top of page

YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES

Building Community. Growing Leaders.

We offer after-school programs, summer camps, arts, sports, and recreation programs, family counseling, and a Middle School Success Center (MSSSC) to help middle school students navigate high school applications. We run two school-based Beacon community centers offering recreational and educational programming to community residents of all ages. Click on the green boxes or keep scrolling to learn more!

Contact: 

Erica Oquendo

Director, Youth and Family Services

276 Chestnut St, Brooklyn, NY 11208

ericao@cypresshills.org

365-1.jpg
IMG_3678.jpg

 

Contact: 

Erica Oquendo

Director, Youth and Family Services

276 Chestnut St, Brooklyn, NY 11208

ericao@cypresshills.org

After-School Programs

CHLDC provides safe and engaging after-school programs  that promote learning and growth in partnership with 11 Community School District 19 schools. All after-school programs are available to the greater community, with the exception of the programs at PS 345 and PS 108 where enrollment is restricted to students at those schools.  Most of the after-school programs run on Monday-Friday for three hours per day (with the exception of the Ready Readers program at PS 108 which is 2 afternoons per week for 1st and 2nd graders). Students participate in homework help, literacy, science, arts, sports and wellness, recreation and leadership activities. The programs feature family events and performances several times per year. Most of the programs also operate full day programs on a number of school holidays during the year. 

 

If you are interested in one of the programs for your child, please contact the person listed for each site. Click the map points below or scroll to the list to see the names and phone numbers! 

Summer Camp

CHLDC provides Summer Camps for elementary and middle school age children that keep children safe, promote their learning and growth and engage in fun and discovery! The starting age at the start of camp is 5 years old. Generally camp operates for 7 weeks for elementary programs and 6 to 7 weeks for middle school. Camp hours are generally 8am-6pm for elementary and 9am-5pm for middle school.  Currently we operate camps for elementary school students at PS 7, PS 65, PS  89, PS 677 and PS 214. We run summer camps for middle school students (pending funding availability) at JHS 218, Liberty Avenue Middle School, IS 171 and Highland Park Community School. The registration period is normally in April. We encourage anyone interested in camp to contact the directors in, or before, April.

BEACON School-Based Community Centers

CHLDC operates two Beacon school-based community centers, the Cypress Hills/East New York (CH/ENY) Beacon at the JHS 218 campus, and the Cypress Hills/Cityline (CH/CL) Beacon at PS 214. The Beacons, which operate afternoons, evenings and Saturdays, serve as safe havens for children, youth, adults and families by providing comprehensive programming including afterschool and summer camp, sports, arts, fitness, educational, service and leadership activities at no cost to all participants.  The Beacons also supports community strengthening by hosting events for and collaborating with other community organizations.

Cypress Hills/East New York Beacon at JHS 218 

370 Fountain Ave Room 132

Brooklyn, NY 11208

(718) 277-3522
Eric James, Beacon Director

EricJ@cypresshills.org

Cypress Hills/Cityline Beacon PS 214 Campus

2944 Pitkin Avenue Gym Room #2

Brooklyn, NY 11208

Contact:

Romualdo Vasquez, Beacon Director

Office:(718)-647-1740, ext, 2157

Cell: (347) 684-6062

Romualdov@cypresshills.org

BEACON Family Place

The Beacon Family Place is a comprehensive family counseling center located at IS 218. We offer a supportive, caring environment where families can work together to improve their relationships and their lives.

 

Our services are free of charge and open to all families in the Cypress Hills/East New York community. We offer evening appointments for working families and have Spanish speaking counselors available.

Contact:

Max Howard, LCSW
Program Director

370 Fountain Avenue, Rm. 129

Brooklyn, NY 11208
maxh@cypresshills.org
(718) 277-9593

Middle School Success Center (MSSSC)

In fall 2013, CHLDC opened a Middle School Student Success Center, the first of its kind in New York City. The MSSSC is a youth-led center that assists students at IS 171 and Highland Park Community School with planning for career and higher education success. We offer services to help middle school students make informed decisions about the high school choice process, prepare their application for admission, and connect them to citywide support organizations for middle school students of color. These services are available for students located at the Abraham Lincoln Middle School campus. 

