project leader
Carey K
location
East 125th Street
(North East Harlem)
latest update rss
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the project

You may have noticed: Our community plaza is under construction! The NYC EDC and NYC DOT will be working there for a year or more to expand the sidewalks, install more lighting, add what's known as a "mega-crosswalk," and leave us with a new-and-improved plaza space.

The construction hasn't stopped us, however: Our year-round farmers market and exercise classes are still going full-force just across the street, and we're still working behind-the-scenes to bring you great community programming such as Harlem Restaurant Week in August, Party On Park in September, the Big Apple Crunch in October, Small Business Saturday in November, and Solstice Soul Train in December.

Why this crowdfunder? As we move out from under the train tracks, we need your help to strengthen our work east and west along the East 125th Street corridor.

In 2019, we plan to step up our street cleaning game with more workers and extended hours, plus cover nearly three blocks of East 125th Street with bright street art. Both of these projects take serious investment, and that's why we're calling on you!

the steps

Please consider supporting in whatever way you are able: Just $25 buys supplies for a farmers market demo, while a gift of $50 provides an exercise class that's free for the neighborhood. $100 covers four flats of flowers, $250 means more great street art, and $700 benefits the neighborhood with 24 hours of street cleaning. $1,000 doubled into $2,000 gets you your own swag of holiday lights!

Donations of any amount are welcome.

PLEASE NOTE: The New York State Health Foundation will provide a DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR MATCH for gifts up to $1,000. So $25 becomes $50, $100 becomes $200, $500 becomes $1,000, and $1,000 becomes $2,000. Gifts above $1,000 will be matched at the $2,000 level.

why we're doing it

Uptown Grand Central got its start back in 2013 as the New Harlem East Merchants Association (NHEMA), 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. With brooms in hand, merchants on the block between Fifth and Madison were joined by 40 volunteers from the neighborhood to hold their first-ever street clean-up.

As more merchants and community members learned of the efforts, we grew and were able to take on more ambitious projects. In 2016, we expanded to create Uptown Grand Central, a 501c3 nonprofit that works to support, strengthen and showcase all that is "grand" about our neighborhood, from small businesses to culture to healthy living to art. Our goal is to transform the East 125th Street corridor by putting advocacy into action.

Our work includes beautifying the area with supplemental street cleaning, seasonal plantings, holiday lights and bright street art; hosting community festivals such as Party On Park, Make Music New York and Solstice Soul Train; and promoting our local small businesses thorugh events such as Harlem Restaurant Week. Four years ago, we began the work of transforming the space under the Metro-North tracks at 125th Street & Park Avenue with activities including free exercise classes, live music, health screenings, a small business snack shop, and a year-round farm-fresh produce market.

By supporting this crowdfunder, you are casting your vote for northeast Harlem -- and for making East 125th Street a healthy, vibrant place to live, work and play!

budget

DISBURSED BUDGET (10.28.2019)
Project funding will be spent on community programming including street
clean-ups, seasonal plantings, exercise classes, art supplies for our
public art installations, live music and holiday lighting.
 


TOTAL RAISED = $22,765.00
ioby Platform Fee $35.00
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $682.95
TOTAL TO DISBURSE= $22,047.05
 
$25 -- KEEP IT CLEAN: Trash bags & gloves (The NYS State Health Foundation will double it to $50!)
 
$50 -- MAKE IT GREEN: Two flats of flowers (The NYS State Health Foundation will double it to $100!)
 
$100 -- GET 'EM MOVING: Exercise class (The NYS State Health Foundation will double it to $200!)
 
$300 -- POP OF COLOR: Public art supplies (The NYS State Health Foundation will raise it to $600!)
 
$500 -- GOOD VIBES: Community concert (The NYS State Health Foundation will raise to $1,000!)

 

 

PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $20,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $620
TOTAL TO RAISE = $20,655

 

updates

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photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Sylvia Caldwell
  • Addie Mae Collins children's service
  • Howell Binkley
  • Derrick T.
  • Anonymous
  • Tenisha Sterling
  • Marilyn J.
  • Christopher Cirillo-Ascendant Neighborhood Development
  • Jake Langbecker
  • michael f lythcott
  • Jan Tankey
  • Evan Kashanian, Artimus
  • Raffaela Petrasek
  • Positive Workforce Swag Holiday Lights!!!
  • Anonymous
  • Angela F.
  • Rebecca Mercer-White, PhD
  • Anonymous
  • Nadia D Chait
  • Talia
  • Joyce S.
  • Supporter
  • Anna Nathanson
  • James from Make Music New York
  • Anonymous
  • Veda S.
  • Diane Collier
  • Karen Jarvis
  • Levy Family
  • Lindsey S. Crane
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Alice B.
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Shawn
  • arlen z.
  • Anonymous
  • Drakeford Realty Group, LLC
  • Marilyn J.
  • Buy Local East Harlem
  • Anonymous
  • Katherine S.
  • Karanveer D.
  • Kate Aldinger
  • Wendy and Mike Evans
  • Pauline Douglas
  • Kat Peeler
  • CM
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • East Harlem neighbors