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THE Y EXPANDS ITS REACH IN THE BRONX

A dream thirty years in the making is finally coming true as the YMCA opens two new branches in the Bronx.

The Northeast Bronx Y near the Edenwald Houses was delayed by the pandemic, but with support from Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Jr. this brand-new facility is now open and serving the community.

Community members got a sneak peak of the Northeast Bronx Y between April and July, when the gym served as a vaccination center. Now members can enjoy unique features such as a teaching kitchen for nutritional programming, a rooftop plaza and planting areas for gardening and agricultural programming, and a campuslike design incorporates the landscape and topography.

The Northeast Bronx Y has already hosted a number of VIPS—in addition to drawing many New York elected officials to the ribbon cutting, the Northeast Bronx Y was selected by Vice President Kamala Harris as a site to speak about the importance of community centers and to advocate for the passage of the Biden Administration’s “Build Back Better” agenda.

The La Central Y at the Hub will soon be joining the Y family and opening its doors to the community.•

(top) YMCA President and CEO Sharon Greenberger (l) shares a moment with Vice President Kamala Harris at the Northeast Bronx Y. (above, l to r) Council Members Kevin Riley and Vanessa Gibson, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Jr., then-Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr., YMCA President and CEO Sharon Greenberger, thenMayor Bill de Blasio, community leaders Shirley Fearon, Anthony Reid, and Alonzo de Castro, and Northeast Bronx Y Executive Director Meishay Gattis, and former Knicks player John Starks cut the ribbon at the new facility.

(upper left) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer talks about meeting community needs in the Bronx. (upper right) Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Jr. connects with community members.

(left) Congress Member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks with future leaders; (upper right) Governor Kathy Hochul addresses the crowd; (bottom right) Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson enjoys the new basketball court.