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:
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:
- Engage Youth, Teens and Young Adults around the root causes of the climate crisis and solutions, equitable urban living, sustainable urban agriculture and climate justice action empowering them to become active and responsive climate leaders.
- Engage our multi-racial and multi-generational community through grassroots organizing on critical environmental justice campaigns. We strategize and advocate for community-led solutions that address the root causes of the climate crisis.
- Expand food access and affordability of fresh, organic, locally farmed foods to neighborhood families and promote sustainable food systems through our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program, Urban Farming/Food Sovereignty Workshops, Free Food Distribution, on-site Community Fridge, and Mutual Aid Cooking Project.
- Provide emergency services and act as an emergency hub in response to community crises around extreme weather, food shortages, and economic insecurity.
Our Story
Located in a lovingly restored former synagogue in the heart of the Lower East Side—also known as Loisaida—the Sixth Street Community Center (SSCC) has been a hub of social, environmental, housing, economic, and racial justice organizing since 1978. Having emerged from the homesteading movement, SSCC has worked to empower the community through grassroots organizing for nearly five decades.
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 envisioned that through joint effort they could foster positive change for their community. After years of grassroots organizing and fundraising, the block association was able to purchase and revive the abandoned synagogue to become a center for the people.
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 envisioned that through joint effort they could foster positive change for their community. After years of grassroots organizing and fundraising, the block association was able to purchase and revive the abandoned synagogue to become a center for the people.
Programs and Impact
Since its inception, SSCC 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 and adults.
As early as 1996, SSCC initiated projects that brought youth and community residents together around issues of sustainable urban living, sustainable agriculture, environmental advocacy, health, and nutrition through our CSA, Seeds to Supper, and SOS Food Programs.
Today, SSCC offers nearly 200 local youth and teens after-school enrichment and summer programs rooted in a climate justice curriculum. We are dedicated to empowering our youth to be active and engaged leaders and effective organizers in our local community and beyond. Our youth, teen, and adult programs focus on equipping our community to confront the climate crisis through political education and grassroots organizing.
We also offer a variety of programs and events including:
As early as 1996, SSCC initiated projects that brought youth and community residents together around issues of sustainable urban living, sustainable agriculture, environmental advocacy, health, and nutrition through our CSA, Seeds to Supper, and SOS Food Programs.
Today, SSCC offers nearly 200 local youth and teens after-school enrichment and summer programs rooted in a climate justice curriculum. We are dedicated to empowering our youth to be active and engaged leaders and effective organizers in our local community and beyond. Our youth, teen, and adult programs focus on equipping our community to confront the climate crisis through political education and grassroots organizing.
We also offer a variety of programs and events including:
- Free arts, writing, and gardening after-school and summer programs for local youth
- Affordable adult workshops and donation-based yoga, Zumba, and dance classes
- A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program
- Poetry and open-mic nights
- And much, much more
Community Roots
The Loisaida neighborhood is home to a historically and culturally rich community. Neighborhood struggles for affordable housing, education, and labor rights have long marked its history. The housing movement, for example, helped form the area in the 1970s and ’80s when homesteaders and squatters worked toward the common goal of reclaiming run-down and abandoned buildings and lots and developing them into affordable housing and community gardens.
Today, the neighborhood remains incredibly diverse and lively, while maintaining a peaceful and natural feeling growing out of its 50 community gardens. Loisaida is home to countless community groups, art organizations, and poetry and music venues which keep the spirit of activism and community alive.
For maps, photos, and a history of the community gardens, see Elissa Sampson’s “A Flowering of Resistance.”
Today, the neighborhood remains incredibly diverse and lively, while maintaining a peaceful and natural feeling growing out of its 50 community gardens. Loisaida is home to countless community groups, art organizations, and poetry and music venues which keep the spirit of activism and community alive.
For maps, photos, and a history of the community gardens, see Elissa Sampson’s “A Flowering of Resistance.”
Legacy and Commitment
Having served the Lower East Side since 1978, SSCC continues to stand as a home for grassroots organizing, youth leadership, and environmental justice. Our enduring mission is to strengthen our neighborhood through collective action, creative expression, and the belief that people of all backgrounds and incomes have the right to a safe, healthy, and equitable environment.