Sol Goldman 14th Street YM-YWHA of the Educational Alliance

Founded at the turn of the last century, the 14th Street Y has been reincarnated more than once, from its original Enamu-El Brotherhood to the Emanu-El Midtown 14th Street Y, and later becoming part of the Educational Alliance in the early 1990s. Now at its current, refurbished home on East 14th Street, the Y reflects the character and sensibility of its neighborhood, offering the same services that all New Yorkers need but with a downtown point of view. 

Its East Village programming is diverse and eclectic like its audience, including the Novel Jews book club, Girls on Film: A Night of Shorts by Jewish Women, and Dukes of Hanukah, a Hanukah Hoedown. 

Director Margo Bloom is particularly attuned to her audience. She encouraged the Y Board to accept payment plans for people who need help with the cost of participating in Jewish life, and her regular “Meet the Director” sessions keep her accountable to her patrons. Within the next five years, Margo seeks to have transformed the Y into a “third place”— beyond home and work—for local community members. If you are interested in participating in this vision or just checking out the Y, email her at margo_bloom@14streety.org.