Patch Picks: Local Non-Profits

You may not have heard of some of them, but these non-profits are toiling in the trenches and affecting the everyday lives of locals in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. Follow the links for location information.

This non-profit offers a computer lab for free, along with a variety of computer classes geared towards all skill levels. The overall goal of Snap is to provide low-income residents with the resources to make them better prepared to enter a job market that increasingly demands electronic skills.

Fort Greene Compost Project

This compost project has been going strong since 2005 — and is run entirely by volunteers. Every Saturday at Cumberland Street and DeKalb Avenue, at the Fort Greene Greenmarket, dedicated greenthumbs collect food scraps that are then hauled to nearby community gardens. The whole operation is sustained by people who are passionate about putting food waste to good use.

Founded in 1912, this school alongside BAM provides music education to a diverse student body. The school’s programming also reflects its diversity: it recently hosted a recital and fundraiser by Officer Chris Yip, who raised funds for the Chinese- American Planning Council. The school also recently launched a program called Mexicanidad that highlights traditional Mexican arts.

Pratt Area Community Council

Since it’s humble beginnings in the 1960s, PACC has evolved into a powerhouse on all issues pertaining to development and housing in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. Now, PACC is front and center on any discussions of affordable housing in new developments in the neighborhood, and has played a key role in the changes taking place on commercial strips like Myrtle Avenue and Fulton Street.

This non-profit serves an oft-neglected minority within a minority: black, elderly gays and lesbians. Founded 15 years ago, Griot Circle is a community for people who often feel they don’t have one. The group organizes gatherings and various events, and makes an effort to preserve and exalt the marginalized stories of its community.