The Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI) has been awarded nearly $15 million over six years through the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development’s Comprehensive After School System of New York City (COMPASS) initiative.

The major award will significantly expand JCCGCI’s after-school and summer programming for children and families in Crown Heights.

The funding will enable JCCGCI to continue its successful programming at long-standing partner schools while expanding services beginning this September to additional students and families.

Participating schools will include Lubavitcher Yeshiva – Crown Street, Associated Beth Rivkah Schools, Lubavitcher Yeshiva – Ocean Parkway, and Yeshiva Darchai Menachem, collectively benefiting nearly 300 children annually.

JCCGCI has proudly operated DYCD-funded after-school and summer programming at Associated Beth Rivkah Schools and United Lubavitcher Yeshiva/Crown Street in Crown Heights since 2012, providing generations of students with access to enriching educational, recreational, and youth-development opportunities in safe and supportive environments.

“We are profoundly grateful to the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development and to its new Commissioner, Hon. Sandra Escamilla-Davies, for the trust and confidence demonstrated through these significant COMPASS awards,” said Rabbi Moshe Wiener, Executive Director of JCCGCI.

“This investment will enable JCCGCI and our outstanding school partners to continue providing safe, enriching, and nurturing environments where children can strengthen academically, socially, and emotionally during the critical after-school hours.”

Rabbi Wiener also expressed appreciation to the program leadership team that helped build JCCGCI’s highly regarded model. “We are especially grateful to Mrs. Chanie Moskowitz and her dedicated team for designing, implementing and operating a unique, award-winning COMPASS model tailored to the needs of our communities — a model that has consistently earned praise and excellent performance evaluations from DYCD and other funding sources. JCCGCI remains deeply committed to expanding opportunities for children and families and helping every child develop the confidence, skills, and support necessary to thrive and succeed.”

JCCGCI’s after-school programs are designed to provide far more than childcare. Through COMPASS, participating students receive free access to academic support, homework assistance, recreation, arts and creative expression, sports, leadership development, cultural experiences, hands-on enrichment, and summer programming. These activities help students build confidence, strengthen friendships, explore new interests, and continue growing academically, socially, and emotionally beyond the regular school day.

The award will support both the COMPASS Elementary model (at Yeshiva Darchai Menachem) and SONYC — School’s Out NYC, COMPASS’s middle school model (at Beth Rivkah and Lubavitcher Yeshivos on Crown Street and Ocean Parkway).

COMPASS Elementary serves students from Kindergarten through fifth grade and supports the whole child through STEM learning, literacy integration, homework help, arts education, physical activity, and nutritional programming. Programs operate three hours per day, five days per week, including select school holidays, with continued services during the summer.

SONYC serves students in sixth through eighth grades through a club-based model that gives middle school students greater choice in how they spend their time while offering rigorous enrichment opportunities in sports, arts, leadership development, and educational trips throughout New York City. SONYC programs also operate three hours per day, five days per week during the school year, with summer services available at select locations.

The expansion comes at a time when families continue to seek high-quality, safe, structured, and enriching after-school opportunities for their children. JCCGCI’s programs provide essential support during the critical after-school hours, helping students remain engaged, supervised, and connected while strengthening academic performance, social-emotional development, and long-term educational success.

JCCGCI extends its sincere gratitude to DYCD, Commissioner Sandra Escamilla-Davies, participating schools, educators, program staff, families, and community partners whose collaboration makes this work possible. As these programs continue to grow, JCCGCI remains committed to creating supportive environments where children can learn, build confidence, discover new talents, and develop the tools they need for lifelong success.

JCCGCI’s Crown Heights initiatives include:
• Crown Heights Career Assessment Program – 835 vocational training scholarships awarded to Crown Heights residents, resulting in 1,355 job placements
• Crown Heights Career Hub – 458 residents trained, leading to 332 job placements
• Parnossah Employment Services Program – More than 500 Crown Heights residents placed into employment
• Workforce Development Program – 586 Crown Heights residents placed into jobs
• Beth Rivkah Teen Club After-School Program
• United Lubavitcher Yeshiva (Crown Street) After-School Program
• “Pioneers” Drama Camp at Beth Rivkah
• “Machane Heights” Biking Camp at United Lubavitcher Yeshiva (Crown Street)
• Crown Heights Mesivta Vocational Track – Serving approximately 130 students from Oholei Torah Mesivta, Chovevei Torah Mesivta, and B’nei Aliyah, helping each participant discover a path toward personal growth, dignity, vocational skills, and long-term success

For more information about JCCGCI’s programs and services, click here