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New Heights Receives Prestigious Robert Woods Johnson Foundation Sports Award

RWJF Recognizes New Heights as a Sports Leader Building a Culture of Health

New Heights is thrilled to be one of ten organizations that have been selected as 2022 winners of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Sports Award.

Since 2015, this award has recognized professional sports teams, athletes, coaches, and community-based organizations that use sports to catalyze and sustain changes to make communities healthier places to live, learn, work, and play. RWJF lifts up organizations that bring a deep understanding of community needs and acknowledge the power of sports to connect us and make us healthier, no matter our race, gender, abilities, or economic background. This award program will be coming to a close this year.

Click here to see the announcement!

New Heights uses basketball as a “hook” to engage youth, help them access high quality educational opportunities, and instill in them the values and life skills that will prepare them for success in life beyond sports.

“On behalf of our Board, staff and especially our student-athletes, thank you to the RWJF for recognizing the important work we do at New Heights to help young people develop the academic and athletic skills to support physical and mental health throughout their lives. We are deeply honored to receive the RWJF Sports Award, which comes at a critical time as we expand our programs and our organization to ultimately reach thousands of additional youth and families in Brooklyn and throughout New York City.”

—Ted Smith, Executive Director



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BK Reader: James Harden Hosts Basketball Clinic in BK to Celebrate Nets and Adidas Partnership

The Brooklyn Nets and Adidas announced a partnership geared at growing youth basketball

More than 130 young people flocked to Bedford Union Armory on Monday to get tips and tricks from Nets star James Harden.

The clinic was held in celebration of a new multiyear partnership between the Brooklyn Nets and Adidas that is centered around connecting with young people through basketball. The newly-named Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy presented by Adidas aims to grow the game on a grassroots level throughout Brooklyn and beyond.

“This is something I’ve been missing in this last year and a half since the pandemic. Just to be in front of these kids means a lot to me,” Harden said.

“I was in their position, just a kid trying to figure out life and basketball helped me do that. Hopefully I can inspire them to be great.”

The youth academy was founded in 2016 and has since welcomed more than 30,000 kids to over 450 events while working with more than of 225 community partners, ultimately reaching 60,000 people, the Nets said.

As part of the partnership, Adidas will become the preferred merchandise and equipment provider for all of the academy’s programs and select James Harden adidas apparel will also be available for Nets fans to purchase in the team store.

John Abbamondi, CEO of Nets and Barclays Center parent company BSE Global, said the companies were “thrilled to advance our shared commitment to growing grassroots basketball through the Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy.”

 “The Academy teaches children many important life lessons and yesterday’s clinic with James Harden was the beginning of our work with adidas to extend our community impact.”  

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NBA.COM: James Harden Surprised Youth Players at Brooklyn Nets Clinic

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By Tom Dowd

NETS ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR BROOKLYN NETS BASKETBALL ACADEMY PRESENTED BY ADIDAS

The Brooklyn Nets came out to support James Harden and the launching of the newly named Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy presented by adidas at a Monday afternoon clinic in Brooklyn.

Harden surprised the 130 youth basketball players in attendance with his appearance, drawing a wave of cheers as a welcome upon his arrival. He was joined by Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center CEO John Abbamondi, general manager Sean Marks, head coach Steve Nash, and assistant coaches Adam Harrington and Royal Ivey.

“I love doing this, and then obviously whatever we went through in the pandemic I kind of lost sight of all of it, but now just being back outside and letting these kids feel my energy, I’m all for it,” said Harden. “They’re young and just to be in their presence it’s an unbelievable feeling. They get to come and work hard and listen to their coaches and then I get an opportunity to step on the court and teach them a little thing here and there. What more can you ask for?”

Voice of the Nets Olivier Sedra served as MC for the event, tipping things off with a Q&A session with Abbamondi and then with Harden, who personally signed a pair of sneakers for the participants in the event’s shooting contest.

All in attendance received a Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy presented by adidas t-shirt and a ticket to Tuesday night’s game at Barclays Center against the New York Knicks.

“I feel like the youth is the next generation and they’re very special,” said Harden. “They need guidance. They need help. I feel like it’s part of my job to dish that out. Whatever way I can, whether it’s academies like this or other ways, just trying to dish the experience and the knowledge I have, dish out that hope. If I can try to put some hope in these kids, I feel like I’ve done my job.”

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Nets Daily: James Harden takes to Brooklyn gym to initiate Nets-Adidas youth partnership

View and listen to the full story here.

