Our Mission

 

Our Mission and Vision

Marcy Houses Memorial Scholarship Fund exists to encourage and motivate post-secondary students from the Marcy Houses and other low income NYCHA developments in the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, NY, and strategize with them to complete a course of study. Our vision is higher education, economic achievement and social well-being for students and their families. In service of this vision, we provide financial support and mentorship to college or trade school students and engage in outreach initiatives to all who live in the Marcy Houses and other NYCHA developments in Bed-Stuy. (Marcy Houses Memorial Scholarship Fund, Inc. is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit; federal EIN: 84-2758847)

About the Marcy Houses & Other NYCHA Developments

Nearly 13,000 residents live in the five NYCHA developments in our immediate focus area: Marcy Houses, Sumner Houses, Tompkins Houses, Armstrong Houses, and Lafayette Gardens. According to the 2020 Resident Data Book produced by the New York City Housing Authority, the average income for residents of the Marcy Houses was $27,986 in 2020 and over 40% of Marcy residents are between the ages of 18 and 50. Extrapolating this data to the other Bed-Stuy developments means there are thousands of potential candidates for post-secondary education in the Bed-Stuy community. Our program welcomes any resident who is pursuing post-secondary education, regardless of age.

The Marcy Houses Scholarship and Mentorship Program

Our program is offered exclusively to Marcy & NYCHA Bed-Stuy residents. Program participants will be granted financial support and active engagement with a mentor who is paired with the student based on interests and experience. The mentorship program also includes a monthly peer-group meetup.

Four Program Pillars guide our workshops and learning activities

1) The School Experience, 2) Money Management, 3) Career Exploration, and 4) Community Service all are essential to the development of well-rounded young adults. Helping students regulate their emotions, communicate effectively and build healthy relationships is also important, so social-emotional learning is weaved into every learning experience and student interaction.

We are dedicated to helping students navigate college or trade school, supporting their success with financial planning, guiding them towards meaningful careers, encouraging them to participate in community service and celebrating their success along the way.

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Our Values

  • We pursue honorable initiatives in a way that is honest, transparent and ethical. We are a good steward of the resources made available to the organization. We have standards for financial procedures and internal controls. We have the skills and commitment to accomplish our mission.

  • We recognize and work to combat the structural forces that have harmed some groups while benefiting others. We prioritize measurable change in the lives of people of color because systemic racism impacts all individuals and communities.

  • We believe in the limitless potential of young people and choose to invest in them as the key to a brighter future for our communities and our world.

  • We listen with empathy and respect for one another, valuing individual experiences and feelings while treating people with kindness and dignity – even in the face of conflict. We believe in being open, patient, accepting, respectful and giving.

  • We collaborate with a variety of partners in the community. We complement rather than duplicate existing resources. By working together, fostering open communication, furthering understanding, and building caring and supportive environments, we can achieve something bigger than we could alone.

For Not By Myself Alone!

Beyond the mentoring offered as part of the Scholarship, selected students will also have opportunities to serve as mentors themselves. Additionally, the Marcy Houses Memorial Scholarship Fund, Inc. will form linkages with high school guidance counselors, advisors, the community school board and other community-based organizations to encourage students to pursue higher education/career training and to apply for any scholarships offered through the Fund.