News

Meet our New Board Chair, Marcia Bystryn

“It’s all the things I’ve always cared about, but right in my own backyard.”  Our new board chair at Goddard Riverside and the Isaacs Center has a wealth of experience with city and state issues. Marcia Bystryn says what drew her to get involved here is the chance to make a difference in her neighborhood.   […]

A collage of four photos showing a young person working on a computer, a young person showing off a dish he made, several people graduating, and a nurse assistant shaking a patient's hand

From Culinary to Computers, our Education and Workforce Classes are Enrolling Now!

Ready to take the next step toward achieving your dreams? The Isaacs Center is here to help! Our Education and Workforce program has multiple FREE classes starting in early February. For more information and to apply to any of these programs, go to linktr.ee/IsaacsEdWorkforce and fill out the form for that program. Workforce Training These […]

A Culinary Arts Grad Rises to the Top

Jezebel Gomez went through Culinary Arts training in 2022 and wowed the instructors with her teamwork and kitchen hustle. Clearly they weren’t the only ones who noticed: she got hired before she even graduated by her internship site, Hawksmoor, an upscale restaurant in the Flatiron District.   After spending a year fine-tuning her skills, Jezebel […]

Year-End Giving Guide: How to Donate Items

As the weather cools, many people start thinking about the holidays: What am I making for Thanksgiving dinner? What gifts do I get my family? Do I need to get out my warm boots?  The Isaacs Center also asks these questions, but on a much larger scale. No matter the season, we keep working with […]

Several women pose in elaborate dresses and sashes bearing the name of their country

“Events Like This Truly Make a Difference”: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

The Isaacs Older Adult Center honored Hispanic Heritage Month with vibrant cultural performances, activities, and traditional clothing.   Members representing different countries throughout Central and South America entered the dining room one by one to music from their country. They wore elaborate costumes and sashes with the country’s name.  America Paniagua was participating for her […]

Open House Highlights Isaacs Older Adult Center Offerings

Did you know— the Isaacs Older Adult Center doesn’t just have daily lunches? It also has fitness classes, a book club, daily shopping trips, bigger trips to Broadway and other destinations, activities in multiple languages, access to social workers, art classes and more. Membership in the Older Adult Center is free and open to anyone […]

Expanding Summer Options for Teens 

Beyoncé thumped out of the speakers. Staff and young people helped themselves to a full spread of barbecue, rice and beans and fried chicken. In the room next door, a lively pool game was underway.  That’s how the Teen Expansion program at our Youth Center brought another summer of good times to a close.   Teen Expansion is funded by the New York City Housing Authority to serve […]

Five people in aprons and hairnets pose in a commercial kitchen

Soup’s Up—and So is Fresh Produce

It was a steamy day in East Harlem, but the heat didn’t slow down our Soup’s Up staff. They were chopping up piles of perfectly diced tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers at their usual blinding speed.   Each week, Soup’s Up creates a heathy plant-based dish—in this case, a summery chickpea salad—and distributes it to older adults […]