To celebrate the launch of a partnership between the Nets and adidas, the Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy and James Harden hosted a clinic for more than 130 youth from six community organizations Monday at the Carey Gabay Recreational Complex not far from Barclays Center.

“This is something I’ve been missing in this last year and a half since the pandemic. Just to be in front of these kids means a lot to me,” said Harden. “I was in their position, just a kid trying to figure out life and basketball helped me do that. Hopefully I can inspire them to be great.”

He also tweeted out his excitement...

The Nets guard led a contingent of Nets staffers to the cavernous gym, part of the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center, the former Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights.

He was joined by Nets CEO John Abbamondi, Sean Marks, Steve Nash, and assistant coaches Adam Harrington Royal Ivey and announcer Olivier Sedra.

Harden and teammates Cam Thomas, Bruce Brown and Day’Ron Sharpe all have personal endorsement deals with adidas.

Harden, now in his second season with Brooklyn, had been heavily involved with community efforts in Houston before the global pandemic hit and he was traded to the Nets. The partnership is another indication that the relationship between team and player remains strong. Harden is eligible for an extension come July,

The Nets and adidas multi-year partnership will be centered on growing the youth academy. The newly named “Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy presented by adidas” will have the support of the global sports and lifestyle brand in a variety of ways, according to a statement released by BSE Global, the Nets parent company.

As part of the deal, adidas will become the preferred merchandise and equipment provider for all of the Academy’s programs. Select James Harden adidas apparel will also be available for Nets fans to purchase in the team store, Brooklyn Fanatics, at Barclays Center. Additionally, adidas and the Nets will create customized digital content featuring Harden and his future adidas Basketball footwear.

Julia Smith, who has three decades of coaching experience, has been a Head Clinician with the Academy for the last three years.

“They get really pumped,” said Smith of the kids that participate throughout the year. “It’s always pleasing to me. To get a kid that doesn’t play basketball and doesn’t get discouraged and didn’t give up, 100 percent those are the things that make our day.”

The Academy was founded in 2016 and since then it has welcomed more than 30,000 kids to over 450 events while working with upwards of 225 community partners, ultimately reaching 60,000 people.

“We are thrilled to partner with adidas and advance our shared commitment to growing grassroots basketball through the Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy,” said Abbamondi. “The Academy teaches children many important life lessons and yesterday’s clinic with James Harden was the beginning of our work with adidas to extend our community impact.”

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The New York Carib News: Mayor de Blasio celebrates grand opening of Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center

View full story here.

Mayor de Blasio, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), members of the Owens family, and elected leaders today celebrated the grand opening of the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center.

The state-of-the-art, 60,000 square-foot retrofitted drill shed will serve Crown Heights as a neighborhood recreation center, complete with a 25-meter, six-lane competitive swimming pool, basketball courts, and a multi-purpose court able to accommodate a wide variety of sports, including soccer and community programming.

“Investing in our people and communities, especially in ones that have often been overlooked, is how we build a recovery for all of us,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center will provide New Yorkers a place to thrive and grow for generations to come.”

“The Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Center is a transformational project that exemplifies New York City’s commitment to providing historically underserved communities with critical resources for generations to come,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. “This center honors the legacy of Congressman Owens — a tireless advocate for the residents of Crown Heights. I want to thank all of the leaders who partnered together to help bring this vision to fruition as we continue to work towards a Recovery for All.”

“The Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Center is rooted in community and is for the community,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Rachel Loeb. “NYCEDC and our partners worked hard to deliver a recreational center that captured former Congressman Major Owens’ vision, a place where people of all ages, all walks of life and from different communities could come together and have access to critical services and programming that open doors to opportunity. Now, children, families and seniors can benefit from this center for years to come and be inspired when they walk inside. We thank the Mayor, the State, Majority Leader Cumbo, BFC Partners, the Community Advisory Committee, our nonprofits, and all who worked on and supported this project.”

“Congressman Major Owens had a vision for Central Brooklyn, and this new community resource makes real one part of that vision — providing Central Brooklyn’s communities with the world-class recreational and educational resources they deserve,” said Chris Owens, son of the late Congressman Major R. Owens. 

