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» Description
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In 1924, a group of prominent citizens of Cypress Hills and East New York raised money for a new YMCA, purchasing a full block on Jamaica Avenue from Shepherd to Highland Place. The completed building, known as the Highland Park YMCA, was dedicated in 1926. Situated directly across the street from the sprawling Highland Park, the building and its resident rooms provided a home away from home for members of the Armed Forces and also to young people far from their homes.
Until World War II, the Highland Park Y, part of the Brooklyn and Queens YMCA, had championship teams in gymnastics and swimming. Other members became prominent in baseball and prize fighting.
In the mid 1970s, the Highland Park Y and Catalpa Avenue branches merged as the Twelve Towns YMCA, serving the communities of Highland Park, East New York, Cypress Hills, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Rego Park, Howard Beach, Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth and Middle Village. Although these two branches eventually separated, the YMCA at Jamaica Avenue is still known as Twelve Towns because it continues to serve many members from all 12 communities.
In the early 1990s, Twelve Towns YMCA joined forces with the Eastern District YMCA and its Beacon School IS 111, serving the communities of Williamsburg and Bushwick to become known collectively as the North Brooklyn YMCA.
The Eastern District YMCA has operated programs in Williamsburg since its founding as the first Eastern District Association, in 1888. The Eastern District has operated out of the community center of the Borinquen Plaza Houses since 1974, in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority. In 1984, Eastern District YMCA was selected as the lead agency of the North Brooklyn Consortium of six community-based organizations.
The North Brooklyn YMCA currently operates six Virtual Y After-School Literacy Programs at schools throughout our service area. We also provide programs at Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizen Council's 296 Beacon and as a partner in the North Brooklyn Business Resource Center, located at 75 Lewis Avenue. Through our many programs and locations, the North Brooklyn YMCA serves 7,500 young people every year, and 4000 adults.
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