Non-Profit Organisation Awards 2024, Acquisition International | 15 Towers gain knowledge of biodiversity and healthy eating, among other skills and values. The hub’s programmes related to career-readiness, workforce development, college preparation, and financial assistance are available to residents of all ages. Starting as early as the first year of primary school, youth are introduced to concepts of money management, banking, and future planning. Services then grow with residents and participants to include planning for university and career exploration, to job search support, to topics like estate planning. Through these services, The Opportunity Hub equips residents with the knowledge to build credit, tackle debt, and to seize opportunities for professional growth and financial stability. The organisation currently celebrates the growth of its teen and young adult programmes from 75 participants to over 250 this past year, while serving over a thousand additional children, young adults, adults and older adults. The Opportunity Hub continues to expand services and create new partnerships allowing the organisation to offer free tax prep, training programmes, and bolstered job-readiness resources. However, it experiences typical concerns among NPOs, finding its niche and securing the right funding and support. It’s growing, however, and navigating many complex social challenges while also working to remain compliant. The team actively reaches out to experts and finds partners who can bridge these gaps, finding new ways to meet challenges. Alongside fundraising and bolstering its infrastructure, The Opportunity Hub is currently working to expand its garden area to a 0.75-acre farm, meaning improved, STEM-based gardening programmes to concisely bring together its many pillars of learning. It’s constantly looking to improve its facilities and better enable Spring Creek Towers residents to find empowerment and improve their prospects and wellbeing. Starrett City is a diverse community rife with promise, and nobody recognises this more clearly than The Opportunity Hub. It’s a prime example of the power that a dedicated, compassionate group of people possess to change lives for the better, and it’s proof that the unique struggles of residents go far from unnoticed. Contact: Nanda Prabhakar Company: The Opportunity Hub Web Address: www.theopphub.org Best Regional Community Development NPO 2024 - NYC Spring Creek Towers, otherwise known as Starrett City, is located in East New York and was originally built as a “city within a city” to provide affordable housing. To this day, a vibrant, diverse community lives there, though their quality of life is hindered by limited access to social support. The team at The Opportunity Hub sees the potential in every resident and works to realise it, improve lives, and offer chances that the people of Starrett City wouldn’t otherwise have. The hub’s unique strength is that it’s run by those who identify with and understand the needs of its people. The team celebrates the community’s rich culture and strengths but is also deeply aware of where it needs to see improvement. It’s eager to foster a sense of belonging and mutual support, and this includes bringing Brookyln’s resources to its doorstep. The hub engages regularly in conversations with schools, businesses, community leaders, and cultural institutions to ensure it’s meeting as many needs as it can across Spring Creek Towers. The organisation follows the settlement house model, providing various services for the community. These range from wellbeing support like health screenings to after school programmes. The enormous variety of community support on offer helps the people of Spring Creek Towers live more enriched lives and enhances their sense of community. In the team’s words, it is dedicated to long-term investment in the needs and future aspirations of those it serves. “The Opportunity Hub rose from the heart of East New York, Brooklyn, in response to a community yearning for a brighter future. ” Residents’ health is a top priority for the hub, and this is reflected in the wellbeing services on offer. Vital services include counselling, resource fairs, cooking workshops, and health screenings. The Opportunity Hub is keen to ensure that residents’ mental and physical health is maintained and provides assistance throughout the benefits application process. This holistic approach to wellbeing empowers residents to also receive the help they need from the government. The youth development offering is a cornerstone of the hub’s mission. Structured afterschool activities provide opportunities to strengthen skills like literacy, make strides towards emotional development, and provide the opportunity to take part in performing arts. The hub also caters well to teens and young adults, providing a safe space for young people to access, gym time, computers, and offering a vast array of classes and activities. At The Learning Garden, the youth of Spring Creek Spring Creek Towers is a housing development in Brooklyn, home to a tight-knit community of 15,000 residents which suffers from poor access to the resources and services that many Americans rely on. The Opportunity Hub supports them by providing various programmes to benefit those of all ages, promoting career skills, health access, financial empowerment, and so much more. The Opportunity Hub
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