“The new Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Center will offer needed recreational and enrichment opportunities for the surrounding community. We have seen in the past year how young people in underserved areas can fall victim to cycles of violence when they are not given proper outlets, and Crown Heights was no exception. By ensuring local kids have a place to go, and effective youth programming at their fingertips, this center will ensure we are creating a safer, healthier Crown Heights for all residents. In particular, I am very proud to have allocated funding toward the new Brooklyn Pride Center headquarters inside the armory, which will be a critical resource for the borough’s LGTBQ+ community. I thank Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo and all the local stakeholders for ensuring this center serves the needs of the community,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

“Former Congressman Major Robert Odell Owens committed his life to advocating for those who have been unfavorably impacted by unjust systems,” said Council Member and New York City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo. “Whether it was speaking out on civil rights, disability rights, education rights, and furthermore, all aspects of social justice, he did so with conviction, compassion, clear vision, and he delivered. The Major R. Owens Health & Community Wellness Center is a reflection of years of dedication from Major Owens, and all those who were focused on the bigger picture both then and now, a testament to those who had the capacity to see how this space could support and enhance the rich and unique communities within Crown Heights and beyond. The hard work between BFC Partners, NYCEDC, Community Board 9, and my office has revived the Bedford Union Armory as the jewel of Crown Heights, and I look forward to all the generations who will learn, grow, and thrive within this great community.”

The wellness center is now open to the public. Standard memberships for the gym within the center cost $30 per month, while seniors and low-income adults below the 200% Federal Poverty Level can join for $10 per month and youth memberships are as little as $8 per month. Additionally, 50% of memberships will be discounted to $10 per month for residents who live in Community Board 9.

The Major Owens Center will also welcome a variety of tenants to provide the following services and community programming at an accessible rate. With 35,000 square feet of office space for nonprofits, members will have access to a number of Brooklyn community-based organizations that will be permanently housed at the Center, including the Boys’ Club of New York will be the operator of the gym at the Center, providing high quality and diverse programming to the community.

Other local groups offering classes and programs include Imagine Swimming, Inc.; New Heights Youth; Brooklyn Pride; Digital Girl, Inc.; Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy; Globall Sports Center; and Betty Carter Auditorium for the Arts (BCAA). The partners who operate classes, camps, and programs at the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center will work to ensure that their offerings are available to those across the Crown Heights community.

The Major Owens Center also has an onsite cogen plant, which will meet all of the project’s heating, cooling and electrical demand, effectively taking the entire 500,000 square-foot project off the ConEd grid, and providing safe haven to the community during brownouts or blackouts during periods of extreme heat.

Also part of the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center project is 415 units of housing, 60% of which will be much needed affordable housing for low income New Yorkers, as well as a 25,000 square-foot health center, run by Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center. These projects are expected to be completed by 2023.

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BK Reader: Excitement Fills Bedford Union Armory as Major Owens Community Center Officially Opens

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By Anna Bradley-Smith

The road may have been long and windy, but on Wednesday the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center officially opened its doors to the community.

In a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included African dance and drumming performances, blessings, speeches, many comments of congratulation and awe, the overwhelming sentiment was “we did it.”

The 60,000 square-foot armory building, formerly used to store cavalry and horses but which has been left in disrepair, has been retrofitted as a neighborhood recreation and community center, complete with a 25-meter, six-lane competitive swimming pool, basketball courts, and a multi-purpose court.

The center also includes 35,000 square feet of office space for nonprofits and is now a permanent home for Brooklyn Pride, Digital Girl, Inc., and Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy, and more. The Boys Club of New York will be the operator of the gym at the center, and Imagine Swimming, Inc., New Heights Youth and Globall Sports Center will offer classes to local members that include basketball, soccer, swimming, boxing and fencing.

The center also includes the Betty Carter Auditorium for the Arts (BCAA) and has a 25,000 square-foot health center, run by Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center.

The Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center has had its share of controversy, centered mostly around whether the new development would be truly affordable to existing residents or would increase the tides of gentrification to the neighborhood.

As part of the deal to convert the City-owned armory into the recreational center and housing, residents were promised a share of affordable apartments and low-cost, accessible activities at the center.

To satisfy that requirement, BFC Partners, who developed the center, has said that Imagine Swimming will offer 9,000 lessons per year at $10 rather than $50; New Heights, which is the center’s basketball operator, will offer free or low cost basketball clinics and leagues; there will be 250 discounted memberships for Community Board 9 members; Globall Sports Center, which will operate the multi-sport synthetic turf, will run soccer clinics and lessons at $10 versus $50 per hour for Community Board 9 residents; amongst other community benefits.

Standard memberships for the gym within the center are $30 per month, while seniors and low-income adults below the 200% Federal Poverty Level can join for $10 per month and youth memberships are around $8 per month.

