Mission
Sixth Street Community Center is a community-based not-for-profit organization founded in 1978 and committed to advancing social, environmental, housing, economic and racial justice in the East Village and Lower East Side community. We believe that people of all backgrounds and incomes in New York City have the right to a safe, clean, and healthy environment and have their basic needs met with dignity and respect. Our mission is as follows:
- Provide emergency services and act as an emergency hub in response to community crises around extreme weather, food shortages and economic insecurity.
- Expand food access and affordability of fresh, organic, locally farmed foods to neighborhood families through our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program.
- Educate youth about equitable urban living, sustainable urban agriculture and climate justice empowering them to become active and engaged climate leaders.
- Engage our diverse community through outreach and organizing on environmental justice campaigns and advocate for community led solutions.
History
In 1978, a group of single mothers living on East 6th Street between Avenues B and C formed a block association. Exhausted by the decrepit condition of their neighborhood where they were struggling to raise their children and improve their environmental conditions, they actively visioned that through joint effort they could foster positive change for their community. One of their first organized efforts was to advocate for the City to seal up abandoned buildings, which they saw was essential to reducing drug trafficking and crime.
After many years of grassroots organizing and fundraising, the block association was finally able to purchase and renovate the abandoned synagogue at 638 E Sixth Street— from that moment Sixth Street Community Center was born.
Since its inception, Sixth Street Community Center has fostered economic and community development through a variety of programs including after school and summer programs, tenants rights and entitlement advocacy, and life skills and career development for teens. Beginning in 1996, Sixth Street Community Center initiated projects that bring youth and community residents together around issues of sustainable urban living, sustainable agriculture, environmental advocacy, health and nutrition through our Community Supported Agriculture, Seeds To Supper, and SOS Food programs.
Today Sixth Street Community Center (SSCC) offers nearly 200 local youth unique after school and summer programs. We are dedicated to empowering our youth to be active and engaged leaders and organizers in their community. Our youth programs focus on addressing the climate crisis, educating and spreading awareness on local environmental justice issues through on the ground community outreach, public arts projects, local partnerships and public engagement.
After many years of grassroots organizing and fundraising, the block association was finally able to purchase and renovate the abandoned synagogue at 638 E Sixth Street— from that moment Sixth Street Community Center was born.
Since its inception, Sixth Street Community Center has fostered economic and community development through a variety of programs including after school and summer programs, tenants rights and entitlement advocacy, and life skills and career development for teens. Beginning in 1996, Sixth Street Community Center initiated projects that bring youth and community residents together around issues of sustainable urban living, sustainable agriculture, environmental advocacy, health and nutrition through our Community Supported Agriculture, Seeds To Supper, and SOS Food programs.
Today Sixth Street Community Center (SSCC) offers nearly 200 local youth unique after school and summer programs. We are dedicated to empowering our youth to be active and engaged leaders and organizers in their community. Our youth programs focus on addressing the climate crisis, educating and spreading awareness on local environmental justice issues through on the ground community outreach, public arts projects, local partnerships and public engagement.