Citizens Committee for New York City

Citizens Committee's philosophy is to support disadvantaged New Yorkers based on self-identified needs in their communities. We empower passionate New Yorkers to make a difference through local projects, from transforming empty lots into community gardens, to hosting after-school workshops where kids learn about healthy eating, to organizing fun exercising opportunities such as canoeing on the Hudson River, and so much more. Our mission celebrates the opportunities, education, culture, and diversity that make New York City the greatest in the world, while also ensuring that it is cleaner, safer, and fairer for the most disadvantaged residents. Our work is based on a model that values the knowledge and importance of local people. Rather than imposing a "one-size-fits-all" approach, Citizens Committee encourages local residents to identify the needs of their community, develop a plan that engages at least 20 local residents, and taps into local resources. This helps to ensure that the work undertaken is culturally relevant, driven by local knowledge and people, addresses specific local needs, and takes advantage of existing resources. Moreover, by training and supporting local leaders, the work we support is often more sustainable than "parachute" projects designed and implemented by outsiders.

Citizens Committee was founded 44 years ago, in 1975, by Senator Jacob Javits and Newsweek Editor-in-Chief, Osborn Elliott, to encourage New Yorkers to volunteer their time to help get their city through the fiscal crisis. Our strength at Citizens Committee is the unparalleled connections to active groups in every corner of the city that we have built throughout our 44 years. We know them and we also know that, with just a little support, they do so much to enrich their communities. As new problems arise, these resident-led groups are able to respond quickly and flexibly to meet the unique needs of their neighborhoods.