Councilmember Laurie Cumbo, who was instrumental in seeing the center come to life, has faced harsh criticism for her role in backing the project, but on Wednesday said the hard work that went into the development had revived the Bedford Union Armory “as the jewel of Crown Heights, and I look forward to all the generations who will learn, grow, and thrive within this great community.”

“Former Congressman Major Robert Odell Owens committed his life to advocating for those who have been unfavorably impacted by unjust systems,” she said.

“The Major R. Owens Health & Community Wellness Center is a reflection of years of dedication from Major Owens, and all those who were focused on the bigger picture both then and now, a testament to those who had the capacity to see how this space could support and enhance the rich and unique communities within Crown Heights and beyond.”

The $256 million project was completed in a partnership between the de Blasio administration, New York City Economic Development Corporation, members of the Owens family and Crown Heights community, and BFC Partners. It also includes 415 apartments, 260 of which will be affordable — set aside for families of three making up to $58,000 a year. Around 30 of those units are earmarked for formerly homeless individuals.

On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio reiterated one of the most important things in a community was having safe spaces for children to play and learn, and he congratulated Cumbo on her hard work and perservarance throughout the project

“Investing in our people and communities, especially in ones that have often been overlooked, is how we build a recovery for all of us,” he said.

“The Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center will provide New Yorkers a place to thrive and grow for generations to come.”

Chris Owens, son of the late Congressman Major R. Owens, added: “Congressman Major Owens had a vision for Central Brooklyn, and this new community resource makes real one part of that vision — providing Central Brooklyn’s communities with the world-class recreational and educational resources they deserve.”

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Patch.com: Bedford Union Armory Community Center Opens In Crown Heights

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By Anna Quinn

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — The long-awaited — and often controversial — community center at the center of Crown Heights' Bedford Union Armory transformation has officially opened its doors to the public.

The building, now called the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center, celebrated its grand opening Wednesday with a ribbon cutting and activities in its new 60,000-square-foot facilities.

The opening comes four years after a hotly-debated deal between the city and developers BFC Partners to build the recreation center while converting part of the property into housing.

"The Major R. Owens Health & Community Wellness Center is a reflection of years of dedication from Major Owens, and all those who were focused on the bigger picture both then and now, a testament to those who had the capacity to see how this space could support and enhance the rich and unique communities within Crown Heights and beyond," said Council Member Laurie Cumbo, who spearheaded the deal.

"The hard work between BFC Partners, NYCEDC, Community Board 9, and my office has revived the Bedford Union Armory as the jewel of Crown Heights, and I look forward to all the generations who will learn, grow, and thrive within this great community."

The new community center includes a 25-meter, six-lane competitive swimming pool, basketball courts and a multi-purpose area to be used for a variety of sports and community programming. It also includes 35,000-square-feet of office space for nonprofits, including the Boys' Club of New York, who will operate the gym.

Price points for the center, unveiled earlier this fall, include $30 per month standard memberships and discounted $10 rates for seniors and 250 Community Board 9 members.

Opponents of the Bedford Union Armory project have long questioned whether the community center would be accessible to the neighborhood, where, as THE CITY reported, 45,000 people would qualify for those low-income memberships.

The community center will also offer a long list of classes through local organizations, including New Heights Youth, Brooklyn Pride, Digital Girl, Inc., Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy, Globall Sports Center, Betty Carter Auditorium for the Arts (BCAA) and Imagine Swimming, who will run the pool.

The residential portion of the Armory project, which will bring 415 homes, is expected to be completed by 2023. 250 of the units will be set aside as affordable.

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Mayor de Blasio Celebrates Grand Opening of Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center in Crown Heights

View the full video and story here.

New center will offer sports and educational classes, camps and programming for children and community members, including free, low-cost and discounted opportunities to ensure access regardless of income

NEW YORK — Mayor de Blasio, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), members of the Owens family, and elected leaders today celebrated the grand opening of the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center. The state-of-the-art, 60,000 square-foot retrofitted drill shed will serve Crown Heights as a neighborhood recreation center, complete with a 25-meter, six-lane competitive swimming pool, basketball courts, and a multi-purpose court able to accommodate a wide variety of sports, including soccer and community programming. 

“Investing in our people and communities, especially in ones that have often been overlooked, is how we build a recovery for all of us,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center will provide New Yorkers a place to thrive and grow for generations to come.”

