What they reported doing
- #1 primary $2.77MSEE SCHEDULE OBHC HAS DEVELOPED AND CURRENTLY OPERATES FIVE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS THAT PROVIDE PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR NEARLY 700 CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AND WEST HARLEM, TWO HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS WITH THE CAPACITY TO SERVE UP TO 250 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO FIVE AND THEIR FAMILIES, THREE COMMUNITY ART GALLERIES, AND A NEW CULTURAL INSTITUTION, THE SUGAR HILL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ART & STORYTELLING. REFLECTING BHC'S LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND WITH A KEEN UNDERSTANDING OF THE MULTIPLE CAUSES OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS, THE SUGAR HILL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ART & STORYTELLING IS DEDICATED TO THE COGNITIVE AND CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AGES 3-8 AND THEIR FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE GROWING UP IN POVERTY. THE MUSEUMS CURATORIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WELCOME YOUNG CHILDREN TO ENGAGE WITH, LEARN FROM, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CULTURAL LEGACY OF THIS COMMUNITY. BHC'S APPROACH TO SERVING VERY LOW INCOME AND FORMERLY HOMELESS SINGLE ADULTS AND FAMILIES IS DISTINCTIVE BOTH FOR ITS INTEGRATED TENANCY INCLUSIVE OF THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AS WELL AS THE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT OF TENANTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR OWN HOUSING. A 24/7 FRONT DESK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN PLACE AT EACH OF BHC'S FIVE BUILDINGS PROVIDES AROUND-THE-CLOCK SECURITY SERVING AS THE "EYES AND EARS" OF EACH BUILDING AND A PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY-BUILDING. THE FRONT DESK ALSO PROVIDES PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT FOR TENANTS, MANY ENTERING OR RE-ENTERING THE JOB MARKET. FRONT DESK STAFF DEVELOP VALUABLE SKILLS INCLUDING BASIC COMPUTER AND EMAIL SKILLS VIA A BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH ENABLES REAL-TIME COMMUNICATION WITH ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. BHC'S FIRST FIVE BUILDINGS PRIMARILY SERVE SINGLE ADULTS. WITH THE 2003 OPENING OF DOROTHY DAY APARTMENTS, THE FOCUS WAS BROADENED TO INCLUDE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN GREATEST NEED. DESIGNED AS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SERVING HIGH RISK FAMILIES, THE BUILDING SERVICES INCLUDE AN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM SERVING 51 RESIDENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN, LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS, EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY FOR RESIDENT ADULTS AND CHILDREN FROM K-12 AND INTO COLLEGE. A COMMUNITY ART GALLERY WITH A YEAR-ROUND CALENDAR OF CULTURAL AND CIVIC EVENTS INCLUDING EVENING AND WEEKEND PROGRAMS CELEBRATES LOCAL ARTISTS AND ENRICHES RESIDENTS AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY. THE EDUCATIONAL PARADIGM PILOTED AT DOROTHY DAY APARTMENTS IS REPLICATED AT BHC'S FIFTH AND MOST AMBITIOUS COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE. KNOWN AS THE SUGAR HILL PROJECT, THIS MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT IS LOCATED IN HARLEM'S SUGAR HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT AND PROVIDES 124 UNITS OF PERMANENT HOUSING AFFORDABLE TO FAMILIES AT THE LOWEST INCOME BANDS, INCLUDING 25 UNITS SET ASIDE FOR HOUSEHOLDS EXITING THE HOMELESS SHELTER SYSTEM. TENANCY, LIKE AT DOROTHY DAY APARTMENTS, IS INTEGRATED AND INCLUSIVE OF THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. STAFF ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH RESIDENT ADULTS, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND PROVIDES SERVICES AS NEEDED THE SUGAR HILL PROJECT INCLUDES A LICENSED EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER WITH THE CAPACITY TO SERVE UP TO 200 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE FIVE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN CENTER- AND HOME-BASED PROGRAMS. GRACED BY FLOOR TO CEILING WINDOWS, ABUNDANT LIGHT AND INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER IS LOCATED AT GROUND LEVEL AND ADJACENT TO THE SUGAR HILL PROJECTS CULTURAL CAPSTONE, THE SUGAR HILL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ART & STORYTELLING. THE INCLUSION OF A CULTURAL INSTITUTION AT SUGAR HILL IS A NATURAL EXTENSION OF OUR SERVICE MODEL WHICH ENGAGES FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN CREATING VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. THE MUSEUM OFFERS 17,000 SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBITION, ART MAKING AND GATHERING SPACE AND SERVES A BROAD AUDIENCE OF BUILDING RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SCHOOL GROUPS AND EDUCATORS AND VISITORS FROM NEAR AND FAR.
