Scaling Proven Community Impact
Epicenter Foundation Inc. is a Queens, N.Y.-based nonprofit created to advance social justice across arts and culture, education, health, small businesses and local entrepreneurship, technology, media, and civic engagement.
The foundation builds on the mission-driven work pioneered by Epicenter NYC, an award-winning community media and journalism organization launched during the pandemic to support New Yorkers and communities of color.
Through Epicenter NYC and a robust network of community, state, and national partners, the foundation serves as a scalable engine for resource navigation. We transform “news you can use” into accessible experiences, ensuring that hard-to-reach and underserved communities have the information, navigation services, and agency they need to thrive.
Learn more about Epicenter NYC
Strategic Resource Navigation
We specialize in “low-barrier” engagement that reaches constituents where they already are.
Hyper-Local Trust & Presence
Our team lives, works, and engages in the communities we serve. We build long-term relationships in familiar spaces—from public libraries, houses of worship, and open streets to local businesses including bookstores, art shops, and cafes.
Navigation & Disaster Resiliency
With a track record starting at the “epicenter of the epicenter” of the pandemic and extending throughout NYC, New Jersey, and beyond, we excel at translating complex information into actionable, culturally competent guidance across multiple languages.
Gamified Service Delivery
We overcome institutional mistrust by making critical information engaging through interactive formats. We connect communities to culturally competent care — using formats like health bingo, wellness trivia, and storytelling workshops to make critical information feel accessible.
News you can use in action
We address the most pressing needs of New Yorkers through high-touch, multi-platform campaigns:
AI Civics & Local Information Systems
We are strengthening local information ecosystems by convening an annual cohort of civic innovators, small businesses, and publishers. Our work also includes a health-focused AI chatbot designed to pull directly from verified local reporting from Epicenter NYC as a real-time touchpoint for neighbor inquiries.
Arts & Creative Placemaking
We advocate for the local creative economy by spotlighting artists and hosting immersive experiences, such as the “Ways of Showing Up” installation. We also curate public art, like transforming concrete blocks on Jackson Heights’ 34th Avenue Open Street (“Paseo Park”) into works of both art and utility.
Education & Youth Advocacy
We simplify the complexities of public school systems. From hosting webinars on high school admissions to hybrid in-person workshops for parents navigating IEP meetings, we provide families with the tools to advocate for their children’s success in English and Spanish.
Public Health & Trusted Messaging
As a proven messenger for high-risk communities, we provide life-saving information on respiratory viruses (COVID-19, Flu, RSV), promote city-wide resources like NYC Care, or connect Asian communities to a network of culturally competent mental health providers.
Workforce & Career Readiness
We convene experts and community members to navigate the evolving workplace, providing practical guidance on job entry and career longevity. We also promote government career opportunities, such as NYC’s “Run this Town” campaign, through our community events and digital platforms.
Digital Amplification & Ground-Game Impact
35,000+
New Yorkers Reached
60,000+
Audience base
600+
Hours in the community
60+
Trusted Community Partners
Digital Amplification:
We reach a massive, engaged audience through a multi-platform engine, including 600,000+ organic video views and a loyal subscriber base that relies on our digital “explainers” to navigate city life.
On-the-Ground Reach:
We have engaged 35,000+ New Yorkers in person through 600+ hours of direct community work. Our reach primarily serves Latino, Black, and Asian neighbors; for specific events, our attendees are typically 27% Asian, 22% Black, and 21% Hispanic/Latino.
Geographic Footprint:
Our active engagement spans nearly one-third of all NYC zip codes, with deep roots in priority neighborhoods within the boroughs and beyond.
Institutional Strength:
A network of 60+ trusted partners, including public libraries, houses of worship, public schools, community centers, and small businesses.
Our Board
Nitin Mukul
President
Suyin So
Secretary
Let’s Work Together!
Community partners, private institutions, elected officials and city agencies can “plug in” to our existing infrastructure to amplify their impact:
- Resource Campaign Deployment: Utilize our “Community Connection” framework to distribute information on an array of topics including health, mental health, or financial resources via trusted local ambassadors.
- Workforce & Tech Literacy Partnerships: Partner with us to host career-readiness sessions that prepare New Yorkers for a changing, AI-driven economy.
- Economic Mobility Initiatives: Route community events through neighborhood small businesses to drive foot traffic and reinvest in local social infrastructure.
- Multicultural Outreach: Leverage our multi-platform media engine to reach hard-to-reach constituents in the languages they speak through trusted touch points.
Contact us at partnerships@epicenterfound.org
Epicenter Foundation, Inc. 