“The Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Center is a transformational project that exemplifies New York City’s commitment to providing historically underserved communities with critical resources for generations to come,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. “This center honors the legacy of Congressman Owens -- a tireless advocate for the residents of Crown Heights. I want to thank all of the leaders who partnered together to help bring this vision to fruition as we continue to work towards a Recovery for All.”

“The Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Center is rooted in community and is for the community,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Rachel Loeb. “NYCEDC and our partners worked hard to deliver a recreational center that captured former Congressman Major Owens’ vision, a place where people of all ages, all walks of life and from different communities could come together and have access to critical services and programming that open doors to opportunity. Now, children, families and seniors can benefit from this center for years to come and be inspired when they walk inside. We thank the Mayor, the State, Majority Leader Cumbo, BFC Partners, the Community Advisory Committee, our nonprofits, and all who worked on and supported this project.”

“Congressman Major Owens had a vision for Central Brooklyn, and this new community resource makes real one part of that vision -- providing Central Brooklyn's communities with the world-class recreational and educational resources they deserve,” said Chris Owens, son of the late Congressman Major R. Owens.  

“The new Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Center will offer needed recreational and enrichment opportunities for the surrounding community. We have seen in the past year how young people in underserved areas can fall victim to cycles of violence when they are not given proper outlets, and Crown Heights was no exception. By ensuring local kids have a place to go, and effective youth programming at their fingertips, this center will ensure we are creating a safer, healthier Crown Heights for all residents. In particular, I am very proud to have allocated funding toward the new Brooklyn Pride Center headquarters inside the armory, which will be a critical resource for the borough’s LGTBQ+ community. I thank Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo and all the local stakeholders for ensuring this center serves the needs of the community,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

“Former Congressman Major Robert Odell Owens committed his life to advocating for those who have been unfavorably impacted by unjust systems,” said Council Member and New York City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo. “Whether it was speaking out on civil rights, disability rights, education rights, and furthermore, all aspects of social justice, he did so with conviction, compassion, clear vision, and he delivered. The Major R. Owens Health & Community Wellness Center is a reflection of years of dedication from Major Owens, and all those who were focused on the bigger picture both then and now, a testament to those who had the capacity to see how this space could support and enhance the rich and unique communities within Crown Heights and beyond. The hard work between BFC Partners, NYCEDC, Community Board 9, and my office has revived the Bedford Union Armory as the jewel of Crown Heights, and I look forward to all the generations who will learn, grow, and thrive within this great community."

The wellness center is now open to the public. Standard memberships for the gym within the center cost $30 per month, while seniors and low-income adults below the 200% Federal Poverty Level can join for $10 per month and youth memberships are as little as $8 per month. Additionally, 50% of memberships will be discounted to $10 per month for residents who live in Community Board 9.

The Major Owens Center will also welcome a variety of tenants to provide the following services and community programming at an accessible rate. With 35,000 square feet of office space for nonprofits, members will have access to a number of Brooklyn community-based organizations that will be permanently housed at the Center, including the Boys’ Club of New York will be the operator of the gym at the Center, providing high quality and diverse programming to the community. 

Other local groups offering classes and programs include Imagine Swimming, Inc.; New Heights Youth; Brooklyn Pride; Digital Girl, Inc.; Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy; Globall Sports Center; and Betty Carter Auditorium for the Arts (BCAA). The partners who operate classes, camps, and programs at the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center will work to ensure that their offerings are available to those across the Crown Heights community.

The Major Owens Center also has an onsite cogen plant, which will meet all of the project’s heating, cooling and electrical demand, effectively taking the entire 500,000 square-foot project off the ConEd grid, and providing safe haven to the community during brownouts or blackouts during periods of extreme heat.

Also part of the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center project is 415 units of housing, 60% of which will be much needed affordable housing for low income New Yorkers, as well as a 25,000 square-foot health center, run by Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center. These projects are expected to be completed by 2023.

“Major R. Owens was a visionary. His passion and dedication towards public service will continue to inspire so many with this community center named in honor of him,” said Trenelle Gabay, wife of the late Carey Gabay. “In these unprecedented times a safe haven space where creative solutions and resources are needed to strengthen and improve lives. This community center will address issues in our communities today, but also dynamically adapt to solve the issues of tomorrow as well.”

"Mom would be honored to have a performing arts space that’s devoted to the betterment of her beloved Brooklyn community named after her,” said Betty Carter’s son, Myles Redding.

