Education
1474 Gates Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11237 (718) 381-9653 FAX: 381-9680 youth@rbscc.org
One of the RBSCC’s original service components, the Youth and Education Department is one of our longest standing and most comprehensive. This department has as its main objective the improvement of community youth and adults’ lives through educational, employment, recreational, and self-improvement activities. Aimed at promoting the constructive use of young people’s free time as well as their positive personal and academic growth are the foundation of our services.
Our youth and educational services are housed at the state-of-the-art Ridgewood Bushwick Youth Center which represents over 10 years of dreaming and planning (not to mention hard work), states Elena Zullo, Assistant Executive Director of Ridgewood Bushwick Youth and Education Divison..
The Bushwick community was one of the few neighborhoods in New York City that did not have a youth center, YMCA, or other facility for youth to use after school or on weekends.
The Center was created in response to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services’ Youth Opportunity Center proposal in 1990. The original award was for $2 million which would have enabled us to build approximately 7,000 square feet, far short of what was really needed. We appreciate Assemblyman Lopez who was the impetus behind us securing additional funding commitments, enabling us to build the 30,000 square foot facility we have today.
Opened in 2004, the Youth Center includes a full sized gymnasium with a regulation sized basketball court, a fitness room, a dance room, a technology room and an arts and crafts studio. Other features include seven classrooms that host a variety of educational programming for community youth and adults and a multipurpose room that is complete with a pool table, television and other games for youth. The Center is open seven days a week. Programs include the following:
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