Phipps CDC Programs

Youth Education and Enrichment

Teen Academic and Skills Development

Adult Literacy and Education

Workforce Development

Family and Community Building

Resident Resources

Phipps CDC Program Sites

 



Opportunities for
Young Adults

Two programs focused on helping 16-24 year olds complete their education, develop work readiness, and build skills to access future opportunities for themselves:


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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION/HEAD START

Recognizing that early childhood education sets the stage for academic achievement and effective social development, Phipps CDC offers programs that provide young children and their families with the foundation and opportunities to put them on the path to future learning and growth. Phipps CDC serves 123 children ages three to five in seven classrooms at two licensed Head Start programs in the Bronx: the Phipps Head Start Center and Lambert Houses Head Start Center. Both centers operate in accordance with the guidelines of the Federal Head Start program, which mandates that 90% of the children come from families whose income is at or below the Federal poverty level.

Phipps CDC provides a comprehensive early childhood program that is grounded in developmentally appropriate practices to prepare children for successful entry into the school system. Our programs are committed to providing children and their families with a caring, encouraging community in which they can develop the skills needed to succeed in school and life. We also work extensively with parents of the participants to reinforce academic, conflict resolution, and communication skills learned during the day. With the assistance of several private foundations, we enhance services through collaborations with universities, museums and arts organizations.

The Phipps CDC Head Start Centers are two of only 37 programs in the Bronx that have been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a widely recognized indicator of high quality in programs for young children.

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AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Recognizing the need for a safe, structured environment where children can do their homework, and participate in cultural, recreational and personal development activities, Phipps CDC operates 13 after-school programs and serves more than 1,000 children in grades K-8. We also operate drop-in programs at four housing developments that provide tutoring and cultural enrichment to elementary school students. The program goals are to develop a community of lifelong learners and to help disadvantaged youth achieve academic excellence. Activities include:

  • Homework Assistance. Youth complete their homework under the guidance of adult instructors and teen mentors.
  • Literacy Instruction. Working in small groups, children engage in activities designed to improve their reading and writing.
  • Visual Arts Instruction. Professional artists work with children to develop their creative arts skills, critique one another's work, and select works for public display.
  • Performing Arts Instruction. Professional dance, music and drama instructors work with students to develop their skills in preparation for public performances.
  • Computer Instruction. Children receive instruction in computer applications that develop literacy, math and research skills.
  • Recreational Activities. Children choose from a variety of recreational activities, including organized sports (tennis, volleyball, soccer, basketball) and games (table and board games).
  • Martial Arts Instruction. A certified martial arts instructor provides lessons in Ju-Jitsu, Kung Fu, and basic self-defense.
  • Environmental Studies. Students participate in horticultural and environmental projects under the guidance of Phipps CDC's Environmental Educator or NYC Parks Department staff.
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SUMMER PROGRAMS

Phipps CDC's Summer Programs provide nearly 1,000 children and teens with a wide range of exciting and educational activities: day camps, sleep away camps, sports programs, environmental education, leadership development, internships and community service. These critically needed programs are offered in at-risk communities where families often have no summer options for their children other than dangerous and unsupervised urban streets.


Our summer youth programs are offered in West Farms and Morrisania in the Bronx and the Bellevue South neighborhood in Manhattan. We focus on fun, educational enrichment, and emotional growth under the supervision of caring adult mentors. Field trips to museums, aquariums, state parks and recreation centers broaden the children's horizons. For many children this is their first experience out of the city where they are able to swim in a lake or take a hike in the woods.   Their summer activities introduce campers and teens to new ideas, build their self-confidence, encourage new friendships, and provide them with memorable experiences.

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ACCIÓN ACADEMY

Achievement ~ Consciousness ~ Community ~ Integrity ~ Opportunity ~ Now!

In September 2004, ACCIÓN Academy/CS 341, a new small middle school, opened with just 76 sixth graders. Housed in David Farragut School/CS 44 in the West Farms/East Tremont neighborhoods in the Bronx, ACCIÓN Academy is built on the philosophy of encouraging students to experience the community as their classroom and offering opportunities for students to apply insight and critical skills to their everyday lives while seeing the power of education as a tool for positive change.

The third and final class of sixth graders was admitted in September 2006, bringing enrollment to 200 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. ACCIÓN Academy graduated its inaugural class from the eighth grade in spring of 2007 and nearly every one of the original 76 students progressed, receiving the school's first middle school diplomas. Later that same year, the school received a "B" in the citywide ratings.

Phipps continues to offer ongoing support to the school by providing a comprehensive extended day program, supplying adjunct staff, and offering a wealth of community and citywide contacts, resources, and services. We are also committed to providing program enhancements that allow the extended day and other enrichment programs to grow in relation to the school's expansion - and have taken on the corresponding fundraising responsibilities.

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COLLEGE ADVISEMENT 

The College Advisement Program is designed to help low-income high school students and former high school dropouts become successful college students. It also provides students with career development that will make it possible for them to successfully achieve their goals.   The program prepares students by offering activities designed to develop personal and social competence and by guiding students and their parents through the testing, financial aid, admissions and registration processes.

 

Advisement services includes:

  • introductory college and career exploration workshops and presentations, college tours (virtual and on-campus), and college and career fairs;
  • individual counseling and one-on-one consultation sessions to advise on SAT placement, school selection, financial aid resources and applications, essay writing, and application submissions, and
  • follow-up with students during the application process and after they are enrolled to make sure their college experience is successful.   Through e-mails, phone calls and support seminars, our advisor encourages students to continue working towards their goals.

Since spring 2003, 130 students have been accepted to college; of those, 116 registered.   Although a few have dropped out and a few more have not stayed in touch, our advisor is in contact with 95 students who are still enrolled in college.   Two have received AA degrees and are continuing at 4-year schools.   Phipps CDC is expanding this program to serve students, particularly those in middle schools, throughout the Phipps communities.

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WEST FARMS COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER

The Phipps Community Education Center in West Farms offers a range of education and recreation programs for teens and adults. The West Farms Teen Program helps teens aspire to successful and productive lives with after-school and summer programs that focus on academic, cultural, and social development. Work readiness, community service, leadership and mentoring are core elements in many of the programs so teens develop important life skills, get involved in their community, and have fun.

Older teens and young adults can enroll in a General Education Diploma (GED) program taught by instructors from the NYC Dept. of Education. The Phipps Community Education Center also houses College Advisement, Greening, Summer Youth Employment, and Family Literacy programs. Students enrolled at the Center have access to all activities including special events, cultural celebrations, "meet the author" sessions, and field trips, as well as referrals to job and internship opportunities.

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PHIPPS BEACON PROGRAMS

Since 1994, Phipps CDC has operated a Beacon program in West Farms providing engaging activities for youth and adults during non-school hours as well as weekends, holidays and vacations. In 2008, Phipps CDC assumed operation of a second Beacon location, serving 3 middle schools and local residents in Throgs Neck. For children and teens, the Beacon focus is on academic enrichment, college and career awareness, life skills and recreation. Activities include tutoring, art, dance, computer instruction, sports, martial arts and environmental studies. Adults can take GED and ESL classes and participate in programs designed for adults including parenting and social activities. Each Beacon program site is also a center for large-scale community events such as holiday celebrations and community meetings.

contact info below

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LITERACY/ADULT BASIC EDUCATION

There is a critical demand for basic literacy services in
our communities and Phipps CDC has made it an
organizational priority to expand our adult literacy
instruction to meet this need. We provide classes in
ESL, literacy in English and Spanish, and GED preparation
for community members seeking to develop their skills
and further their education. Esperanza Family Literacy is
a special program that responds to the needs of parents
and children living in poverty with low literacy skills.

Phipps CDC now offers literacy and GED classes at six sites throughout the Bronx including West Farms Technology & Career Center, Phipps Opportunity Center, and our Beacon program sites. Family Literacy is located at the West Farms Community Education Center. Day and evening classes are available and all classes include a structured computer component. Participants also have access to other Phipps CDC programs, such as college advisement, job readiness, and childcare.

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EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMMING

Phipps CDC recognizes computer literacy as a key component of educational, career, and personal development and provides a range of classes that teach skills to help clients and students access genuine opportunities and enable them to participate, and stay competitive, in the global economy. To meet the range of needs in the community, Educational Technology includes a diverse curriculum of basic computer skills, business applications, Internet-based learning, and new media, with classes taught in both English and Spanish. Phipps CDC also incorporates computer and Internet use into its literacy instruction and work readiness programs to expose students and clients to important technology tools and give them access to additional information and resources to support their learning.

The West Farms Technology & Career Center and Phipps Opportunity Center feature well-equipped computer facilities, professional training staff, and a range of classes for beginners to more experienced users. Classes are held in PC and Macintosh computer labs equipped with high-speed Internet, printers, and scanners. When scheduled classes are not in session, computer labs are available for public use such as school work, job search, and online courses. All computer classes are free of charge and advance registration is recommended.

click here for contact info

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WORK READINESS

Phipps CDC helps individuals prepare for employment with programs and resources that provide the skills they need to be competitive, secure stable employment, and develop future careers. Whether returning to work or navigating employment for the first time, participants can take advantage of coaching, skills training, and referrals to facilitate their transition into the workforce.

Work readiness services include access to computer literacy and business applications (MSWord, Excel, Internet/email), career exploration, resume preparation, job search, and interviewing skills. The West Farms Technology & Career Center and Phipps Opportunity Center offer free on-site access to computers, phone/fax, and staff advisors to assist with employment research and opportunities.

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FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES

Phipps CDC's Family Service Coordinators provide on-site family support services through counseling and referrals for children, families and individuals residing in Phipps apartments in West Farms, Melrose and Morrisania in the Bronx, and Bellevue South in Manhattan. Family Service Coordinators provide assistance with entitlements, housing programs, healthcare services, and rent arrears. A primary focus of their services is to encourage and assist families to pursue personal goals in education, economic independence and career development. They coordinate their activities with other local service providers, including neighborhood schools and other community-based organizations.

At Honeywell Apartments, our staff provides services to fifteen mentally ill and formerly homeless men, referred by the NYC Department of Homeless Services from Tier II shelters. Our staff assists residents with their transition to their new living situation and offers them ongoing support and training to address their mental health, education and employment needs. Along with referring residents to Phipps’ community based programs, we offer on-site programs to address daily living skills, money management and medication compliance. This program is funded by the Department of Mental Health & Hygiene and the Department of Homeless Services.

Phipps CDC's Family Support Services also includes an Outreach Coordinator who is responsible for involving tenants and community members in neighborhood improvement planning processes, and in specific programs at West Farms and Morrisania.

Earn Benefits
Through an innovative asset-building program with Seedco, Phipps CDC links low-wage workers to a range of income-enhancing benefits and work supports that have a proven impact on long-term job retention and asset accumulation. Earn Benefits features marketing and education to increase awareness of available benefits, eligibility guidelines and application procedures. Participants are guided through eligibility screening and monitoring benefits to develop self-sufficiency and skills in financial literacy and life management.

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GROWING THROUGH GREENING

Because there is a lack of open green space in West Farms, Phipps CDC works to create and restore community gardens and parks, and to educate students and community members through our Growing Through Greening programs. Growing Through Greening is designed to spark and increase participants' understanding of, and vocational interest in, the fields of environmental science and horticulture.

In 1995, Phipps CDC worked with West Farms residents to develop A Quality of Life Physical Plan for West Farms. The plan, which won a 1995 American Planning Association award, outlines a number of important community needs and recommends that natural resources in the neighborhood be reclaimed by transforming vacant lots into usable open spaces, improving a public park, and cleaning up the Bronx River. Many sites targeted for transformation into community open spaces were being used for illegal dumping, prostitution, and drug dealing. Following the study's recommendations, Phipps CDC initiated its first environmental beautification project in West Farms, transforming a large garbage-strewn lot wedged between the Bronx River and CS 214 into Drew Gardens.

Drew Gardens has become a symbol of a community-led effort to restore, improve, protect, and preserve the natural environment in an at-risk community. The reclamation of this site has been a catalyst for other environmental improvement initiatives in the neighborhood. Phipps CDC's after-school and summer programs take advantage of the new and improved open spaces for outdoor recreation and educational activities.

Learn more about Drew Gardens and how to get there.

click here for contact info

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SENIOR SERVICES

As tenants in Phipps' apartment complexes "age in place" we find that coordinated supportive services for the elderly on limited incomes have been a great success in maintaining their physical and mental health, and improving their quality of life. Phipps CDC's Senior Services Director focuses on improving social and support services at Henry Phipps Plazas/Kips Bay Court, Lambert Houses, ECHO Apartments and La Casa de Felicidad.

At Henry Phipps Plaza/Kips Bay Court, we provide a "Naturally Occurring Retirement Community" (NORC) program funded by NYC's Department for the Aging with a mission to maintain older tenants safely in their homes. This is accomplished through a comprehensive need-based program which includes: increased resident access to appropriate supportive services, preventive health care, and medication reviews; assistance with housekeeping, chores and shopping; and therapeutic recreation, telephone re-assurance calls and a friendly visitor program. The program stresses early professional intervention and engages residents in planning and evaluating their service delivery. The NORC staff includes the Program Director who acts as the program's full time caseworker, one part-time caseworker, a Registered Nurse, an Activities Coordinator and second year social work interns from Hunter College's School of Social Work.

ECHO apartments in Manhattan offers its 98 seniors meditation and exercise classes, optional resident-sponsored Bible study classes, recreation activities, and monthly excursions. Our Forget Me Nots at Lambert Houses in the Bronx take full advantage of the network of social and education services we have in place in West Farms. Seniors take computer classes at the Technology Center, attend health seminars presented by local hospitals, and enjoy the performing arts at nearby Lehman College. In 2006, Phipps Houses completed construction of La Casa de Felicidad, an 85-unit building in the Melrose section of the Bronx exclusively for low-income tenants over the age of 62. Phipps CDC provides the same breadth of social services and recreation programming established at our other properties with large numbers of elderly residents.

