named programs · 1 · from sources
What they call their work
Shift the Lift
Professional development program for teachers to identify student learning gaps, set hyper-specific goals, and promote student ownership of learning through frequent progress monitoring and growth mindset practices.
activities · 12 groups
What they do
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Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 2 activities
- Facilitate student access to internships, fellowships, and leadership opportunitiesPartners with New York City organizations to connect students with internships, workshops, fellowships, events, and funding opportunities; also supports student-designed clubs and paid after-school leadership roles in areas like debate and international languages.
- Host annual 'Success Looks Like Me' career day and related programmingOrganizes an annual career day event—'Success Looks Like Me'—that brings Black professionals from diverse fields such as fashion, science, entertainment law, and more to engage students in grades 6–12 through keynote speeches, student-led panels, small group mentoring, and career readiness workshops, redefining traditional career exposure.
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College Access and Success Support 1 activity
- Deliver comprehensive college preparation programmingProvides a six-week college preparatory boot camp and two-day workshops that include standardized test prep (SAT), personal statement writing, college research, campus visits, application support, and financial aid guidance to assist senior students in the college admissions process.
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Family-School Engagement Programs 1 activity
- Engage parents through leadership council and HBCU outreachOperates a Parent Leadership Council that engages Black parents as active partners in shaping the school experience and hosts regular evening events highlighting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
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Transparent Governance Meetings 1 activity
- Ensure transparency through public board meeting videosMade recorded board meeting videos available on demand starting March 17, 2021, to promote institutional transparency and community engagement.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Host TEDxYouth events focused on youth voice and social issuesHosts TEDxYouth events featuring student talks and performances on topics including social justice, racial justice, teenage mental health, gender identity, climate resiliency, and criminal justice reform, with the first event held on November 11, 2020.
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Student Progress Assessment & Program Evaluation 1 activity
- Implement personalized learning and mastery tracking through 'Shift the Lift' programRuns the 'Shift the Lift' program, which sets individualized student goals, uses frequent exit tickets to assess mastery, and tracks progress in academic performance and work habits, incorporating varied formats such as podcasts, brochures, TikToks, and sewing projects to demonstrate understanding with minimal homework.
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College Preparatory Secondary Education 1 activity
- Offer Advanced Placement courses and early college credit opportunitiesProvides Advanced Placement courses across core academic subjects, enabling students to earn college credit while still in high school as part of a broader college readiness strategy.
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Charter School Operations 1 activity
- Operate charter school for grades 6–12 with focus on college and career readinessRuns a charter school serving students in grades 6–12, emphasizing academic rigor, social-emotional learning, digital literacy, leadership development, and preparation for college and professional life as ethical leaders. The student population is 98% people of color, with approximately 80% from disadvantaged communities.
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Educational Technology Access and Support 1 activity
- Promote digital literacy and access through technology distributionDistributes Chromebooks to all scholars to support digital literacy, advanced coursework, and equitable access to technology for learning both in school and at home.
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After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Provide individualized tutoring and academic supportOffers 1:1 and small-group tutoring during and after school through an individualized tutoring program designed to extend personalized learning time and provide targeted academic support for all students, including tiered interventions and credit recovery.
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Training and Capacity Building for Trauma-Informed Student Support 1 activity
- Provide mental health support for school staffHired social workers to provide mental health support specifically for school staff, promoting staff well-being and resilience.
