We believe that people working together have the power to change their communities and their country for the better.

Political and corporate leaders often don’t embrace change, unless they’re pressured by the people they serve. But too many people don’t realize they have potential to join forces and create change in their neighborhoods and across the country.

We work with the people who want to transform the world—from what it is to what they believe it should be. We challenge people to imagine the change they can accomplish, connect individuals and organizations to multiply their power, and mobilize people by the thousands to make their voices heard. We set audacious goals, create savvy strategies—and take on the powerful interests that stand in the way.

We are part of the Industrial Areas Foundation, the nation’s first and largest network of multi-faith community organizations—and we have seven decades of experience winning tough battles across the nation.  East Brooklyn Congregations was founded in September, 1980 in East New York and Brownsville.  While one visiting politician saw the “beginning of the end of civilization,” EBC leaders saw an opportunity to rebuild and grow.  Over the past thirty years, EBC leaders have built or helped rehabilitate more than 4000 houses and apartments, started two small high schools; and led countless actions to improve bus, postal and senior services, and the conditions of our parks and grocery stores. Our sister organizations passed the first living wage law in the country in Baltimore, and mobilized a grassroots army for the creation of universal health care in Massachusetts—both of which have become national models for just social policy.

Drawing on the proven power of person-to-person organizing, our work transforms communities and builds the local power necessary to create national change.

To see a brief video of some of the successes that EBC and other IAF chapters have had in the New York metro area: