named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Harlem Night Market
Annual holiday market held over three Saturdays in December, featuring around 50 local vendors selling food, art, and handmade goods at La Marqueta in East Harlem.
Harlem Wellness Festival
Free annual event in Marcus Garvey Park offering fitness classes, health screenings, acupuncture, and plant-based food from local wellness businesses.
Storefront and Mural Art Program
Public art initiative that paints murals on construction fences and roll-down gates along 125th Street, continuing the legacy of artist Franco the Great and revitalizing commercial spaces.
Street Clean-Up and Beautification
Ongoing program providing sidewalk and street cleaning services to improve public space conditions and support the East Harlem 125th Street Business Improvement District.
Uptown Burger Week
Annual food promotion featuring 15 uptown restaurants offering $15 or less burger-and-side combos to spotlight local eateries and boost foot traffic.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Business Community Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocate for formation of Business Improvement District (BID)Engages in advocacy efforts to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) on East 125th Street to support long-term economic development and commercial revitalization.
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Public Space Beautification and Maintenance 1 activity
- Conduct seasonal greening and beautification projectsImplements seasonal planting, tree maintenance, and holiday lighting installations along East 125th Street to enhance the commercial corridor’s appearance and community ambiance.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host community festivals and public eventsOrganizes recurring community events including street festivals, the Harlem Wellness Festival, Harlem Night Market, Uptown Burger Week, Small Business Saturday promotions, and seasonal celebrations such as holiday lights and solstice parties to foster community engagement.
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Community-Engaged Public Art Projects 1 activity
- Install public art and murals in East HarlemLeads large-scale public art projects, including the Grandscale Mural Project and collaborations with over 100 local artists, transforming construction fencing and public spaces into vibrant murals across more than half a mile of East Harlem.
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Local Food Market Operation 1 activity
- Operate Community Buying Club for affordable produceRuns a volunteer-powered Community Buying Club offering locally sourced, affordable vegetables every other Wednesday from 3–7 p.m. during the Winter 2025 to Spring 2026 season.
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
- Operate public plaza program under Metro-North viaductManages a year-round public plaza program beneath the Metro-North viaduct at 125th Street and Park Avenue, featuring a Fresh Food Box farmers market, pop-up shop, exercise classes, concerts, and mobile library and science lab services.
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Supplemental Urban Sanitation Services 1 activity
- Operate seven-day street cleaning program on East 125th StreetRuns a daily street cleaning program from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. along East 125th Street from Fifth to Second Avenues and Park to Lexington Avenues between 124th and 126th Streets, collecting thousands of trash bags annually through a dedicated clean team.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organize community clean-up events and volunteer clean teamsCoordinates volunteer-powered street clean-up events and ongoing cleaning initiatives in East Harlem, including partnerships with local organizations and employment of formerly homeless individuals for job training and street maintenance.
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Neighborhood Civic Engagement 1 activity
- Participate in local policy advocacy and task forcesEngages in community advocacy through participation in the City Councilwoman Diana Ayala's 125th Street Task Force, addressing issues such as mental illness and drug use in East Harlem.
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Small Business Technical Assistance 1 activity
- Support local small businesses through promotion and capacity buildingProvides support services to small businesses including an online searchable guide, regular training sessions on social media and financing, MWBE certification assistance, and promotional campaigns such as Uptown Restaurant Week and Small Business Saturday events.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Conduct research to support small business developmentConducted a 2014 customer retail experience report and a 2015 Commercial District Needs Assessment to inform and support small business improvement initiatives on East 125th Street.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$568K
Contributions & grants$568K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$612K
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$78K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$370K
Cash$362K
Investments$0
Liabilities$56K
Net assets$313K
Liquid reserves7.1 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -31.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 12
- DAVID BLUMENFELD — Secretary
- DIANE COLLIER — Chairman
- EVAN KASHANIAN — Director
- JIM RATTI — Director
- JOYCE STOREY — Director
- KAT PEELER — Director
- MARILYN JOSEPH — Director
- MICHAEL LYTHCOTT — VICE CHAIR
- PRINCESS JENKINS — Director
- RANDE ROGERS — Treasurer
- SYLVIA CALDWELL — Director
- VINNY TORRES — Director
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- 100 Gates Project Partner — Partnered in 2017 to improve storefront aesthetics by painting roll-down security gates on East 125th Street.
- Artimus Partner — Evan Kashanian is Project Coordinator at Artimus, and his work in East Harlem on development projects indicates an organizational connection.
- Association for Community Employment Partner — Partner through which formerly homeless and addicted men were contracted for weekday street cleaning services.
- Association of Community Employment Partner — Partner organization hired to provide street cleaning services while employing individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Association of Community Employment (ACE) Partner — Partnered to hire and train formerly homeless individuals for street cleaning and plaza maintenance roles.
- Blumenfeld Development Group Partner — Raffaela Petrasek serves on the Uptown Grand Central board as representative of Blumenfeld Development Group, indicating a formal partnership role.
- City Councilwoman Diana Ayala Government — Active participant on her 125th Street Task Force to address neighborhood challenges including mental illness and drug use.
- Community Board 11 Manhattan Partner — Diane Collier and Vincent Torres serve on Community Board 11 Manhattan, indicating an organizational connection through shared leadership.
- Creative Art Works Partner — Collaborated on the creation of the "Harlem Sunrise" mural and the painting of the pop-up shop container.
- Design Trust for Public Space Partner — Planned partnership on the "Public For All" project to explore equitable public space design in East Harlem.
- Dropbox Partner — Hosts image folder for the Grandscale Mural Project press materials.
- East Harlem 125th Street BID Partner — Partnership to operate the Clean Team and support cleanliness, beautification, and public safety in East Harlem.
- Lex & Third Block Association Partner — Collaborates on organizing and promoting Open Street events in East Harlem.
- MTA Government — Engages with Uptown Grand Central on transit development projects affecting East Harlem, including the Second Avenue Subway extension.
- Mayor Eric Adams Government — Works with Uptown Grand Central leadership on initiatives such as the proposed East Harlem business improvement district.
- NYC Department of Transportation's Plaza Program Government — Partnered on the development and activation of the public plaza under the Metro-North viaduct.
- NYC Small Business Services Government — Collaborates as a neighborhood partner to support small business development and resilience in East Harlem.
- National Black Theatre Partner — Michael Lythcott serves as Chairman of the Board of the National Black Theatre, indicating a leadership-level organizational relationship.
- National Puerto Rican Day Parade Partner — Vincent Torres is a board member of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, indicating an organizational relationship.
- Neighborhood Plaza Partnership Partner — Collaborated on the cleanup and activation of the community plaza under the Metro-North viaduct.
- Partners Partner — Collaborates with partner organizations to support community improvement activities.
- Positive Workforce Partner — Collaborates with Positive Workforce to recruit staff for the Clean Team program.
- Positive Workforce Partner — Partner organization providing workforce training and personnel for the East 125th Street Clean Team.
- Positive Workforce Partner — Vincent Torres is a board member of Positive Workforce, a construction advocacy organization, indicating an organizational affiliation.
- Rep. Adriano Espaillat Partner — Collaborates with Uptown Grand Central on advocacy efforts related to transportation infrastructure improvements in East Harlem.
- uptownguide.org Partner — Collaborates on the operation and maintenance of the Uptown Guide, a platform for promoting local small businesses.
strategies · 3
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.
- Integrated Community Development through Placemakingmethodology: integrated_community_developmentBy combining environmental cleanup, public art, cultural programming, and food access into a unified placemaking strategy, we strengthen community vitality because holistic interventions produce greater social and economic impact than isolated programs.
- Local Economic Development through Advocacy and Visibilitymethodology: community-economic-developmentBy transforming community advocacy into physical improvements and amplifying minority- and women-owned businesses through directories and integrated promotion, we strengthen local economic vitality because sustained visibility and inclusive development drive equitable growth.
- Workforce Development via Integrated Service Workmethodology: employment-pathway-through-service-workBy employing individuals experiencing homelessness in street cleaning and maintenance services, we create employment pathways because integrating job training with visible, meaningful work builds skills, dignity, and community trust simultaneously.