Contact:

Sindy Nuesi

Sindy Nuesi, Director of MSSSC

528 Ridgewood Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208-1730
Sindyn@cypresshills.org
(516) 654-4642

IMG_0150.JPG

Use the map to find our different program sites

Afterschool Sites

Elementary School

PS 7
858 Jamaica Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:

Latanya Simpson, Program Director

latanyas@cypresshills.org

t:(718) 235-2345
f:(718) 827-4004 (Attn: CHLDC)

 

PS 65
700 Jamaica Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:

Brenda Gerena, Director
t:(718) 235-2223 ext.6172

brendage@cypresshills.org

PS/IS 89 Cypress Hills Community School 

265 Warwick Street
Brooklyn, NY 11207
Contact:

Yasirys Pichardo, Director
Office: (718) 964-1180 ext.1111

YasirysP@cypresshills.org

PS 108 Community School
200 Linwood St
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:

Lea KixMiller, Community School Director
Office:(718) 235-2345

LeaK@cypresshills.org 

Cypress Hills/Cityline Beacon PS 214 Campus

2944 Pitkin Avenue Gym Room #2

Brooklyn, NY 11208

Contact:

Romualdo Vasquez, Beacon Director

Office:(718)-647-1740, ext, 2157

Cell: (347) 684-6062

Romualdov@cypresshills.org

PS 290
135 Schenck Ave 

Brooklyn, NY 11207
(347) 383-8388

Staffena Adams, Program Director

staffenaa@cypresshills.org

PS 345
111 Berriman Street, Room 307
Brooklyn, NY 11208-2307
(347) 383-8388

(Only students who attend PS 345

may enroll in this after-school program.)

Gladys Maldonado, Program Director

PS 677

605 Shepherd Avenue, Room 230D
Brooklyn, NY 11208-3649
Contact:

Deandra Barnes, Director

deandrab@cypresshills.org

Middle School 

 

Cypress Hills Community Learning Center at IS 171 and Highland Park Community School 
528 Ridgewood Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208-1730
(718) 635-2518
Contact:

Yaritza Cano, Campus Director

yaritzac@cypresshills.org

IS302 Campus

Liberty Avenue Middle School SONYC Program
350 Linwood Street
Brooklyn,
NY 11208
Contact:

Najeri Cox-Grant, After-School Director

najericg@cypresshills.org
Website: Liberty Avenue Middle School Afterschool Program

Vista Academy SONYC Program

350 Linwood Street

Brooklyn, NY 11208

Contact:  Brittanyw@cypresshills.org

Brittany Wilkinson, After-School Director 
Website: Vista Academy Afterschool Program

Cypress Hills/East New York Beacon at JHS 218 

370 Fountain Ave Room 132

Brooklyn, NY 11208

(718) 277-3522
Mobile: (860) 591-9531

Nkenge Wiggins, After-School/Summer Program Director

nkengew@cypresshills.org

Summer Camp Sites

Elementary School

PS 7

858 Jamaica Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:

Latanya Simpson, Program Director

latanyas@cypresshills.org

(718) 235-2345
Fax: (718) 827-4004 (Attn: CHLDC)

 

PS 65
700 Jamaica Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:

Brenda Gerena, Director
kristeng@cypresshills.org
t:(718) 235-2223 ext.6172

PS/IS 89 Cypress Hills Community School 

265 Warwick Street
Brooklyn, NY 11207
Contact:

Yasirys Pichardo, Director
Office: (718) 964-1180 ext.1111

YasirysP@cypresshills.org

Cypress Hills/Cityline Beacon PS 214 Campus

2944 Pitkin Avenue Gym Room #2

Brooklyn, NY 11208

Contact:

Romualdo Vasquez, Beacon Director

Office:(718)-647-1740, ext, 2157

Cell: (347) 684-6062

Romualdov@cypresshills.org

PS 677

605 Shepherd Avenue, Room 230D
Brooklyn, NY 11208-3649
Contact:

Deandra Barnes, Director

deandrab@cypresshills.org

Middle School

Cypress Hills Community Learning Center at IS 171 and Highland Park Community School 
528 Ridgewood Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208-1730
(718) 635-2518
Contact:

Yaritza Cano, Campus Director

yaritzac@cypresshills.org

 

IS302 Campus

Liberty Avenue Middle School SONYC Program
350 Linwood Street
Brooklyn, NY 11208

Contact:

Najeri Cox-Grant, After-School Director

najericg@cypresshills.org
Website: Liberty Avenue Middle School Afterschool Program

Vista Academy  SONYC Program

350 Linwood Street

Brooklyn, NY 11208

Contact:  Brittanyw@cypresshills.org

Brittany Wilkinson, After-School Director 
Website: Vista Academy Afterschool Program

Cypress Hills/East New York Beacon at JHS 218 

370 Fountain Ave Room 132

Brooklyn, NY 11208

(718) 277-3522
Mobile: (860) 591-9531

Contact:

Nkenge Wiggins, After-School/Summer Program Director

nkengew@cypresshills.org

bottom of page