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Community Wellness Starts Here
From fresh food access and urban farming to youth leadership, sexual health education, and community outreach, Cypress Hills and United Community Centers (UCC) work alongside Brooklyn residents to build healthier futures for every generation. Through hands-on programs, trusted resources, and neighborhood-driven care, we meet people where they are and help connect them to the support they need to thrive.
EXPLORE PROGRAMS
Wellness That Starts in the Neighborhood
Health is more than healthcare. It is access to fresh food, trusted information, safe relationships, youth opportunity, and a community that supports one another. Across East New York and Cypress Hills, our Health + Wellness programs help residents build healthier lives through food justice, sexual health outreach, leadership development, education, and community connection.
Whether someone is picking up fresh produce at the farmers market, joining a workshop, volunteering on the farm, collecting a hygiene kit, or participating in a youth internship, every program is designed to empower the community from within.
EAST NEW YORK FARMS!
Growing Food. Growing Leaders. Growing Community.
For more than 25 years, East New York Farms! has helped neighbors reconnect with healthy food, urban agriculture, and one another. Through our half-acre youth farm, community-run farmers markets, composting initiatives, and youth employment programs, we are creating a healthier and more sustainable East New York led by the people who live here.
Our work combines food justice, environmental education, youth leadership, and economic opportunity to create a stronger future for Brooklyn families.
URBAN FARM
A Half-Acre Farm in the Heart of Brooklyn
Our urban farm grows more than 70 varieties of culturally relevant fruits, vegetables, and herbs that reflect the diverse communities of East New York. The farm is more than a growing space. It is a place where neighbors gather, young people learn leadership skills, and families connect to fresh food close to home.
The farm hosts volunteer days, educational tours, workshops, school visits, and seasonal events throughout the year.
FAMILY SUPPORT INCLUDES:
70+ varieties of culturally relevant produce
Volunteer opportunities and group tours
Educational workshops and school visits
Seasonal farm events and community gatherings
FARMERS MARKET
Fresh Food That Stays Local
From late June through November, our community-run farmers market brings affordable fresh produce to East New York while supporting local growers, gardeners, and youth employment opportunities. The market accepts cash, credit, EBT, WIC, and Health Bucks to help keep healthy food accessible for everyone.
Through our Share Table program, community gardeners can sell their produce at the market with support from youth interns who help prepare and sell items. Gardeners keep 90% of the profits, helping strengthen Brooklyn’s local food economy.
COMPOST PROGRAM
Turning Food Waste Into Community Growth
For more than 15 years, East New York Farms! has operated a neighborhood composting program that helps turn food scraps into nutrient-rich compost used by local gardens and farms.
Residents can drop off food scraps during market hours and receive Health Bucks to use at the farmers market. The program also provides hands-on education around sustainability, composting, and environmental stewardship. We proudly partner with local composting and environmental organizations to help residents gain additional skills and certifications in urban sustainability practices.
East New York is home to one of the largest networks of community gardens in New York City. We help support these vital neighborhood spaces through garden assistance, workshops, free material distributions, and educational programming.
Our team also helps connect residents interested in gardening with local community gardens looking for new members and volunteers.
COMMUNITY GARDENS + EDUCATION
Supporting Brooklyn’s Garden Community
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YOUTH FARM INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Paid Leadership Opportunities for East New York Youth
Our Youth Internship Program gives young people the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience, leadership training, and community engagement skills while helping shape the future of East New York.
Open to youth who live in or attend school in East New York, this paid program helps participants explore environmental justice, food systems, community organizing, outreach, and career readiness.
Supporting Healthy Lives Across Brooklyn
PROTECTING THE EAST (PTE)
Community Health Led by Young People
Protecting The East is a youth-led community health initiative focused on sexual health education, HIV prevention, healthy relationships, and wellness outreach across East New York and Brooklyn.
Through peer education, social media engagement, workshops, and direct community outreach, PTE helps young people access trusted information, resources, and support in spaces where they already live, learn, and gather.
The program reaches residents through schools, colleges, community events, parent workshops, social platforms, parks, transit hubs, and neighborhood outreach across Brooklyn.
OUTREACH + COMMUNITY CARE
Meeting People Where They Are
Our outreach teams are active in the community multiple days each week, distributing resources and connecting residents to health education and support services.
Outreach takes place year-round at:
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Parks and community spaces
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Train stations and high-traffic corridors
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Schools and colleges
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Parent-teacher events
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Health fairs and neighborhood gatherings
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Popular youth gathering spaces throughout Brooklyn
Hygiene Kits + Wellness Resources
PTE distributes free wellness and hygiene kits tailored for different community needs, including:
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Deodorant and personal care items
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Pads and menstrual products
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Condoms and lubricant
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Plan B
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At-home STI testing kits
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Sexual health education materials
QR codes linking residents to additional resources and services
Kits are available in male, female, and gender-neutral options.
Residents can also schedule appointments to pick up resources directly through the program.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP INTERNSHIP
Building the Next Generation of Community Leaders
PTE’s 9-month paid Youth Leadership Internship prepares young people to become educators, advocates, creators, and leaders within their communities.
Interns receive hands-on experience in:
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Community outreach
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Public speaking
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Workshop facilitation
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Social media and digital marketing
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Health education
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Event planning
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Leadership development
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Administrative and professional skills
Internship Opportunities & Community Service Hours:
Community Service Projects: Projects are either design-based or communications-based. Students will explore how HIV/AIDS impacts East New York and create educational and multimedia materials to inform their peers and community.
Community Health Education Internships: Interns learn about the importance of sexual health education as part of HIV prevention.
Communications Track: Learn what makes educational materials effective and help produce brochures, postcards, and other resources.
Education Track: Learn how to make workshops engaging, and help develop and facilitate a workshop, mini workshop, or health education demo.
SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION + REFERRALS
Trusted Information Without Judgment
PTE helps community members access accurate sexual health information and safer relationship education in welcoming and stigma-free spaces.
Our team provides:
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HIV and STI prevention education
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Healthy relationship workshops
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Peer-led discussions
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At-home testing resources
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Referrals for additional testing, treatment, and care services
When additional support is needed, participants are connected to trusted healthcare providers and community resources throughout Brooklyn, including services available through the NYC Department of Health and Cypress Hills programs.
COMMUNITY EVENTS + CAMPAIGNS
Creating Safe Spaces for Connection
Each year, PTE hosts a variety of community wellness events designed to create conversations around health, relationships, self-care, and empowerment.
Events range from intimate workshops and paint-and-sip nights to larger conferences, awareness campaigns, and neighborhood health events that bring together young people, families, educators, and community leaders.
Looking for Support or Want to Get Involved?
Whether you are interested in joining a youth program, volunteering at the farm, attending a workshop, scheduling a resource pickup, or partnering with us, our team is here to help connect you to the right resources.
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