NYCHA’s education programs are geared toward helping youth, teens and mature adults acquire knowledge, skills, self-respect, and confidence in a fun environment. At most Community Centers, NYCHA offers an assortment of programs with activities that appeal to varied interests; from computers, mathematics, reading to writing and chess. More details about each program are available below. For further information and to sign up for any of the education programs please call 212-306-2880/3232 or 3246.

Broadband Technology Opportunities Program NEW
ATTAIN Computer Labs
BRIDGES
Green Futures Club
Chess
I Have a Dream (IHAD)
NYC Imagination Library Initiative 
New York City Early Literacy Learning (NYCELL)  NEW for 2012
Partners in Reading (PIR)
The Write Girls Program  NEW

Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Through a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) created an education and job readiness program for NYCHA residents 13 years and older. The BTOP program will provide NYCHA residents with access to computers and broadband technology-based educational activities that will support gaining and/or increasing marketable job skills and educational achievement. Working in conjunction with City College of New York, NYCHA will be able to offer a curriculum that will include: Computer Training for Adults; General Education Diploma Preparation; Job Readiness Training Program for Adults; Sound and Music Engineering Program for Teens and Teen Exploration/Web Design Program.

 Register Now! Program Dates - January 9th, 2012 to March 16th, 2012 (in PDF)

Back to the top

A.T.T.A.I.N Computer Labs
A.T.T.A.I.N (Advanced Technology, Training and Information Networking) provides technology labs where residents have access to state-of-the-art hardware and interactive, multimedia software. The State University of New York (SUNY) provides two "facilitators" who oversee instruction for children, teens, adults and seniors in the lab. ATTAIN labs are located in Manhattan at the Polo Grounds and Drew Hamilton Community Centers; in Brooklyn at 303 Vernon and Farragut Community Centers and in Staten Island at the Berry and South Beach Community Centers. These A.T.T.A.I.N Computer Labs offer a menu of trainings- from General Education Diploma Preparation to Microsoft Office Certification courses- at no cost.

Back to the top

Build, Research, Invent, Design, Grow and Explore through Science (BRIDGES)
The Salvadori Center, a non-profit educational organization operating out of City College of New York, is working in partnership with the National Science Foundation and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to operate the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. (Build, Research, Invent, Design, Grow and Explore through Science) Program. This after school program is designed to help 8-12 year olds improve their understanding of science, engineering, mathematics, design and technology through the use of real-world projects. Once a week, an architect-educator from the Salvadori Center works with youth at the community center on special projects to help the students expand their math and science learning. Because children in the program work mainly in small groups, they also learn to cooperate with one another, analyze problems to find solutions, and share what they have learned through writing and oral presentations. Some of the project based educational activities include: building scale models of New York City bridges (mathematics); create drawings of their communities (art); figure out why buildings stand up (physical science); construct models of skyscrapers (engineering); learn patience and precision in their work (life skills).

After-School Program Builds Love of Science - NY1.com

Back to the top

Chess
The Chess Program is offered at 25 NYCHA Community Centers and includes intensive training, which leads up to an inter-borough competition and a citywide tournament. The year round program teaches youth, ages 9 and up, how to analyze and resolve difficult situations and build self-confidence.

 Register Now! Program Dates - October 3rd, 2011 to June 14th, 2012 (in PDF)

Back to the Top

Green Futures Club
The New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Green Futures Club program at Monroe Community Center is a unique program that will expose participants to a curriculum focusing on activities including organic gardening, health, community participation, and potential “green” job opportunities. A grant obtained through the State Education Department of New York makes this program available for youth between the ages of nine and 15. The program also includes skill-building activities, educational classes geared towards math and English preparation, guidance concentrating on the high school transition.

Program Registration Form (in PDF)

Back to the Top 

I Have A Dream (IHAD)
The I Have A Dream (IHAD) Program is a collaborative effort between the IHAD Foundation and NYCHA. The program "adopts" third graders from participating NYCHA developments and monitors these children from elementary school through high school graduation. The IHAD program also offers the "Dreamers" educational, social and culturally-enriched activities designed to increase their chances for success. IHAD promises tuition assistance to those "Dreamers" who graduate from high school and wish to attend college or vocational training. IHAD programs are currently in operation at Melrose Houses in the Bronx, Chelsea-Elliott and DeHostos Houses in Manhattan, and Ravenswood Houses in Queens.

Back to the Top 

NYC Imagination Library Initiative
The New York City Department of Education and New York City Housing Authority are partnering to introduce you to the new NYC Imagination Library Initiative – an important and exciting birth-to-five early literacy program that is absolutely FREE for you and your preschool child! Along with the free books, the NYC Imagination Library provides free training for parents in effective read aloud strategies to help you feel comfortable with reading to your child. The NYC Imagination Library’s Early Literacy Workshop Series for Parents is being offered on weekday evenings at various NYCHA Community Centers and on Saturday mornings at other local community sites. Enroll today, and give your child a great start in school and in life!

Back to the Top 

New York City Early Literacy Learning (NYCELL)
The NYCELL Program seeks to strengthen language and pre-reading skills of children between the ages of one and four, so that they enter school ready to learn and to succeed. NYCELL is a collaborative effort between the Mayor's Office, the Department of Education and NYCHA. This program is being offered at four NYCHA Community Centers: Bronx Classic at Melrose Houses in the Bronx; Van Dyke Community Center in Brooklyn; and Rutgers and King Towers Community Centers in Manhattan.

 New York City Early Literacy Learning (NYCELL) (in PDF)
 Sign up today! Program starts January 3, 2012 (in PDF)

Back to the Top

 Partners In Reading (PIR) (in PDF)
 Open Enrollment! Program Dates - Oct 4, 2011 to May 24, 2012 (in PDF)

Back to the Top 

The Write Girls program
The Write Girls program is a literacy program for girls in the fourth, fifth and sixth grade living in the Brownsville and Bedford-Stuyvesant sections of Brooklyn. Utilizing elements of the Girl Scouts’ Journeys Curriculum, the Write Girls program will provide literacy support through reading and writing activities concentrating on women in literature. The Write Girls program will hold monthly family literacy nights and activities that include scrapbooking and group discussions, and an end of year Publishers Party of the girls' accomplishments. The Write Girls will also participate in theme-based trips to places and environments that shape the world through literacy including the United Nations, Washington, D.C., and local media outlets.

 The Write Girls Program (in PDF)

Back to the Top