Child Center of NY Cornerstone Community Centers Honored with DYCD Awards

Our Cornerstone leaders have been making headlines!

Oceanside Cornerstone Program Director Nelson Sarweh, Ocean Bay Cornerstone Program Coordinator Darryl Devore, and Senior Program Director Rob Closs were honored with Legacy Leadership Awards at the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Cornerstone 15 gala earlier this summer, recognizing their dedicated service and commitment to excellence.

And that’s not all: Redfern Cornerstone Community Center Program Director Simeon Pollydore was selected as the recipient of the inaugural Cornerstone Most Valuable Professional (CMVP) Award, and The Child Center of NY as an organization was recognized with the Innovation in Youth Programming Award.

The gala marked the 15th anniversary of DYCD’s Cornerstone program and offered a meaningful opportunity to honor the collective impact of Cornerstone community centers across NYCHA housing communities citywide.

Cornerstone Community Centers, funded by DYCD and operated by community-based organizations like The Child Center of NY, serve as community hubs for children, teens, and adults. Across The Child Center’s six Cornerstones, our goal is to provide a safe and fun place for community members of all ages, and to provide them with a healthy, enriching environment through education, recreation, and the arts. In our afterschool programs, we work with young people to build character and set lifelong goals. Our dedicated teams make sure these centers are truly a place to grow for everyone.

Perhaps the best indication of the special place these centers hold in the community is how many people choose to be a part of them. In 2025, our Cornerstones served 7,544 participants through community events and outreach. For all age groups—elementary school through older adulthood—actual slots exceeded contracted slots. This means that more people participate than our contracts provide for, but we never turn anyone away. The most significant overage was in the adults group, where demand was almost double the contracted amount. Elementary, middle, and high school groups also exceeded contract goals by about 25–30 percent.

It has been our great privilege to be a place where our neighbors want to be. You can feel the sense of community the moment you walk through the door.

That strength of community is what prompted Alessandra Angarita, senior director of volunteerism for United Way of New York City, to say after her visit to Redfern Cornerstone Community Center, “The Child Center’s Redfern Cornerstone stands out as a true community hub. Watching residents walk in so comfortably and joyfully, you can immediately tell it feels like a second home for so many.”

The key, says Simeon, is listening to the community and offering programs and activities that meet their interests—and to do so in ways that encourage strong bonds to develop. For example, among Simeon’s many immeasurable contributions to Redfern Cornerstone was establishing the Women’s Empowerment group and, later, the Men’s Empowerment group. Participants love these groups so much that they ask each year for their return.

Simeon reflected on these and other achievements that benefit the community when he was honored with The Child Center’s 2024 Russell L. Carson Visionary Award. After receiving the CMVP award, Simeon said, “I am humbled and grateful to God for all of the gifts I have been given which allow me to do the wonderful things that I can. Being recognized as the Cornerstone Most Valuable Professional is incredibly meaningful. Creating a safe, fun, and light-filled environment for community members from any walk of life is truly a blessing, and I am thankful to be continuously inspired to keep learning, sharing, and making a difference.”

Oceanside Cornerstone Program Director Nelson Sarweh, recipient of a Legacy Leadership Award, echoed these sentiments: “It was truly an honor for me to be considered for such an award. Being a part of the Cornerstone Initiative when it began, it humbled me to see where it is after 15 years, knowing that I played a role in helping it grow and making a difference in young people's lives. The Cornerstone program has made a big difference in the community. The strength of the programs is the ability to offer services for all ages and to expose the community to new and innovative experiences. This award reminded me that the work that we do is appreciated not only by our communities that we serve, but also by our colleagues who are likewise doing this great service.”

Senior Program Director Rob Closs reflected on how far The Child Center has come in the past 15 years (actually, 16 years, since our Latimer Gardens Cornerstone was part of the "original 25" that opened in 2010!), thanks to our team’s dedication, passion, and commitment. “Looking back on the opening of our inaugural Cornerstone at Latimer Gardens in 2010, and now having the opportunity to support six thriving and impactful Cornerstones, is an outcome I couldn’t have imagined. This recognition is a reflection of the wonderfully committed staff and community that work to build, uplift, and find meaning in their contribution to work. Congratulations to our agency, the program leadership, and all of our staff, who made this recognition possible! It has been a gift to be able to serve and build with and in our communities.”

While all of us here at The Child Center were deeply and profoundly honored by these meaningful recognitions, we were not surprised. Child Center Chief Executive Officer Traci Donnelly put it best: “These recognitions are incredibly well-deserved, and I can honestly say I’m not surprised. It’s a reflection of the dedication, passion, and excellence that each of you brings to your work every day. We are so fortunate to have such an outstanding team across all of our Cornerstones. The impact you make in the lives of the communities you serve does not go unnoticed, and moments like this highlight just how meaningful that work is. I am genuinely proud to be part of this team and to work alongside all of you.”

You can see a list of all six of our Cornerstone Community Centers on our website.

If you are a community member, come on by! We’d love to see you.

If you would like to support a Cornerstone Community Center, you can visit our donation page or send us an email. It takes a village, as they say—and sometimes, it takes a city!