Cycle 2: 2018 – 2022 – Change Capital Fund

Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association

Change Capital Fund — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 16:32:08 +0000

Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association, Inc. works closely with local residents to revitalize the Longwood, Hunts Point, Mott Haven and Morrisania neighborhoods of the South Bronx, contributing to their stability, cohesion and economic vibrancy. The organization accomplishes its mission through the development and management of affordable housing and a combination of social services, community organizing, and advocacy. Its Residents Council, a core group of residents that informs internal policy decisions and housing campaigns, has been a sustaining force for the organization, reflecting its community-driven approach.

In the 55 multifamily buildings (1,350 units) operated by Banana Kelly, rents are maintained at levels truly affordable to a majority of neighborhood residents. In addition, almost 6,000 residents benefit from Banana Kelly’s services such as case management and eviction prevention services. Their Medicaid Services Coordination program serves 144 families with members who have a developmental disability. A Rental Assistance Program serves the needs of dozens of formerly homeless residents. Summer camp and afterschool programs benefit neighborhood families with children. The Community Health program promotes community building while addressing both health and environmental issues. In partnership with the New York Common Pantry, Banana Kelly sponsors the New York Common Pantry at 1290 Hoe Avenue. And some 100 residents learn to speak English in the ESL program, co-sponsored with NY Communities for Change.

Change Capital Fund support strengthened Banana Kelly’s ability to gather, track and analyze data to facilitate coordination and integration of its programming, increase impact, and support its democratic approach.

Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation

Change Capital Fund — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 16:35:06 +0000

Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (Restoration), the nation’s first Community Development organization, partners with residents and business to improve the quality of life in Central Brooklyn. Restoration relentlessly pursues strategies to close gaps in family and community wealth to ensure all families in Central Brooklyn are prosperous and healthy. In support of their strategy to close the racial wealth gap, Restoration is honing and scaling up strategies to help the residents of Central Brooklyn increase income, savings and credit. These programs are provided through Restoration’s Center for Personal Financial Health, a one-stop shop for: workforce development, personal and family finance, and social supports. Restoration is newly using the EmPath integrated service model to assist adults and youth, individuals and families to build economic self-sufficiency. Restoration will be implementing a blueprint provided by through a pro bono engagement with the Bain Consulting Group to scale operations and improve outcomes.

Funding from the Change Capital Fund increased the ability of Restoration’s staff to track and use data to improve the quality and increase the scale of its programming.

Good Old Lower East Side, Inc. (GOLES)

Change Capital Fund — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 16:37:03 +0000

Good Old Lower East Side, Inc. (GOLES) is a neighborhood housing and community organization, serving the Lower East Side of Manhattan since 1977. Over the past forty years, GOLES’ work has led to significant victories in policy and public awareness, as well as in seemingly small wins with immeasurably broader ripple effects, like preventing a family’s unlawful eviction or developing a neighborhood tenant leader.

As a community membership organization, standing with the people to preserve, protect, and defend the Lower East Side, it provides services to over 3,000 people and reaches over 10,000 people every year via organizing efforts. GOLES works on several fronts in order to engage, educate, and empower neighborhood residents. Its multi-pronged approach consists of direct service, public education, community organizing, community-based participatory research, and coalition building.

With support from the Change Capital Fund, GOLES engaged in a process of evaluating its data management system and the efficacy of its programming, allowing the organization to better understand and organize its membership and to connect service recipients and public programming participants with ongoing organizing campaigns.

Make the Road New York

Change Capital Fund — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 16:40:04 +0000

Make the Road New York builds the power of immigrant and working class communities of color to achieve dignity and justice. Recognizing that real and lasting improvements will be achieved only when all New Yorkers have sufficient power to enforce their legal rights, access educational and work opportunities, and achieve broad-based policy change, Make the Road NY supports and enables residents’ efforts to access education and legal services and to shape policies that affect their lives.

Make the Road NY’s model integrates four core strategies:

Legal and Survival Services to tackle discrimination, abuse and poverty;
Transformative Education to develop community members’ abilities to lead our movement and society;
Community Organizing to transform the systems and structures impacting our communities and win policy changes that benefit millions;
Policy Innovation to rewrite unjust rules and make our democracy accountable to all of us.

The organization applies its multifaceted approach to issues critical to its community: workers’, immigrant and civil rights; environmental and housing justice; justice for TGNCIQ people; and, educational justice. Make the Road NY has over 23,000 members in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester.

With Change Capital Funding, Make the Road NY increased the impact of its programs by learning to continually evaluate and retool programs and by connecting participants across programs.