Uptown Grand Central was founded by local small businesses in 2013, when mom-and-pop shops along East 125th Street were struggling to keep their doors open and repeatedly hearing that East 125th Street was not a place to bring children, family or friends. In 2016, we expanded to create Uptown Grand Central, a 501c3 nonprofit that works to build a thriving and vibrant neighborhood.

Our central work is to cultivate healthy and clean public spaces where community, culture and entrepreneurship can grow. Our Clean Team powered by Positive Workforce sweeps the East 125th Street corridor seven days a week, collecting 12,000 bags of trash per year in our bright yellow trashbags. We organize the Grandscale Mural Project, which brings together more than 100 local artists to transform half a mile of construction fencing with colorful murals, as well as Winter Lights and Uptown Flash, which make the street more festive and safe at night.

Since 2015, we've been the caretaker of the 125th Street Community Plaza located under the Metro-North tracks at 125th Street & Park Avenue, which now hosts neighborhood events such as community givebacks, disco parties and a year-round Farmstand in partnership with GrowNYC. We also create large-scale events to bring the community together, including Party On Park under and along the Park Avenue Viaduct, and the Harlem Night Market at La Marqueta. Over the past three years, we've organized three of East Harlem's Open Streets, located at 101st Street (East Harlem's Restaurant Row), 115th Street (La Marqueta) and Pleasant Avenue. You can also join us for a Hot Chocolate Ride, Horchata Ride or Mocktail Ride, where we explore local small businesses by bike.