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Programs
Affordable Housing Development
ADC's initial theory of change was that rebuilding
the physical infrastructure of the Harlem community
was a necessary first step toward its revitalization.
During ADC's first full year of operation, 65% of
the housing in Central Harlem was city-owned, mostly
due to abandonment. Today, less than 30% of the
housing stock is owned by the City of New York.
ADC develops rental housing and homeownership opportunities
for the residents of Central Harlem. Over the past
15 years, ADC has created over 1,000 units of affordable
housing in 82 buildings. A bulk of the stock developed
has been targeted for very-low and low-income families
as well as housing for the homeless and senior citizens.
Currently, there are over 300 units in the pipeline
for development.
ADC has also created over 100 homeownership opportunities
for moderate-income families. Homeownership is
one of the keys to a neighborhood's success and
growth. In New York City, more than 30% - one
out of every three people - own their home. In
Central Harlem, the homeownership rate is a dismal
10.7%.
ADC's vision requires creating viable and sustainable
projects that will help to fill this gap.
Over the next three years, ADC will strategically
focus on completing major preservation, rehabilitation
and revitalization efforts targeted in its immediate
neighborhood - "The Abyssinian Neighborhood."
ADC plans to develop over 300 units of affordable
housing that will be available to a diverse range
of incomes for individuals and families.
Family Services
ADC provides comprehensive services to the families
of the Central Harlem community. ADC's Community
Service Coordinators facilitate a broad range of
family strengthening activities including crisis
intervention, case management and housing assistance
to approximately 600 Central Harlem families.
For over 12 years, ADC has operated Abyssinian
House, a transitional Tier II Homeless Shelter
for 25 families. Families receive counseling,
intensive case management, and referrals to other
social service agencies. Also, child care and
recreational activities are available for the
children. ADC works with families to provide support
and resources in order to successfully transition
them into permanent housing.
This year, the department is embarking on an
initiative to improve and enhance its service
delivery to senior citizens at Abyssinian Towers
and the greater Central Harlem community through
expanded case management and social services.
Economic Revitalization
ADC recognizes that in order to promote a healthy
and balanced community there must be a strong infrastructure
including quality services to sustain the area.
ADC has worked to strengthen and rebuild the fabric
of the community through economic development initiatives
that support entrepreneurial activity, develop and
promote local businesses, and create jobs for residents.
ADC is the proud developer of projects such as
Pathmark, which employs over 200 local residents
and Harlem Center, a mixed-use development with
retail commercial space and an office tower, that
has resulted in over 500 jobs for local residents.
The International House of Pancakes that will
occupy space on the ground floor of the Thurgood
Marshall Academy building is a franchise owned
by a group of local entrepreneurs who worked with
ADC through its Neighborhood Franchise Project.
ADC also administers the Harlem Economic Literacy
Program (H.E.L.P.) which provides Harlem residents
with the financial tools and resources they need
to participate in Harlem's flourishing economic
system. H.E.L.P. is composed of four distinct
components designed to meet the needs of our constituents:
Money Matters, Homeownership, Entrepreneurship
and "Youthonomics." Learn more about Homeownership Seminars in 2008!
Education and Youth
ADC provides educational opportunities by developing
programs and creating institutions that serve
the children and youth of Central Harlem. ADC
sponsors the award-winning Annie G. Newsome Head
Start Program, which provides pre-school age children
with early childhood education, socialization
skills, nutrition, medical, dental and developmental
screenings and a full range of early intervention
services. Our program works from a holistic approach,
focusing on the needs of 80 children and their
families, and engaging the family and community
as partners.
ADC is also the sponsor and developer of the
Thurgood Marshall
Academy (TMA) for Learning and Social Change,
a public middle and high school for grades 7-12,
sponsored in partnership with New Visions for
Public Schools and the Department of Education.
When TMA opened the doors to its new school building
in February 2004, the Academy had nearly 400 students
enrolled. The Thurgood Marshall Academy curriculum
emphasizes social change and community involvement.
The middle school focuses on developing students'
skills of critical thinking, collaboration and
goal setting, as well as focusing on core subject
areas to prepare them for the high school Regents
curriculum. The high school offers a traditional
Regents curriculum in an environment designed
to enhance students' intellectual and personal
development, as well as prepare them for the college
admissions process.
ADC's Gateway Builders Leadership Program serves
teens ages 13-18 in afterschool and summer programs
by focusing on and creating age-appropriate activities
in environments that develop and foster academic
enhancement, cultural discovery, recreational
engagement, and leadership for transitions to
college, work, and civic involvement.
New York Jeter's
Leaders Program: ADC is administering this
city-wide program in partnership with the Turn
2 Foundation. Jeter's Leaders' mission is to support
and create programs that empower youth who live
and promote healthy lifestyles free of alcohol
and substance abuse; are striving toward academic
excellence and engage themselves in positive social
change activity, while demonstrating leadership
qualities through service within their communities.
The program is designed to offer 35 student leaders
from the 5 boroughs opportunities to learn more
about themselves and to enhance their ability
to deliver a positive message to their peers.
Each student will experience introspection through
practical leadership skills
development and application. Jeter's Leaders is
a premier youth leadership development program
committed to social change, community responsibility
and youth scholarship.
Civic Engagement
As a longstanding institutional member of Central
Harlem, ADC recognizes the importance of community
involvement and actively works with residents
to participate in the area in which it serves.
Through our Civic Engagement unit, ADC works with
residents to enhance and improve the quality of
life and increase resident participation in community
life. To date, the Civic Engagement unit has helped
to organize and/or provide technical support to
a total of 22 tenant associations and 13 block
associations. As a result, hundreds of community
residents are actively grappling with quality
of life issues and effectively communicating with
civic leaders, police precincts, and legislators
to solve problems.
Through a grant from the Neighborhood Opportunities
Fund, ADC's Civic Engagement unit is working with
residents over the next four years to develop
a Community Organizing strategy that includes
an affordable housing campaign for Harlem and
greater New York City and plans to take action
on salient public policy issues.
| © 2004, Abyssinian Development
Corporation |
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