Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association Inc.

The Bronx showed up today.

Banana Kelly members stood in full unity with our coalition partners in BLOC – the Bronx Leadership & Organizing Center and organizations from across the borough to hold the Rent Guidelines Board accountable and demand a rent freeze.

You’ll see us in purple and white because when we’re in coalition, we drop our usual green and white and stand under one banner. Different orgs, different backgrounds, one fight.

The energy on those steps was real: voices raised, signs lifted, communities united, all pushing for the same goal protecting Bronx families from another rent increase.

This is what solidarity looks like.
This is what community power feels like.

This is how the Bronx defends its people.

Banana Kelly is proud to stand with BLOC and all our partners fighting for housing justice and stability in the Bronx.

Hi Community Members,

We here at Banana Kelly are proud to share that The College Avenue Community Garden of Hope got a full refresh this week, and we’re grateful for every hand that showed up.

Thank you to our partners at Acacia Network for bringing strong energy, harm‑reduction values, and real labor to this cleanup effort.

We also want to uplift Ms. Wanda Sweeney longtime garden steward, resident council leader, and the heart of this green space.

For decades, Ms. Sweeney has protected, nurtured, and fought for this garden on College Avenue, right across from Patterson Houses. Her leadership keeps this space alive for the community.

Together, we cleared overgrowth, opened up pathways, and prepared the garden for a season of growth, gathering, and healing.

This is what Bronx collaboration looks like organizations, residents, and elders working side by side to care for the land and each other.

If you’d like to get involved with the College Avenue Community Garden of Hope or support future green‑space work, contact:
Shen’naque Sean Butler [email protected] | 516‑669‑0218

Hi Community Members!

As we begin entering the summer months and heat, Banana Kelly is hard at work to meet with all of our residents to speak directly with them and create plans to meet the goals you want!

Over the past days we've met with the mothers, seniors, young adults and working families of 201 E 120 ST and 750 Bryant Ave to sit down with you and have discussions of any prevalent issues within their communities and how together, we can create a community we can all feel proud of!

Banana Kelly Community Day This Saturday! 🌱💛

Bronx family, we’re excited to bring you a hands‑on Community Day this Saturday, May 16 from 10AM–2PM at 970 Prospect Ave!

We’ll be breaking down easy ways to grow fresh food at home even in small apartments. Come learn about composting, microgreens, mushrooms, and aquaponics in a fun, simple, and family‑friendly way. Bring the kids, bring a neighbor, come build with us.

And don’t forget we’re hosting a Two‑Day Food Distribution for Banana Kelly residents:

🍎 Mon, May 18 — Pantry Food (12–5PM)

🥬 Tue, May 19 — Fresh Produce (12–5PM)
📍 830 Fox St | Bring a bag | Supplies limited

For more info, contact Shen’naque Sean Butler
📞 516‑669‑0218 | 📧 [email protected]

Happy Saturday to all our community members!

Banana Kelly is proud to share the completion of our recent community enrichment program led by Assemblywoman Chantel Jackson! Joined by other key figures of our community such as Senator Luis Sepúlveda and Councilmember Justin Sanchez, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work!

Over the course of 3 days we cleaned up the trash in our streets, revitalized the parks our children play in, and enriched the community to ensure all members of our community have a sense of pride when they go outside.

The most inspiring aspect of this project however, was seeing the youth from many of our local schools attend and lend a hand, ensuring the future of our community is in safe hands!

Follow both our Facebook and Instagram pages to say informed of any future events!

Half‑Nelson Playground was full of life for our Earth Day clean‑up. Neighbors, youth, and partners came together to protect a space built for our kids.

Banana Kelly provided food relief for over 100 Bronx families through our partnership with New York Common Pantry, along with a small but mighty group of volunteers who worked side‑by‑side with the community.

A tremendous thanks to the NYPD Community Affairs Unit, which brought the vibe basketball games with the youth, real connection, and the NYPD Explorers Color Guard opening the day with pride and discipline.

Big love to Parks & Recreation, the Bronx Parks Commissioner, CB5 Committees, On‑Point, Bx CRN, WEPA, NYPD Explorers, New York Common Pantry, and every volunteer who made this Earth Day moment powerful.

If you want to get more involved in community work, reach out to Shen’naque Sean Butler at [email protected]