Mission Statement
The mission of Cornerstone Support Services is to improve the quality of life in Central Brooklyn by developing and implementing education, housing, economic, health & social services programs.
The major goal of the corporation is to reduce disparities in the areas of technology, education, and housing currently being faced by members of the Bedford Stuyvesant community.
Technology
In this day in age, computer skills are no longer a luxury but a necessity. Cornerstone Support Services recognized a huge need in our community for computer related training and responded by creating a technology center. The technology center provides cutting-edge computer training workshops for a broad community audience. Our volunteers are equipped to train anyone from elementary school aged children to senior citizens. Our services cater to all levels of computer knowledge, whether you possess no computer skills, very little, intermediate or advanced, we are here to work for you. Our services include but are not limited to internet training, email etiquette, word processing software, spreadsheets, databases and web-design & development. Our goal is to provide our community members with the necessary tools to survive in a society, which is quickly becoming technologically driven.
Education
Cornerstone Support Services' Community Outreach Tutorial Program is a public service venture. The programs objective is to prepare the youth in our community for the newly instituted standardized New York State reading and mathematic examinations, which are held in January and March respectively. The tutorial program is held once a week and is free of charge to students in grades three through eight. In addition to test preparation, we also provide general educational support to any student who attends this program.
Housing
Cornerstone Support Services has moved to provide affordable housing for senior citizens and low to moderate income members of our community. A Housing Development Fund was created and funding was received from the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, The Community Preservation Corporation and the New York Landmarks Conservancy's City Ventures Fund, in the amount of $1.4 million to development of the Belmont Apartment Building into affordable housing. The Building is now home to nine families and is often referred to as a model of the Block. The Belmont is located at 547 Madison Street, and had been vacant for several years prior to our acquisition. "547 Madison Street represents a unique opportunity for us and our partners to preserve a beautiful building and at the same time create quality housing for New Yorkers
with a broad range of incomes," said HPD Deputy Commissioner Kimberly Hardy. |