Warning: Reading this may inspire you to join something big

Picture this: it's Monday night in our home, and twenty young adults—Black, Jewish, or both, all claiming pieces of this neighborhood as their own—step through our door.

They enter carrying their day with them. They set it down at the table. And then together they build something that feels really, really—dare we say?—hopeful.

For the past year, our Harlem Service Corps—in partnership with our friends at Repair the World—has been stitching friendships where society has left seams undone. 30 young adults, 1,350+ hours of direct service, and a city that keeps whispering that relationships across difference are too hard, too fragile, too rare.

And yet, here in Harlem—a place whose streets remember both the Harlem Renaissance and the days when this was the third-largest Jewish community in the world—those barriers fall away more easily than you might imagine.

And here's the part we love the most:

In our living room, you’ll see people who might never have crossed paths otherwise: laughing, arguing, learning, listening, breaking bread, studying Black history and Jewish history and the deep, intertwined music those stories once made together.

You’ll see volunteers talking about sorting produce at the pantry or harvesting kale at the urban farm—only to discover, weeks later, that the real harvest was something far more lasting.

Again and again, people tell us: I came for the service. I stayed for the friendships.

And that, at its heart, is why we do this.

Not to check the box of “allyship”—that distant, brittle thing defined by who owes what to whom—but to cultivate something warmer, steadier, more human. Friendship asks for no transaction. It roots itself in presence and curiosity. That is the soil we’re tending here.

If you’re someone who has wondered how to build bridges in a fractured moment… if you’ve felt the pull to be a better neighbor, a more grounded leader, or a person who simply wants to give back in a way that matters… then we'll gently suggest that this might be exactly what you've been seeking.

The details of what the commitment looks like are all below. But in truth, the real commitment is straightforward: show up on Monday nights, give five hours a week to the neighborhood, and let yourself be changed by the people you meet.

We hope you’ll join us in the next cohort — this living, breathing experiment in what Harlem can be when we show up for one another with open hands and hearts.

About the Service Corps

The Harlem Service Corps, a bridge-building volunteer and community service cohort, is accepting applications for Cohort 3 this Winter! This is a great opportunity to give back here in our neighborhood in Harlem, make new friends, and earn a $1,000 stipend!

Eligible applicants: 

• Identify as either Jewish, Black, and/or a person of color

• Are 18–30 years old (with a little flexibility for early 30s)

• Want to give back to their community in a meaningful way 

• Have some connection to Harlem (living, working, studying, or spending meaningful time in our community)

Program Components

10 week program, starting January 2026

• 5 hrs/week of meaningful, direct volunteering with Harlem-based community organizations - we’ll place you in a setting of your choice from a menu of options (food pantry, soup kitchen, urban farm, after school tutoring program, distribution center, etc.)

• Cohort of 7 Jewish and 7 Black/BIPOC young adults ages 18-30

• Weekly cohort meetings in Hamilton Heights explore bridge-building, cultural exchange, and learning about intersecting Black and Jewish history. Dinner provided! 

• Co-facilitated by Harlem residents Rabbi Dimitry Ekshtut and cultural historian John Reddick

• $1,000 stipend paid directly to you upon completion of 60 hours of service (45 hrs of volunteering + 15 hrs of cohort time)

Nominate a Friend, Earn Referral $

Have a friend, relative, co-worker, classmate, or community member) who you think might be a good fit? You can use this link to submit a nomination. 

For every nominee who applies and is accepted, you’ll receive a $20 gift card (up to $100 total). Please give your nominee a heads-up so they know to expect our outreach — and so they list your name on their application, which ensures you get the gift card.