“After tremendous outreach, selling, convincing and just "you betta'," we are finally here! The point where all of our works will be measured, not just by Major Owens’ family, friends, students and others familiar with him, but community members and ourselves,” said Beverly Newsome, Ebbets Field TA President. “With every tour, I looked at each person's face as we passed the spaces to capture their reaction. We worked to provide as much information as possible to each question, not just to the person asking, also to the listeners. Every meeting, every decision, every presentation was for this moment. This is one of the biggest challenges I have ever experienced! Can you imagine years from now people will be using the space I helped to formalize? Wow!”

“This Center has already begun to live up to its promise as the place where young people from every racial, economic, and religious background can play, swim, and participate in activities, in a positive environment. The community’s needs and aspirations have been heard, and the result is amazing,” said Rabbi Eli Cohen, Executive Director of Crown Heights Jewish Community Council. 

“In 2008, Congressman Owens began to envision a future for the Armory as a full-time community center with recreational opportunities and gathering spaces for Crown Heights children, families, and local community stakeholders,” said Joseph Coello Sr., Chairman, Major R. Owens Community Ctr., Advisory Committee. “As we celebrated today’s ribbon cutting, we honor and cherish the legacy of the late Congressman Major R. Owens, our longtime advocate, our fearless leader, and trusted loved one.” 

“Brooklyn Community Board 9 is excited for the grand opening of the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center,” said Fred Baptiste, Chair of Community Board 9. “There is a critical need for enriching programs that provide positive outlets of physical and mental creative energy, training and skills for a 21st century economy, and the promotion of overall wellness. The Board looks forward to working with the various vendors and organizations in servicing the residents of the district and Central Brooklyn.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to stand alongside our partners in celebration of the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Center, welcoming in Crown Heights and Central Brooklyn residents. From afterschool programming and dance lessons to camps and lifesaving swim classes, the Major Owens Center will become a key part of the lives of local Brooklynites,” said Donald Capoccia, Principal of BFC Partners. “We are grateful for the support of our elected officials, community advocates and representatives, and nonprofit partners. All of it was necessary to bring this project to life, and we are ecstatic to begin providing safe, reliable and accessible programming and social services to this community.”

“We are excited to extend our mission rooted in youth empowerment to Brooklyn with The Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center,” said Carlos Velazquez, Chief Program Officer, The Boys’ Club of New York. “We want to thank Crown Heights for welcoming us into the neighborhood, and we look forward to bringing BCNY to you.”

“We cannot overstate how life-changing this new space for our College Bound program will be for thousands of underserved youth throughout New York City,” said Ted Smith, New Heights Executive Director. “Our new home at the Major Owens Center will give kids every advantage they need to thrive on the court, in the classroom and in their communities. We are delighted to become a part of this spectacular new community.”

“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to expand into Crown Heights and to develop new partnerships and activities that promote health and wellness for LGBTQ+ Brooklynites,” said Floyd Rumohr, Chief Executive Officer, Brooklyn Pride. “We are excited to learn what will best serve the community, whether that's fitness courses presented in tandem with our tenant neighbors, recovery programs, peer-led support groups, sexual wellness and STI prevention, or connecting our community with culturally appropriate health services. We also expect to just have a lot of fun with art classes, movie screenings, or game nights that will augment behavioral health services provided by Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. More information will be available at www.lgbtbrooklyn.org.”

“We are thrilled to be a part of this historical moment. For the first time Digital Girl, Inc. will be able to offer consistent STEM programming from our own dedicated space and soon to be a State of the Art Technology Center. The Center will be the first of its kind located within Central Brooklyn and will be accessible to the community for their digital needs,” said Michelle Gall, Executive Director of Digital Girl, Inc.

“Ifetayo starts from an African-centered perspective to help young children explore who they are, where they come from, and how to see themselves. These are some of the most important questions for a young person,” said Naima Oyo, Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy, Inc. Executive Director. “We are excited to be able to offer our community a space to COME HOME to at MOCC! A safe space to develop their identity, artistic talents, creative experiences, and gain a deeper understanding of their ancestral roots.”

“The rebirth of the West Indian American Carnival Association continues with the organization taking full occupancy at Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Center,” said Michelle Gibbs, Board Chair Of West Indian American Carnival Association (WIADCA). “We are excited to welcome a bright future for our organization at our new home. This move is definitely a huge step for our organization.  We will be able to provide additional programs and be more accessible to our youth, young adults and seniors within the community in ways we never imagined.”

“Since the beginning of discussions, six years ago, Imagine Swimming has been a committed partner and advocate in the development of the Bedford Union Armory. Swimming is a fundamental, lifesaving skill that, too often, does not find its way into underserved communities. With the opening of the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center, Imagine is thrilled to bring its programming to all - and save lives in the water,” said Casey Barrett, Founder and Co-CEO, Imagine Swimming, Inc.

