February 14, 1968 Statement of the Central Brooklyn Coordinating Committee Regarding the Placement of a Community College in Central Brooklyn
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1148 Bedford Avneue Brooklyn, N.Y. 11216 NE 8-7355-6
STATEMENT TOR SUBMISSION 70 COMMUNT’Y MEECING
FEBRUARY 14, 1968
REGARDING THE PLACEMENT OF A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.IN BEDFORD-STUYVESANT
The Central Brooklyn Coordinating Council is committed to
supporting community efforts for a free college in central Brooklyn,
We have worked towards that goal for a number of years,
Our involvement goes back prior to the establishment of
Kingsborough Community College at Manhattan Beach, Central Brooklyn
Coordinating Council fought vigorously along with other community
groups in north and central Brooklyn against the establishment of
Kingsborough at Manhattan Beach. As a result of this struggle, a
mid-Brooklyn Branch of Kingsborough was opened on Claremont Avenue,
The master plan of the Board of Higher Education was amended to include
a four year college to serve both Brooklyn and Queens. We have
consistently petitioned for such a colleze to be located in central
Brooklyn, But in spite of our efforts, York Colleze was Eedotard iy
placed in Queens but in a location far removed from and inaccessible
not only to the people of our community, but also to most of the Negro
and Puerto Rican people of Queens.
The Board of Higher Education has demonstrated its lack of
empathy for our community by the very small number of black and puerto
rican youngsters attending the free colleges throughout this City
and through its failure to respond to our requests for a four year
college within our community in spite of the high density of people
in the area, We therefore feel that it is most urgent that the
people of our community be involved in all planning for any educational
institution being planned for our community or to service the people
of our community.
1148 Bedford Avneue Brooklyn, N.Y. 11216 NE 8-7355-6
STATEMENT TOR SUBMISSION 70 COMMUNT’Y MEECING
FEBRUARY 14, 1968
REGARDING THE PLACEMENT OF A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.IN BEDFORD-STUYVESANT
The Central Brooklyn Coordinating Council is committed to
supporting community efforts for a free college in central Brooklyn,
We have worked towards that goal for a number of years,
Our involvement goes back prior to the establishment of
Kingsborough Community College at Manhattan Beach, Central Brooklyn
Coordinating Council fought vigorously along with other community
groups in north and central Brooklyn against the establishment of
Kingsborough at Manhattan Beach. As a result of this struggle, a
mid-Brooklyn Branch of Kingsborough was opened on Claremont Avenue,
The master plan of the Board of Higher Education was amended to include
a four year college to serve both Brooklyn and Queens. We have
consistently petitioned for such a colleze to be located in central
Brooklyn, But in spite of our efforts, York Colleze was Eedotard iy
placed in Queens but in a location far removed from and inaccessible
not only to the people of our community, but also to most of the Negro
and Puerto Rican people of Queens.
The Board of Higher Education has demonstrated its lack of
empathy for our community by the very small number of black and puerto
rican youngsters attending the free colleges throughout this City
and through its failure to respond to our requests for a four year
college within our community in spite of the high density of people
in the area, We therefore feel that it is most urgent that the
people of our community be involved in all planning for any educational
institution being planned for our community or to service the people
of our community.
Title
February 14, 1968 Statement of the Central Brooklyn Coordinating Committee Regarding the Placement of a Community College in Central Brooklyn
Description
On February 14, 1968, the Central Brooklyn Coordinating Council (CBCC), a community-based organization in Bedford-Stuyvesant, issued a public statement in response to City University of New York (CUNY) officials’ announcement two weeks earlier of plans to establish Community College 7 in Central Brooklyn. In the statement, the CBCC outlined a recent history of their efforts to advocate for a tuition-free college in Bedford-Stuyvesant, as well as criticized CUNY’s “lack of empathy for [their] community," demonstrated in a continuing pattern by CUNY of establishing new colleges in neighborhoods inaccessible to Black and Puerto Rican youth. The CBCC expressed support for Community College 7, concluding with demands that the community be involved directly in the planning for the new college.
In February 1968, the City University of New York (CUNY) announced plans to establish a new “Community College 7 in or near Bedford-Stuyvesant. . . oriented to the Bedford-Stuyvesant Community and operated in consultation with the community.” Representatives of a broad network of Central Brooklyn community organizations engaged in an 18 months-long negotiation with CUNY Board of Higher Education officials over CUNY’s plans for its newly announced “Community College 7,” including discussions about the proposed school’s curriculum, who would lead it, and what role the community would play in the school’s governance. The role of the Bedford-Stuyvesant community in planning and determining the leadership of the college remained a central point of controversy between Central Brooklyn’s educational and civil society leaders and CUNY officials in the negotiations that followed.
Contributor
Woodsworth, Michael
Creator
Central Brooklyn Coordinating Council
Date
February 14, 1968
Language
English
Source
Donald Watkins Collection (Brooklyn Public Library)
Original Format
Memorandum/Press Release / Statement
Central Brooklyn Coordinating Council. Letter. “February 14, 1968 Statement of the Central Brooklyn Coordinating Committee Regarding the Placement of a Community College in Central Brooklyn.”, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/2030