The Fight to Save Imani House: Department of Youth and Community Development Official Responds to From The G-Man Report
On June 8, From The G-Man published an exclusive on the shutting down of Imani House, an after-school program that operated out of P.S. 282 for close to 30 years. On May 15, Imani House received notification from the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS) stating that its application to continue the after-school program was not accepted. The organization was given no reason for the sudden rejection, and it came as a complete shock and disappointment to parents and the students. “I don’t want to close this outstanding program, which helps my children and so many others grow and develop, holistically,” said Sister Bisi. “It would be a terrible loss for P.S. 282 families if Imani House and its trained staff are forced to discontinue these special activities and programs.”
The report showcased several parents and children who spoke to From The G-Man about the termination of Imani House and what it would mean for them going forward. They also made impassioned pleas for city officials to keep the Imani House program open.
On June 9, Mark Zustovich, spokesperson for the DYCD, submitted the following statement in response to the special report.
“The COMPASS awards were determined through a competitive procurement process in which proposals were evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Request for Proposals, including program quality, organizational capacity, implementation plans, fiscal and administrative capacity and other factors. For school-based programs, principal feedback was also incorporated as part of the overall evaluation framework. As a result of the process, some schools will experience changes in providers as new contracts take effect. DYCD understands that transitions in after-school programming can create uncertainty for families, school communities and providers, particularly where long-standing relationships exist. We respect those concerns because we know how meaningful trusted adults and strong after-school experiences are in the lives of young people. DYCD will manage transitions thoughtfully and responsibly so that young people remain supported, families remain informed and programs begin strong in the fall.”
On background:
The COMPASS re-procurement is the largest in DYCD’s history and the first in over a decade. All programs were subject to the same competitive process, with proposals evaluated by trained reviewers using published criteria applied consistently across all applicants. A provider not receiving an award does not reflect on the quality of their past or current performance.
This transparent process exists to ensure public investments remain fair, accountable and open to innovation, quality and growth.
The RFP resulted in 71 new elementary school-based programs across 32 high-need Community Districts—17 of those in Brooklyn.
Thie RFP placed greater emphasis on equity, continuous improvement, and alignment with school needs, but the core standards of quality and capacity remain unchanged. The new awards reflect what young people and schools have consistently asked for: stronger social‑emotional learning, more hands‑on enrichment, expanded career exploration, and programming that builds confidence, leadership, and real‑world skills.
In partnership with New York City Public Schools, DYCD supported principals in understanding the process and their input was incorporated. Eighty percent of principals received their first or second choice of provider in their respective schools.
Click here for a report by Gothamist on other after-school programs facing cancellation throughout New York City.