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Special Education Support Services 1 activity
- Support students with disabilities and English language learnersOperates a Scholar Services team that ensures compliance with Individualized Education Plan (IEP) mandates for students with disabilities, while also offering English language development programming and language support in English and language arts courses for English language learners.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$22.32M
Contributions & grants$1.24M6%
Program service revenue$21.09M95%
Investment income$3K0%
Other revenue$-18K
expenses
Total expenses$25.07M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$10.68M
Grants paid out$769
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$52.37M
Cash$4.07M
Investments$0
Liabilities$40.14M
Net assets$12.23M
Liquid reserves1.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +2.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARLAND THOMAS-MCDAVID | CEO | 40 | $406K |
| STERLING FLORANT | COO | 40 | $194K |
| CHARLES JONES HIGH | SCHOOL PRINCIPAL THRU 10/4/2024 | 40 | $186K |
| SHAWN HARRIS | MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL | 40 | $170K |
| MALIKA LYONS | DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCE | 40 | $169K |
| FREDERICK NIXON | DEAN OF CULTURE | 40 | $146K |
| SHERIESE MOORE HIGH SCHOOL | ASSISTANT MANAGER THRU 11/14/2024 | 40 | $141K |
board members · 12
- ASHWINI CHHABRA — TRUSTEE THRU 01/01/2025
- DR MARIA BEGG-ROBERSON — TRUSTEE THRU 03/30/25
- LATOYA HENRY — TRUSTEE
- MARTHA REVENAUGH — CHAIR
- MATTHEW ARTHUR-GRAY — VICE CHAIR
- MICHAEL MARKS — TRUSTEE
- RICHARD PIERRE GAUTIER — TRUSTEE
- RON RAPATALO — TRUSTEE
- RYAN CARTER — TREASURER
- SHAKIRA PETIT — TRUSTEE
- SOBANDE AFOLABI — SECRETARY
- STEVEN REDDY — TRUSTEE
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- Amsterdam News Partner — Featured stories on Brooklyn Lab's student programs and events.
- BET Partner — Marketing director Tasha Hilton spoke at the career day event about targeting the Black community through media programming.
- BK Reader Partner — Published op-eds and articles authored by Brooklyn Lab staff.
- Brookings Institution Partner — Cited as a source for data on intergenerational mobility and the impact of college degrees on economic mobility.
- Brooklyn LAB Middle School Partner — Brooklyn LAB Middle School in New York is where Sarah Breslin, assistant principal, implemented the "Shift the Lift" program.
- Center for Learner Equity Partner — Partner organization that published a report detailing Brooklyn Lab Charter School's supports for scholars with disabilities.
- Chalkbeat NY Partner — Reported on Brooklyn Lab's initiatives to support educator mental health.
- Garçon Couture Partner — Co-founder Ilbert Sanchez participated as a speaker at the school's career day event.
- HBCU Talks Partner — Collaborates on regular evening events showcasing Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
- Honor Roll Foundation Partner — Invited representative Tabatha Williams to speak at Brooklyn Lab Charter School's career day event.
- It’s From The Sole Partner — Founder Andre McDonnell participated in the career day event, representing the nonprofit organization.
- LinkedIn Partner — Cited as a source for data on the percentage of American jobs requiring a bachelor's degree.
- National Action Network Partner — Dominique Sharpton, affiliated with National Action Network, spoke about civil rights advocacy and organized demonstrations.
- National Student Clearinghouse Research Center Network — Cited as a source for national undergraduate enrollment trends used to inform college preparation strategy.
- New York City businesses and organizations Partner — Collaborates with local businesses and organizations to host internships and enrichment opportunities for high school scholars.
- PIX11 Partner — Media partner that published the original article about the 'Success Looks Like Me' event.
- Pix11 Partner — Collaborated on coverage of Brooklyn Lab's career day event.
- Players Coalition Partner — Partner organization that provided a grant to support computer science, engineering, and workforce development programs and co-hosted TEDxYouth@BrooklynLab.
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.
- College-Preparatory Culture with Individualized and Holistic Supportmethodology: college_preparation_with_individualized_supportBy combining academic rigor with individualized support, social-emotional learning, mentorship, and early college exposure, the organization prepares all students for success in higher education and careers because sustained engagement, emotional stability, and real-world application increase readiness and degree completion likelihood.
- Culturally Sustaining Education through Representation and Role Model Exposuremethodology: culturally_sustaining_educationBy exposing students to Black professionals and local role models who share their backgrounds, and by celebrating Black excellence year-round, the organization expands students’ aspirations and increases engagement because relatable representation strengthens identity, belonging, and belief in possible futures.
- Relationship-Based Teaching and Civic Engagement for Youth Developmentmethodology: youth_development_through_relationships_and_civic_engagementBy building strong personal relationships between teachers and students and engaging youth in public forums on social justice, the organization develops scholar agency and civic identity because trust and authentic dialogue foster emotional stability, voice, and leadership development.
- Student-Centered Learning with Cognitive Engagement and Choicemethodology: student_centered_masteryBy personalizing instruction, allowing choice in assessment, and shifting cognitive responsibility to students through mastery tracking and goal-setting, the organization fosters deeper engagement and growth mindset because student agency promotes ownership of learning and resilience in mastering challenging content.