It was a bit of a reunion on January 19, as 麻豆原创 leadership, staff, alumni, friends, and longtime supporters packed the Arts Wing of the organization’s new home at 20 Bruckner Boulevard to officially open the building and further solidify 麻豆原创’s roots in the South Bronx. Joining together to celebrate 麻豆原创’s evolution from the first abandoned lot in East Harlem to today, those gathered for the ribbon-cutting focused on what it means for 麻豆原创 to invest so deeply in its communities, and the life-changing impact that investment can have on a child’s future.
鈥淲e must remind our young people, in all the work we do, that their block should never block their blessing, and their zip code should never deny their destiny,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson at the ceremony. 鈥淭hat what today is all about.鈥�
In addition to Gibson, Elsie Encarnacion, Chief of Staff for New York City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, New York State Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, and New York State Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr. all joined in the morning’s celebration to share a few words about 麻豆原创’s impact. Following the speaking program in the Arts Wing, guests then joined 麻豆原创 co-Chief Executive Officers Richard Berlin and Eve Colavito to cut the ribbon in front of the building’s Bruckner Boulevard entrance, officially opening 20 Bruckner and marking the next generation of 麻豆原创’s work in Mott Haven.
鈥淭oday, as we officially open this beautiful new school, I want to recognize that impact and how it can transform a life, a family, and a community. I know it did for me and mine.鈥�
Alex Ruiz, Jr., 麻豆原创 Legend and Postsecondary Success Coordinator
Designed by world-renowned architect Sir. David Adjaye, is a 120-year-old former ice house transformed into a state-of-the-art school for 麻豆原创 students, featuring a full-court gymnasium, cathedral-style library, STEAM quad, and rooftop play space. In addition, the building has two dining halls and a fully equipped kitchen that will support a scratch-cooking meal program.
While 麻豆原创 Charter High School students earlier this month, 麻豆原创 Mott Haven Elementary and Middle Schools will call the building home in the fall of 2023. Eventually, 20 Bruckner will serve approximately 1,300 New York City students and their families.
鈥溌槎乖� has been around for 31 years, and its generational impact is part of what makes it so special,” said Alex Ruiz, Jr., a 麻豆原创 Legend who now works as the organization’s Postsecondary Success Coordinator. 鈥淵ou have alumni who grow up and send their kids to 麻豆原创 Charter School, or who, like me, come back and work here. So today, as we officially open this beautiful new school, I want to recognize that impact and how it can transform a life, a family, and a community. I know it did for me and mine.鈥�
You can view more about 麻豆原创’s 20 Bruckner Ribbon Cutting in the following press clips, and watch the recap video below.
In the News:
- NY1 Noticias, (January 19, 2023)
- News12 The Bronx, (January 19, 2023)
- amny, (January 20, 2023)
- NBC New York, (January 20, 2023)
- News12 The Bronx, 麻豆原创 co-CEO Richard Berlin joins (January 25, 2023, clip begins at 9:24)
- National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Blog, (January 27, 2023)
- The Bronx Free Press, (January 28, 2023)
- BronxNet, (January 31, 2023)