- #2 $564KSEE SCHEDULE OBHC MAINTAINS A ROBUST SCHEDULE OF ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMING THROUGH ITS THREE COMMUNITY ART GALLERIES, TWO ARTS-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS, AND THE SUGAR HILL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ART & STORYTELLING ("SHCMAS"). THE RIO PENTHOUSE, RIO II, AND RIO III GALLERIES SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF UPPER MANHATTAN THROUGH MONTHLY GALLERY EXHIBITIONS SHOWCASING THE WORK OF LOCAL ARTISTS, AS WELL AS RELATED ARTIST TALKS, POETRY READINGS, LITERARY EVENTS, AND A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.THE DOROTHY DAY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER AND SUGAR HILL MUSEUM PRESCHOOL PROVIDE ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY ARTS-BASED, LITERACY-RICH EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR LOCAL CHILDREN, AGES 05, AND THEIR FAMILIES. SHCMAS ACTIVELY ADDRESSES THE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF 3- TO 8-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN RECOGNIZED BY EDUCATORS AS BEING THE MOST RECEPTIVE AGE RANGE FOR LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS, THROUGH REGULAR EXHIBITIONS OF ARTWORK BY CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES.
What they call their work
What they do
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Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 1 activity
- Deliver comprehensive supportive services to tenantsProvides case management, benefits counseling, vocational training, job placement, substance abuse treatment, mental and physical health care, parenting workshops, and educational advocacy to support tenant well-being and housing stability; includes individualized support for rental arrears, eviction prevention, and access to entitlements.
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Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
- Deliver early childhood education programsOperates two early childhood education centers that serve over 125 children annually (with capacity for over 250 from birth to age five), offering full-day, high-quality arts-infused education and family support services for underserved populations, including formerly homeless families, low-income households, and new immigrants.
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Campus and Residential Safety Services 1 activity
- Manage tenant-staffed front desk operationsOperates 24/7 tenant-staffed front desks in each residential building, employing part-time tenant workers—including teenagers—to provide security, administrative support, and community-building opportunities while developing skills in communication and building management systems.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Operate community art galleries and public art installationsManages three community art galleries (including Rio I, II, & III Galleries) that host monthly exhibitions by local artists and provide space for cultural expression; commissions and installs large-scale public murals and protest art on building exteriors, engaging local artists and addressing themes of racial justice and community legacy.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Operate the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & StorytellingRuns a dedicated children’s museum that offers intergenerational cultural programming, art-making activities, and storytelling events for children aged 3–8 and their families; includes an annual Artist-in-Residence program and virtual offerings to support early childhood development through the arts.
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Organizational Sustainability Management 1 activity
- Provide administrative and operational support for housing and programsSupports housing and program operations through administrative functions including rent collection coordination, service documentation, record-keeping in Salesforce, website calendar updates, and creation of flyers, e-blasts, and program materials.
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Affordable Housing Development and Management 1 activity
- Provide permanent affordable housing and supportive servicesOperates seven residential buildings in Washington Heights and West Harlem providing permanent affordable housing for nearly 700 children and adults, including formerly homeless individuals and low-income families, with comprehensive supportive services to ensure housing stability.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Maintain safe and sanitary kitchen operationsSupports food preparation and maintains clean, safe kitchen conditions through kitchen aide staff as part of residential facility operations.
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Who runs it
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLENE MELVILLE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 25 | $289K |
| DAVID NATHANSON | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 25 | $245K |
| JANET MCCREATH | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 35 | $208K |
| JAN PETRIGAN | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 25 | $177K |
| NASREEN FERDOUS | DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCE | 35 | $161K |
- ALAN WEIL — CHAIRMAN
- CHRISTOPHER OMACHI — DIRECTOR
- FR JOHN FELICE — DIRECTOR/EMERITUS (NON-VOTING)
- FR JOHN MCVAIN — DIRECTOR/EMERITUS (NON-VOTING)
- KRISTEN CHARD — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL SULLIVAN — TREASURER
- MIRIAM RACCAH — DIRECTOR
- NEIL BHARGAVA — SECRETARY
- PATTI LIEBERMAN — DIRECTOR
- PRINCESS V LYLES — DIRECTOR
- RICH MERSERAU — DIRECTOR
- ROMAN JACKSON — DIRECTOR
- SADDIE SMITH — VICE CHAIR
- SHERI SANDLER — DIRECTOR
- SUSAN MACKENZIE — DIRECTOR
- THOMAS KEARNS ESQ — DIRECTOR
- TREVOR ADLER — VICE CHAIR
- VALERIE CAMPBELL — DIRECTOR
Who they work with
- A. L. Mailman Family Foundation Partner — Foundation where board member Patti Lieberman serves as Trustee
- Abraham family Partner — Supported BHC's acquisition of The Edgecombe property to provide permanent housing for homeless adults.
