Senator Montgomery joins colleagues and neighbors to celebrate Fort Greene Council Inc.’s Lease Signing

Senator Velmanette Montgomery joins New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Public Advocate Letitia James, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Assemblyman Walter Mosley and Councilmember Laurie Cumbo and members of the community to celebrate Fort Greene Council Inc.’s 10-year lease renewal for 966-972 Fulton Street. The building is home to the Young Minds Child Care Program, the Grace Agard Harewood Neighborhood Senior Center, and the 966 Jazz Program. After serving the area for over 40 years, contract disputes led to a lengthy battle for funding and put what many residents view as a community staple in jeopardy. 

"I am so pleased that the Grace Agard Harewood Senior Center and Young Minds Day Care will be able to remain in their home,” said State Senator Velmanette Montgomery. “It is important that we demand quality services stay in our communities and I am so proud of my friends, neighbors and colleagues who stepped up to support these programs. I would especially like to thank my Councilwoman for her leadership in preserving these two important institutions in our community."

“This is the result of working together. Our effort to keep 966 and 972 Fulton Street involved everyone from senior citizens to four-year-olds. We had support from Black people, White people and everyone in between. You had rich and poor, young and old, people from the neighborhood and high-level elected officials fighting for this. This victory shows that when we unite, and are diligent and persistent, we can hold on to the treasures of our community and interrupt the vicious cycle of gentrification,” said Council Member Laurie Cumbo.

“We’d like to thank our landlord Jim Arjento, Council Member Laurie Cumbo, and all of our parents, seniors and community members for standing with us through the struggle and keeping the fight up for the past two years to make this possible,” said Claudette Macey, Executive Director of Fort Greene Council, Inc.

The celebration was marked by a drum performance from the children of the Young Minds Day Care as well as a line dancing display from the seniors of the Grace Agard Harewood Senior Center. 

“It warms my heart to witness our kids learning and our seniors leading a vibrant and active lifestyle. Programs like this are really the soul of our city, and I will do everything in my power to preserve them. We want to continue to work with the De Blasio administration to make sure that the brightest parts of our community are not taken away from us through a simple application process. In the meantime, I’m proud to stand here and claim this victory for district 35!” said Council Member Cumbo.