A Harlem Youth Center Still Thrives

A few years ago, Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis), a youth development group in West Harlem, opened a striking $22 million headquarters that drew design enthusiasts from all over New York. Its jagged glass facade, resembling an upraised hand, stood out boldly among the surrounding tenements.

In 2022, I called it an “architectural showpiece” but questioned whether its layout would be functional with 700 children moving through its quirky rooms and narrow hallways every day. I recently returned to see how it was holding up under that stress.

The building looked remarkably well-kept and cared for—a clear sign of pride from the community. Designed by Urban Architectural Initiatives, it still delivers a strong visual and cultural message: this isn’t a corporate building. It’s built for a different audience and mission.

During my visit, teens were creating art and working in the community garden next door, where BroSis oversees a major composting effort. The building’s expanded facilities have enabled the organization to grow its environmental programs across the city.

Mental health services have also grown, with new space for clinicians and social workers. There are now more after-school programs, from dance to art, and a professional kitchen that provides 40,000 meals annually—an upgrade from the old days of pizza and a cramped home kitchen.

BroSis boasts impressive outcomes: while the city’s graduation rate for Black and Latino students is 80 percent, BroSis’s rate is 100 percent. The organization also mentors students through college, helping them succeed at rates far above national averages.

Nationally, only about 18 percent of first-generation Black and Latino college students earn degrees within six years. At BroSis, that number is closer to 90 percent—thanks to its long-term commitment to young people, beginning as early as age eight.

But success brings new challenges. BroSis’s $12 million annual budget is under pressure as government funding dries up and corporations pull back from diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Some companies cite economic uncertainty or changing political winds.

Executive Director Khary Lazarre-White calls it a double whammy: federal cuts increase the community’s needs, while support simultaneously dwindles. When benefits are slashed, BroSis has to step in with food and legal services, especially for immigrant families.

Luckily, local foundations, private donors, and some corporations are helping bridge the gap, but the organization remains cautious about the future. Sustainability is an ongoing concern.

So what does this have to do with architecture? Everything. Buildings don’t exist in a vacuum—they reflect and respond to the needs and struggles of their communities. For BroSis, this space has become a symbol of hope, resilience, and imagination.

I once questioned whether its unconventional rooms would work. Now I see that they reflect the organization’s spirit—creative, adaptive, and bold. At a time of uncertainty, that message feels more vital than ever.