named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
GREENS
Urban gardening and environmental education program at the Brooklyn Youth Farm, teaching sustainability, leadership, and healthy eating to students in grades 3–12.
PATHWAYS
College access program providing SAT/ACT prep, college application support, essay development, and higher education exposure; maintains 100% high school graduation and college enrollment rate since 2012.
SPORTS
Core after-school and summer program using basketball, volleyball, and other sports to engage students in academic support, tutoring, financial literacy, and personal development.
Saturday Program
Free weekend programming offering gardening, sports, dance, boxing, STEM workshops, and arts activities for youth during the school year.
Summer Camp
Summer day program for grades 2–7 featuring sports, enrichment classes, gardening, art, cooking, field trips, and lunch, held at the East New York center.
VOICE
Youth-led arts and media program offering music production, art classes, and the Brooklyn Voices podcast, hosted in a dedicated media lab launching in 2025.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Arts and creative expression programsOffers music production, visual arts, and a youth-led podcast called Brooklyn Voices to foster artistic expression and skills development. These programs are integrated into broader youth development initiatives, including Saturday and summer programming.
-
-
Youth Soccer Development Programs 1 activity
- Free youth sports programsProvides free volleyball and basketball programs for Brooklyn youth, ensuring access to sports skills development as part of a holistic youth development model. All program activities are offered at no cost to participants.
-
-
College Access and Success Support 1 activity
- Intensive basketball and academic support for college readinessProvides year-round basketball programming integrated with rigorous academic support, including SAT preparation, college guidance, and career readiness, to prepare Brooklyn youth for college enrollment. Since 2012, the organization has supported over 150 youth through its PATHWAYS program, achieving 100% college acceptance and enrollment.
-
-
Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Multidisciplinary Saturday programmingOffers a free multidisciplinary Saturday program on multiple dates throughout the year, featuring activities such as gardening, art, music, sports, dance, boxing, and STEM workshops for Brooklyn youth.
-
-
Summer Academic Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Summer academy and camp programsRuns a summer academy and camp program that includes basketball skill development, STEM activities, political and financial literacy, physical training, gardening, music, art, cooking, and field trips. Lunch is provided daily, and the program supports college and career preparation for Brooklyn youth.
-
-
Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
- Youth urban gardening and environmental educationOperates the Brooklyn Youth Farm in East New York, a 4,000 to 5,000 square foot community garden and environmental learning center, where youth engage in hands-on gardening, learn food cultivation from seed to table, healthy eating, and community-based cooking. The organization also distributes garden-grown produce to community members in need.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$824K
Contributions & grants$808K98%
Program service revenue$15K2%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$715K
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$360K
Grants paid out$527
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$608K
Cash$334K
Investments$0
Liabilities$657K
Net assets$-49K
Liquid reserves5.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -4.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LYLE FRIESS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 60 | $72K |
board members · 15
- BENJAMIN EZRA — TREASURER
- BRAD TOBIN — DIRECTOR
- BRADFORD WATSON — DIRECTOR
- GERALD CASTALDO — DIRECTOR
- JAKE NIDENBERG — DIRECTOR
- JEFF FISCHER — DIRECTOR
- JELANI ROY — DIRECTOR
- JORDAN FOX — DIRECTOR
- KEVIN RIVERA — DIRECTOR
- MATTHEW MONNESS — DIRECTOR
- NICKY EASLEY — SECRETARY
- NILES ELLIS — DIRECTOR
- RACHEL HAMMER — DIRECTOR
- RAINA BRETAN — CHAIR
- VICTORIA FLEISHER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 1
Who they work with
- East New York Partner — Community location and focus area where the organization operates its programs and 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.
- Experiential Environmental Stewardshipmethodology: experiential_environmental_educationBy involving youth in student-led urban gardening, the organization teaches environmental responsibility and personal development, because hands-on, ownership-driven projects cultivate accountability, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving skills.
- Holistic Youth Development Through Multidisciplinary Engagementmethodology: holistic_youth_developmentBy integrating sports, academics, arts, life skills, and civic engagement into a unified program model, the organization promotes comprehensive youth development, because combining multiple domains of growth reinforces transferable skills and sustained personal investment.
- Individualized Mentorship and Long-Term Developmentmethodology: mentorship_modelBy providing sustained, individualized support from mentors and staff throughout a student’s journey from middle school through postsecondary education, the organization increases college access and success, because long-term relationships build trust, accountability, and personalized guidance that navigate systemic barriers.
- Sports-Based Youth Developmentmethodology: sports_based_youth_developmentBy using sports as an entry point, the organization engages youth in academic support, character development, and personal growth, because athletic participation creates consistent touchpoints and intrinsic motivation that increase program engagement and long-term outcomes.