- unitid
-
{"value"=>"186111", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"b22787454", "type"=>"local_b"}
{"value"=>"MssCol 186111", "type"=>"local_call"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1962-2021", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1962/2021"}
{"value"=>"1964-1971", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1964/1971"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Block Communities, Inc. records"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"8 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"2.71 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Manuscripts and Archives</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Block Communities, Inc. (BCI) was a community organizing anti-poverty agency that operated in New York City from 1966 until 1968. Originating in East Harlem, the group consisted of community organizers who moved onto a city block, surveyed the residents, and spearheaded various community development programs. This collection consists of administrative materials, daily and weekly reports by block workers, and publicity materials that include moving images. The collection also holds latter day reflections from BCI alumni."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"Multiple languages"}
{"value"=>"English and Spanish."}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Borden, David A.", "type"=>"persname", "role"=>"pdr"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Block Communities, Inc. (BCI) was a community organizing anti-poverty agency that operated in New York City. Originating in the Manhattan neighborhood of East Harlem, BCI eventually extended into the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. Community organizers were assigned one city block, where they moved in, surveyed each of the residents, and, according to co-founder David Borden, \"gently organized them into interest groups that would pool their ideas and energies to solve local problems.\" By 1968, BCI supported over thirty organizers and blocks.</p> <p>It was founded in 1965 as the Block Development Project (BDP). In 1966, after the East Harlem anti-poverty program Massive Economic Neighborhood Development (MEND) hired many of the BDP members, a new board was formed with new interim financing and BCI began operations.</p> <p>BCI, after holding community meetings, helped to establish summer programs for young children that employed neighborhood teenagers, sparked and supported rent strikes, established daycare facilities, organized garbage pickup events, supported drug treatment services, and worked on pocket parks and housing refurbishment. Some BCI members were present in the New York City riots that were part of the \"Long, Hot Summer of 1967\" and members detailed conditions of the unrest from July 22nd through the 30th.</p> <p>BCI staff also trained community organizers from other agencies, through their affiliation with Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA, which eventually became a part of AmeriCorps). Funded briefly by the Lindsay administration, BCI ceased operations due to lack of funding in 1968, but some volunteers continued to work in their neighborhoods until 1970.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Block Communities, Inc. collection consists of administrative materials (initial concept documents, funding proposals, evaluation reports, training documents, and internal communications), daily and weekly reports by block workers, and publicity materials that include moving image materials. The majority of the collection covers the work done in East Harlem, with only a small amount of materials concerning other neighborhoods. The weekly reports also cover ground conditions during the 1967 NYC riots. Additionally, 2021 reflections from BCI alumni are included. This collection does not have a single source. It was created from the personal files of various BCI alumni, under the direction of David Borden.</p>"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>Materials are arranged into three groupings: Administrative, Weekly/Daily Reports, and Publicity and are presented in chronological order.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>The materials came from various Block Communities, Inc. (BCI) members--namely Judith Aronson, Bruce Chadwick, Mike Seliger, and Mary Breasted Smyth--who were organized by one of the founders, David Borden. They were ultimately shipped to Chadwick who arranged their transportation to NYPL.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by <span class=\"name\">Stacey Ference</span> in <span class=\"date\">2022</span>.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1962
- keydate
-
1962
- date_end
-
2021
- date_inclusive_start
-
1962
- date_inclusive_end
-
2021
- date_bulk_start
-
1964
- date_bulk_end
-
1971
- extent_statement
-
2.71 linear feet (8 boxes)
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Block Communities, Inc. records, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library"}