“We are very excited to provide the community access to a state-of-the-art turf field,” said Peter Zaratin, Globall Chief Executive Officer. “The 60 x 40-yard field, with a 90-foot ceiling height, provides that open-outdoor space playing feeling, but with the benefits of being indoors while allowing multi-sport organizations the needed home to schedule multi-year programming.” 

“Marvel is thrilled to be part of the team that has preserved a significant piece of Brooklyn’s history and transformed it into a magnet for Crown Heights,” said Jonathan Marvel, founding partner of Marvel. “We oriented our design around this iconic early 20th-century structure while adding new homes for many, abundant community amenities and services, and a variety of recreational spaces, which are uncommon in New York. In addition to reusing the existing building, we incorporated sustainable features to reduce energy and water use that will lessen its impact on the environment.” 

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CBS News: Nonprofits Now Have New Home In Brooklyn, Thanks To Transformation Of Bedford-Union Armory

By Aundrea Cline-Thomas

View full story and video here.

NEW YORK (CBS New York) — After years of planning and debate, the Bedford-Union Armory has been transformed into a recreational facility and housing.

The complex was named after civil rights activist and former Congressman Major Owens in the spirit of his efforts to bring much-needed resources to the Brooklyn community, CBS2’s Aundrea Cline-Thomas reported Wednesday.

Nearly a whole city block of retrofitted space, a recreation area honoring slain former Gov. Andrew Cuomo aide Carey Gabay, complete with basketball courts and a swimming pool, is a long way from the origins of the Bedford-Union Armory.

“It was built for the New York State Calvary Troop C, so what used to happen here is the commanders would stand where we are now and they would observe the drills,” said Donald Capoccia, managing principal of BFC Partners.

Now the space embodies the hopes of former Rep. Owens, who the entire facility is now named after.

He envisioned it becoming a hub of opportunities for the underserved Crown Heights community.

“We tell our young people to say no to gangs, drugs, violence, but we don’t give them what to say yes to. This is what they have to say yes to,” City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo said.

Nonprofits now have a permanent home, like New Heights, which provides basketball and college prep classes to high school students, and the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, which will offer mental and behavioral health services, along with co-working spaces, for the LGBTQ community.

“For us to have safe brave spaces for us to be ourselves and not have to code switch when folks come into the room is very, very important,” said Floyd Rumohr, CEO of the Brooklyn Community Pride Center.

The project includes 415 new apartments. Residents initially raised concerns about gentrification, causing a change in the original plans that ended with 60% of units are designated as affordable housing.

“Ten percent of units will be transitional housing for those that will be coming out of a shelter. So, we made every effort to make sure this is truly affordable housing,” Cumbo said.

Nearly a decade in the making, what’s old is new again and the hope is to create a spark for the next generation.

The cost of memberships are provided on a sliding scale based on income, and ranges from $8 for youth to a standard rate of $30 per month.

For more information on the Bedford-Union Armory, the Brooklyn Community Pride Center and New Heights, please click here, here and here.

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Fast Company: Brooklyn is the gentrification capital of America. This $256 million experiment tries to change that

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By Nate Berg

Filling nearly a full city block in the lower-income Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, a gigantic barrel-vaulted building sits as a vestige of a distant past. The 67,000-square-foot building—about a professional soccer field worth of space—was home to a troop of horse riders for the New York State Cavalry when it was built in the late 1800s. Today, after years of vacancy and a takeover by the city of New York, a large-scale renovation has turned that historic space into a massive community-focused recreation center, with health services, offices for local nonprofits, and mixed-income housing.

The historic Bedford-Union Armory is now the Major Owens Health and Wellness Community Center. The former horse training shed with its high arched roof is now a bright, massive recreation space with three basketball courts, one soccer field, and a six-lane swimming pool. The former administrative building of the cavalry commander now houses heavily discounted offices and studios for community organizations. The project also includes a performing arts space with seating for 500 people, and a 25,000-square-foot federally qualified health center providing ambulatory, dental, psychiatric, maternal, and orthopedic care. More than 400 new apartments line the edge of the site. Built with some state and local grants and tax credits, the entire project cost about $256 million.

Designed by Marvel, the restored horse training structure and its former cavalry offices will now be home to a collection of nonprofits, with rents held at affordable rates for 99 years in order to provide small community-focused organizations some much needed stability.

“Throughout the city, for nonprofit organizations, no matter how good of a service they provide, they’re only able to provide for a short period of time because the cost of real estate just keeps going up and up and up, and eventually they’re priced out,” says Donald Capoccia, managing principal of BFC Partners, which developed the project. “The goal here was to give a number of nonprofits a permanent home.”

One of the nonprofits moving into the facility is New Heights, a basketball-based after-school academic program for children in fourth through twelfth grade. Before moving into the new community center, which has its ribbon cutting this week, New Heights had been nomadic for the past decade, according to executive director Ted Smith. “We used 12 to 15 sites throughout New York City,” he says. “Every year was a scramble for us to find gyms and classroom spaces in schools, churches, community centers. It’s been really challenging for us.” Moving into a long-term facility, he says, “creates consistency, it strengthens the organization, and it allows us to spend more time directly serving our kids and families.”

In exchange for creating these community assets, the developer was granted the right to build 415 units of rental housing, 260 of which are set at affordable rents with about 30 set aside for formerly homeless residents.

The city took ownership of the property in 2013 and its economic development corporation selected BFC Partners to redevelop it in 2015. The project was originally proposed to include 65 market-rate condos for sale, but that quickly hit a wall with the community. “They did not want this kind of housing built in their neighborhood. For pretty valid reasons,” Capoccia says. “They had a lot of concerns about gentrification in Crown Heights. They still do today.”

That led to a more community-focused project, with more than half of its housing units priced affordably and a community benefits agreement that offers deeply discounted access to the center’s recreational classes and fitness facilities. The community center will operate at no profit; rents and fees from the offices and sports facilities will cover the estimated $2.5 million in annual operating costs. (The developer will see a return on investment from the site’s market-rate housing.)

Capoccia says there are three other similar and underutilized armory buildings in other parts of the city. This project, which he calls the city’s first health and wellness community, could be a model for creating community assets while also developing housing that can provide a return.

“This very distressed community does not have any nonacademic space for children to play,” says Capoccia. “We definitely wanted to accomplish something and help the community, but we’re also making money.”

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Empire Entertainment: New Heights GameChangers Ball 2021

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Empire was proud to produce New Heights’ 5th annual gala, The GameChangers Ball, as an in-person event on October 21, 2021. This year’s gala held special significance, inviting guests for an exclusive first look at their new space at the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center in Crown Heights Brooklyn, featuring sports facilities, basketball courts, classrooms, office, and community spaces.

The gala began with a cocktail reception and a jazz performance by KingKlavé. Overlooking the basketball court, the guests viewed live basketball played by the New Heights youth members on the new court.

Guests were then seated for dinner and the main program at the community space which was transformed into a ballroom for this special occasion. Catering for the evening was presented by a special collaboration of two of the finest local caterers, Dining with Grace and Ginger Root, and desserts were provided by Brownstone Cheesecakes, a popular bakery based in Brooklyn.

While guests enjoyed dinner, the program consisted of an introduction to the new space, an awards ceremony to four special honorees, a live auction, and a call to action by New Heights executives. The honorees were Lance Thomas, New Heights Class of 2006, Board Member, Duke National Champion and NBA Veteran; Don Capoccia, Principal of BFC Partners; Amber Sabathia, Co-Founder & Executive Director at PitCCh In Foundation and Player Agent, CAA Baseball; and Bruce E. Mosler, Chairman of Global Brokerage at Cushman & Wakefield.

Working closely with New Heights, Empire served as the overall event producer, managing elements including venue, catering, décor, programming, and technical production. Empire is a leading producer of fundraising events and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and foundations for nearly three decades.

About New Heights:

New Heights Youth, Inc. is a non-profit sports-based youth-development and educational organization based in New York City.

New Heights creates opportunities and provides support for promising youth to fulfill their potential in the classroom, on the court and in the community. Their mission is to educate and empower promising underserved youth to be leaders, champions and student-athletes by developing the skills necessary for success in high school, college and life.

Specifically, the organization uses basketball as a “hook” to engage young men and women in the program, help them access high quality educational opportunities, and instill in them the values and life skills that will prepare them for success in life beyond sports.

Client Testimonial: Teaming up with Empire to produce our annual GameChangers Ball was one of the smartest decisions we made. Turning a century-old armory into a luxurious ballroom was a tall order, but Empire – and Sammy Kim in particular – planned every detail beautifully and within our budget. Thank you for guiding us on this journey and making our event vision a reality!!

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