Long term GOALS
We envision a future in which community members are inspired, educated, and elevated to take action to change our community.
Persistent cycles of poverty significantly diminish our mental health and our perception of ourselves, which has manifested into disenfranchisement, insecurity, and community apathy.
Through community organizing, we are committed to building the community power, knowledge, and strategic skills to make the Bronx the best it can be, as defined by the people who live here.
community advocacy
meaningful narrative change
issue PLATFORM
Based on countless conversations with community members and organizations, we have focused our community advocacy and narrative change work on the following four issues:
1
CRADLE TO PRISON PIPELINE
Too many of our young people are pushed out of schools and into the legal system. BLOC youth are organizing to:
Challenge unfair school discipline, housing insecurity, and over-policing.
Push for safe and affordable childcare so families can stay strong.
Use art, culture, and storytelling to tell their truth and change harmful narratives.
The BLOC led and facilitated the book publishing of six Bronxites who have experienced the cradle to prison pipeline. The Bronx Writes Back: The Cradle to Prison Pipeline has been included in the syllabi of multiple university courses and is part of the Bronx Collection at the NYPL.
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The Solutions Not Suspensions Bill (S1040B/A5691A) will make suspensions a last resort, not a first response to student discipline in schools.
Learn more here.
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Raise the Age NY (RTANY) is a public awareness campaign for fair and effective criminal legal policies. The coalition hopes to increase public awareness of NY’s new Raise the Age law and the need to ensure that its implementation creates a legal process that responds to all children as children and meets the rehabilitative needs of all children and youth.
Learn more here.
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The Youth Justice & Opportunities Act (S4330/A5293) proposes the creation of a new “young adult” status for individuals aged 19 to 25, offering protections similar to those granted to youthful offenders
Learn more here.
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The #Right2RemainSilent Bill (S878B/A2620A), also known as the Youth Interrogation Bill, would require youth under 18 have the opportunity to consult with counsel prior to police interrogation.
Learn more here.
2
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Everyone in the Bronx deserves safe, decent, and affordable housing. Families need homes they can count on—not apartments with no repairs, rising rents, or the threat of eviction. BLOC organizes tenants and neighbors to stand up to disinvestment and displacement. We fight for policies that protect affordable housing and support community-led solutions, so every family has a stable place to live.
3
YOUTH LEADERSHIP
Bronx youth deserve to be seen, heard, and respected as leaders right now—not just in the future. BLOC creates space for young people to speak out, organize, and use their creativity to change the Bronx for generations to come.
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The BLOC’s Youth Action Council (YAC) is a leadership body of the BLOC comprised of Bronx youth interested in ensuring that the work of the BLOC remains true and relevant to the needs of the community.
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The Next Generation Financial Justice Internship Pilot Program launched in 2024 to increase financial empowerment among youth and bridge the gap between community members and young people.
4
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Bronx residents have the right to a real voice in the decisions that shape our lives. Civic engagement means more than voting—it means being part of every decision, from neighborhood projects to city budgets. BLOC creates ways for people to join in participatory budgeting, speak out at forums, and hold leaders accountable. Together, we are building community power and making sure the Bronx shapes its own future.