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TIER II TRANSITIONAL HOUSING

The Phipps Houses Group has three Tier II transitional housing shelters. Sojourner Truth House and Lee Goodwin Residence are owned and managed by Phipps Houses and Phipps CDC, and operated under contracts with the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS). The program at Town and Country Shelter is managed by Phipps CDC, also under contract with DHS. Located in the Bronx, the residences provide 163 furnished apartments with kitchens for homeless families that are in the process of finding affordable, permanent homes. Families are referred by DHS and most stay for five to nine months.

Housing Specialists help families locate affordable apartments and counselors provide family support services that include on-site childcare, life skills counseling, medical and mental health referrals, and education and employment assistance to help parents achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency. Our shelters have been recognized by DHS for their strong performance and have a solid record of successful placement of families in affordable permanent apartments. In 2007, Sojourner Truth House was ranked 6th in New York City among the 135 shelters working with DHS.

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PHIPPS OPPORTUNITY CENTER

The Phipps Opportunity Center offers a full range of Phipps CDC educational programs and community services. Regular classes include basic and intermediate ESL, Adult Basic Education, and GED Prep, and computer instruction teaches basic applications, Internet use, and business technology. The Family Room is the site's resource center for parents and kids providing member families with parenting programs, family activities, and referrals to special services. Drop-in childcare is available for parents enrolled in classes at the Center. The site also offers social services such as benefits screening and referrals to meet education, training, or other needs.

The Phipps Opportunity Center is also the site for the City's first Financial Empowerment Center, which offers free workshops and one-on-one financial counseling services for Bronx residents led by trained professionals. Services are conducted in English and Spanish and focus on managing personal finances, resolving credit and debt issues, basic banking, and access to affordable financial services and products. The Financial Empowerment Center in Melrose was created in partnership with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs' Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE), with support from the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation of New York.

Download flyer for Phipps Opportunity Center

contact info below




NYC JUSTICE CORPS

NYC Justice Corps is a unique community service and employment program to support and develop young adults aged 18-24 who need to get back on the right track. Funded by the NYC Center for Economic Opportunity through CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NYC Justice Corps brings young adults involved with the criminal justice system together with their communities to identify and address unmet community needs.

Through meaningful service to their communities, internships, and job and educational opportunities, NYC Justice Corps provides members with practical skills, social support and leadership training. Phipps CDC provides all training and services for Corps members and establishes community service projects and employer partnerships to provide participants with valuable and varied opportunities. Visit the NYC Justice Corps web site.

Learn the experiences of Corps members, staff and community partners in a video about NYC Justice Corps and the opportunities it presents.

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PHIPPS CLASSIC CENTER

The Phipps Classic Center, a 22,000-square-foot community and recreation center in the Melrose section of the Bronx, offers a range of after-school and summer programs for elementary school children and teens. Sports, arts and cultural activities, academic enhancement, and community involvement provide a wide range of learning and recreation opportunities.

Enrichment activities for children aged 6-12 include computer instruction, multicultural cooking, gardening, basketball, chess, dance, yoga, journaling, arts & crafts, and team fitness. Educational programs include homework help and reading/literacy. Teen activities also include group outings such as bowling, ice skating, skiing, leadership retreats, and college tours. Special collaborations include arts and educational programming provided by partners such as the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and Leap.

contact info below

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CONTACT INFO

After-School & Teen Programs
Literacy/Adult Basic Education
Adult & Community Recreation

PHIPPS WEST FARMS BEACON
Wings Academy
1122 East 180th Street
Bronx, NY 10460
718-542-8333

After-School & Teen Programs
Adult Learning & Recreation

PHIPPS BEACON at the PIAGENTINI AND JONES CAMPUS
650 Hollywood Avenue
Bronx, NY 10465
718-239-4080

After-School & Teen Programs
Adult Learning & Recreation

PHIPPS CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY PROGRAM at Soundview Houses
1680 Seward Avenue
Bronx, NY 10473
718-378-6246


College Advisement
Family Literacy
Growing Through Greening
Teen Programs

WEST FARMS COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER
1030 East 178th Street
Bronx, NY 10460
718-542-0109

 
Educational Technology
Family Support Services
Literacy/Adult Basic Education
Work Readiness

WEST FARMS TECHNOLOGY & CAREER CENTER
1071A East Tremont Avenue
Bronx, NY 10460
718-620-1900

Educational Technology
Financial Empowerment Center
Literacy/Adult Basic Education
Family Support Services
Work Readiness

PHIPPS OPPORTUNITY CENTER
3125 Third Avenue at 159th St.
Bronx, NY 10451
347-329-3929

After-School & Teen Programs
PHIPPS CLASSIC CENTER
286 East 156th Street
Bronx, NY 10451
718-665-7093

NYC Justice Corps
Teen Programs

PHIPPS TURNING POINT
1409 Fulton Avenue
Bronx, NY  10456
347-329-4004

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