United Community Centers (UCC) was founded in 1954, and incorporated in 1959, by tenants in 2 New York City Housing Projects who were looking for integrated, high quality educational and social programs for their children.

What began as a small organization in a housing project has evolved over the last 50 years into a multi-service center that has continually responded to the needs of and changes in the community.

In the 1950s, 60s and 70s, UCC was actively involved in the civil rights and anti-war movements. In response to the needs of working families, UCC opened the MLE daycare center in the early 70s, and in the 80s we operated a camp in upstate New York for teens. We have been housed in our architectural award-winning building since 1973.

Now in its sixth decade as a central foundation of the East New York community, UCC has transformed from an all-volunteer organization to a staffed center that serves thousands of residents annually.