The Brooklyn College Community Partnership was founded in 1991 by Brooklyn College psychology professor Nancy Romer. The BCCP’s dynamic and flexible programs engage local youth with activities that tap into their creativity and lived experiences. Program staff participates in immersive professional development encompassing creative youth development, social-emotional learning, college readiness, and more. The teaching artists who work with the BCCP are creative professionals who bring deep respect to the students with whom they work. Academic and emotional support follows naturally from the BCCP’s youth-centered approach.

The BCCP works with over 1,500 young people at sites on seven public school campuses (a total of 12 middle and high schools), and at the Brooklyn College Arts Lab (BCAL), located on the Brooklyn College campus. School-based programs are available to students after-school and during free time for academic support, hands-on creative projects with teaching artists, college prep, and impromptu counseling. The BCCP also partners with a range of community organizations to provide an eco-system of support for youth.
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Jill initially served as a media and film teaching artist and then a program director for several years with funding from a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from the US Department of Education. During her time with the BCCP, Jill created arts and creative youth development programs from the ground up, produced festivals and community events, created partnerships with organizations (from community gardening to spoken word), designed professional development workshops for staff and parents, and built bridges between the college and the local community. At school-based sites, Jill oversaw programs in digital music, drumming, steelpan, theater, film & media, visual arts, dance, yoga, basketball, cooking, community gardening, and more. She managed dozens of teaching artists, program staff, and interns from partner high schools and Brooklyn College (many of whom later became teaching artists and program staff). The entire BCCP community creates a holistic support system for local Brooklyn youth.