Brooklyn Movement Center

Brooklyn Movement Center organizes Black Central Brooklynites in Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, and Brownsville, and our allies, to build collective power and address the issues that make life most challenging for Black and low-income residents of Central Brooklyn. 

Over its 15-year history, BMC has conducted research to document the needs and concerns of Black Central Brooklynites, led campaigns to make streets safer, reduce street harassment and respond to and prevent police violence, launched an award-winning citizen journalism program and podcast, incubated food justice programs and more. 

Despite generations of Black residents laying the foundation that has made Brooklyn the sought-after destination it is today, it is now harder than ever for Black individuals and families to live and thrive in Central Brooklyn. Over the past two decades, Black residents have gone from representing 70% of the population in Central Brooklyn to less than 50% of the population today. Central Brooklyn has some of the highest rates of deed theft, predatory buying and real estate scams targeting Black homeowners. And Black homeowners in New York City, especially Brooklyn, are six times more likely to face a tax lien sale than white homeowners. 

And in addition to issues related to Black displacement, current residents have raised concerns about escalating prices, lack of affordable housing and living wage jobs, poor city response to flooding, safety and other issues.

As the needs grow, BMC is ramping up efforts to ensure the Black residents of Central Brooklyn have a real say in policies that will shape the future of our neighborhoods and families. Through BMC’s  “Summer in the Streets” campaign, BMC has been increasing our efforts to connect with Black Central Brooklynites and allied community members at events across Central Brooklyn

Through 2027, BMC will continue its outreach efforts to connect with and engage as many Central Brooklynites as possible, collecting data and anecdotal knowledge to document and assess the impact of community change, community displacement and socioeconomic barriers on the lives of Black Central Brooklynites and create solutions rooted in community experience. We will be engaging the new city administration in conversations about how to address Black displacement by investing in Black Brooklyn.