Local Toolkit for Port Richmond Avenue.
  • The Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health Partner — Partner organization involved in preparing a report on health equity and services for underserved communities in NYC.
  • The Worker Institute at Cornell ILR Partner — Research partner in producing a report on the Latinx immigrant workforce in Staten Island.
  • Thought Matter Partner — Collaborated with La Colmena and Van Alen Institute to develop a District Design Concept and Shop Local Toolkit for Port Richmond Avenue.
  • Van Alen Institute Partner — Collaborated with La Colmena through the District Design Fellowship to develop a District Design Concept and Shop Local Toolkit for Port Richmond Avenue.
  • WeSpeak NYC Partner — Collaborated to provide free English conversation classes using an educational TV series.
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.

  • Community-Driven Economic Revitalization
    methodology: asset-based community development
    By engaging local merchants and leveraging existing assets like small businesses and cultural identity, the organization revitalizes commercial corridors, because bottom-up development that reflects community ownership leads to sustainable economic growth and neighborhood pride.
  • Integrated Immigrant Empowerment Model
    methodology: integrated_community-empowerment
    By combining organizing, education, cultural engagement, and economic development within a single framework, the organization strengthens immigrant communities and fosters self-advocacy, because integrated support systems address interconnected barriers to equity and enable holistic integration and leadership development.
  • On-the-Job Workforce Development with Economic Incentives
    methodology: workforce_training_with_stipend
    By providing hands-on training in real workplace settings combined with stipends, the organization prepares asylum seekers and immigrants for employment in hospitality, because experiential learning with financial support reduces entry barriers and builds both skills and economic stability.
  • Policy Roadmapping for Structural Equity
    methodology: policy-roadmap_development
    By developing policy roadmaps through research and expert collaboration, the organization advances systemic change in New York City, because evidence-informed, strategic policy planning enables targeted advocacy and institutional reform.
  • Worker Center as Incubator for Labor Rights and Integration
    methodology: worker_center_model
    By using worker centers as safe spaces where immigrant and low-wage workers learn their rights and build skills, the organization increases labor compliance and community integration, because structured peer learning and legal guidance in trusted environments lead to greater worker agency and collective action.