Red Hook Initiative

Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is a community-based youth development organization that has been working in Red Hook, Brooklyn for 16 years. We believe that social change to overcome systemic inequities begins with empowered youth. In partnership with community adults, we nurture young people in Red Hook to be inspired, resilient, and healthy, and to envision themselves as co-creators of their lives, community and society. We envision a Red Hook where all young people can pursue their dreams and grow into independent adults who contribute to their families and community.

Youth development, community building, and our model of community hiring are at the core of RHI’s approach to strengthening Red Hook’s future. Our intensive Youth Empowerment Pipeline provides safe and enriching opportunities for young people, ages 11- 24, to: learn and grow, develop positive relationships with peers and caring adults, gain academic, leadership and employability skills and valuable entry-level work experience, create and execute post-secondary plans, build personal resilience and contribute to social change in Red Hook. Often young people begin RHI in middle school and remain involved through young adulthood. This intensive intervention over this formative developmental period is critical to our success.