- Anyone Can Fly Foundation Partner — Organization on whose board Ellen Baxter serves, focused on art and social justice.
- Broadway Housing Communities Foundation, Inc. Network — Related entity where Shao-Peng Moy and Barbara Tarmy serve as Directors
- Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS) Partner — Advocacy partner supporting public and private resource engagement for supportive housing initiatives.
- City of New York Government — Supported BHC's acquisition of The Edgecombe property to provide permanent housing for homeless adults.
- Coalition for the Homeless Coalition — Co-founded and active member organization working to advance the rights of homeless individuals through advocacy and litigation.
- Consolidated Edison, Inc. Partner — Organization where board member Shao-Peng Moy serves as Director
- Corporation for Supportive Housing Network — Founding board member organization promoting national supportive housing policy and practice.
- Dorothy Day Apartments Partner — Residential building operated by BHC focused on serving high-risk families, including children and formerly homeless individuals.
- HR&A Advisors Partner — Employer of board member Christiana Whitcomb
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (US) LLP Partner — Employer of board member Valerie Campbell, Esq.
- Hogan Lovells, LLP Partner — Employer of board member Trevor Adler, Esq., Chair of the Board of Directors
- KenetIQ LLC Partner — Organization founded and led by board member Ken Jack
- MTS Advisory LLC Partner — Organization where board member Michael T. Sullivan serves as Principal
- Malka Fund Funder — Provided financial support for the partnership between Broadway Housing Communities, The Plywood Project, and Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling.
- Michael Palma Mir Partner — Photographer documenting BHC's buildings, programs, and community events.
- No Longer Empty Network — Co-Founder of No Longer Empty expressed support for the partnership between BHC and The Plywood Project, affirming alignment with shared values around art and community voice.
- Norm Law, LLP Partner — Employer of board member Alan S. Weil, Esq.
- Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP Partner — Employer of board member Thomas Kearns, Esq.
- Reba Judith Sandler Foundation Partner — Organization led by board member Sheri Sandler
- St. Francis Friends of the Poor Partner — Organization on whose board Ellen Baxter serves, aligned with mission to support individuals experiencing poverty.
- Sugar Hill Partner — BHC operates programs and provides administrative support at the Sugar Hill site.
- Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling Network — Shared equal opportunity employer statement indicates an affiliated or collaborative relationship.
- Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling Partner — Collaborates on early childhood education through weekly museum visits, joint programming, and innovation in arts-based learning.
- Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling Partner — Collaborates on programming and shares staffing or administrative infrastructure, as indicated by joint employment branding.
- Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling Partner — Cultural institution developed and operated by BHC to integrate arts and storytelling into community life.
- Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling Partner — Hosted BHC’s protest art installations on its building façade as part of a public art collaboration.
- The Plywood Project Partner — Collaborated with BHC and the Rio Galleries to create large-scale protest art installations at Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling.
- Williams Jones Wealth Management, LLC Partner — Organization where board member Barbara Tarmy serves as Partner
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.
- Art as Community Mobilization and Intergenerational Healingmethodology: art_for_public_education_and_mobilizationBy using public art and storytelling rooted in the experiences of communities of color, the organization galvanizes collective action and intergenerational dialogue, because culturally resonant narratives build empathy, preserve history, and transform trauma into civic engagement.
- Housing-First with Integrated Supportive Servicesmethodology: housing_firstBy providing permanent affordable housing without preconditions and pairing it with supportive services, the organization reduces homelessness and improves stability for very low-income and formerly homeless individuals and families, because secure housing is foundational to engaging in health, education, and employment opportunities.
- Integrated Arts and Education for Child Developmentmethodology: arts_based_early_childhood_developmentBy embedding arts-based learning within early childhood education using a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, the organization enhances cognitive, creative, and social-emotional development in young children, because artistic expression fosters individualized, experiential learning that builds long-term academic and community engagement.
- Systemic Advocacy for Family Stabilitymethodology: systemic_advocacyBy engaging in systemic advocacy with schools, landlords, and government agencies on behalf of families, the organization secures critical entitlements and services, because institutional navigation and representation improve access to resources that promote self-sufficiency and reduce instability.
- Tenant-Led Self-Governance Modelmethodology: tenant_self_managementBy employing tenants in part-time, paid roles to manage front desk operations and participate in self-governance, the organization strengthens resident responsibility, engagement, and long-term housing stability, because meaningful participation in community management fosters dignity, ownership, and mutual accountability.