In celebration of our groundbreaking agreements for community ownership and co-governance at the Kingsbridge Armory, join us for our
52nd Anniversary Gala: 52 Years of Building Our Bronx!
The Kingsbridge Armory is poised to be home to one of the largest community-ownership deals in a City-owned commercial project. For the Bronx, this is a historic milestone. For New York City, it is a model.
In 2025, Our Bronx signed on as a development partner with 8th Regiment Partners, the City’s selected developer for the Kingsbridge Armory, and brokered an unprecedented agreement for a 20% ownership stake, establishing a community-governed structure that shapes the Armory’s long-term operations and benefits. We also negotiated a legally-binding Community Benefits Agreement that enshrines community priorities into the blueprint for the Kingsbridge Armory, and establishes accountability and transparency for the life of the project. Together, these agreements reflect the months of good-faith negotiation and secure key commitments from the Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan, maximizing community ownership, delivering good union jobs, protecting small businesses, and ensuring high environmental standards.
For over 30 years, Our Bronx has believed that this extraordinary public asset could become a powerful engine for equitable, sustainable, and community-centered economic development. Celebrate this historic victory with us!
Check out other highlights from our recent work around community ownership and co-governance all across the Bronx:
Join us in uplifting the visionary leadership of this year’s honorees that made this victory possible.
Pierina Sanchez
City Council member of District 14
Pierina co-chaired the Together For Kingsbridge Visioning Process that engaged over 4,000 Bronx residents and workers in creating a community vision for the Armory. She secured Points of Agreement with NYCEDC that included a $2.5 million Small Business Support Fund, opportunities for street vendors and merchants, local workforce development initiatives, improvements to parks and transportation, and a harm reduction plan. She is also lead sponsor of the Street Vendor Reform Package, which has expanded licensing opportunities for street vendors across the city.
Lucia Gomez
National Immigration and Worker Rights Coordinator for the Laborers’ International Union of North America
As Political Director of the NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Lucia directed political and legislative strategy on behalf of more than one million union workers, and ensured high labor standards were secured at the Armory. Today, she serves as the National Immigration and Worker Rights Coordinator for the Laborers’ International Union of North America, where she leads national efforts to advance immigrant and worker justice and build solidarity across the labor movement.
Brendan Griffith
President, Central Labor Council
Brendan was elected President of the New York City Central Labor Council (NYCCLC) of the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest regional labor federation, in July 2025. He joined the NYCCLC in 2009 and had previously been its Chief of Staff since 2011. He is also a proud member of Iron Workers Local 40 and the United University Professions. He currently serves on the boards of the American Labor Museum – Botto House and the Worker Justice Project.
Elisse Douglass
Founder and Executive Director, East Freedman & Main
At East Freedman & Main, Elisse leads national work with community-based organizations, developers, and public-sector partners to structure real estate strategies that preserve local control while operating at scale, spanning advisory, development management, owner representation, and capital strategy. A member of our Armory development team, Elisse played a pivotal role in designing a project and partnership that was financially sustainable and aligned with community priorities.
Elisabeth Ortega-Bailey
Kingsbridge Armory Leader
Elisabeth was a lead negotiator of both the precedent-setting community benefits agreement (CBA) at the Armory with 8th Regiment Partners in 2025, and our CBA with the Kingsbridge National Ice Center in 2013. Elisabeth began their organizing career as a youth leader at Sistas and Brothas United, and today serves as the CBA and Workforce Development Organizer at Our Bronx. Elisabeth is the proud mom of Nori—who they are raising in the Kingsbridge neighborhood to love the Bronx!
Wilson Martinez
Deacon, Our Lady of Angels Church
Serving as the Parish Deacon at Our Lady of Angels Church since 2015, Deacon Wilson coordinates Adult Faith Formation and community involvement with parish group leaders. He engaged parishioners from his church, and revived the participation of interfaith leaders across the Bronx, throughout the visioning and public review process for the Armory’s redevelopment. He also represented his church in the negotiation of the groundbreaking CBA with 8th Regiment Partners.
Become a sponsor — and help us set a new standard for how development is done in Our Bronx and beyond.
-
16 Tickets (Two Premium Tables) or Sponsorship of Our Bronx Members
Full Color Print Full Page Journal Ad - Priority Page
Recognition in All Gala Marketing Collateral - print and digital
Cocktail Garden Party - up to 6 people - (Scheduled with Executive Team)
Our Bronx 2026 New Branding Swag Package
-
12 Ally Tickets (One + ½ Tables) or Sponsorship of Our Bronx Members
Full Color Print Full Page Journal Ad in Prominent Location of Program
Recognition in All Gala Marketing Collateral - print and digital
Community Lunch & Tour - up to 6 people - (Scheduled with Executive Team)
Our Bronx 2026 New Branding Swag Package
-
8 Ally Tickets (One Full Table) or Sponsorship of Our Bronx Members
Full Color Print Full Page Journal Ad in Prominent Location of Program
Recognition in All Gala Marketing Collateral - print and digital
Community Tour - up to 6 people - (Schedule with Executive Team)
Our Bronx 2026 New Branding Swag Package
-
8 Ally Tickets (One Full Table) or Sponsorship of Our Bronx Members
Full Color Print Half Page Journal Ad in Program - print and digital
Our Bronx 2026 New Branding Swag Package
-
8 Gala Tickets or Named Sponsor of 6 Our Bronx Community Members
Full Color Print Quarter-Page Journal Ad in “Mover” Section - Print and Digital
Logo/Name on Screens + Gala Program
Thank you Listing on Our Bronx Instagram Stories During Gala Week
-
4 Ally Tickets or Sponsorship of Our Bronx Members
Full Color Print Quarter Page Journal Ad in Program - print and digital
Our Bronx 2026 New Branding Swag Package
-
2 Ally Tickets or Sponsorship of Our Bronx Members
Organizational Logo or Individual Name Listed in Program - print and digital
Our Bronx 2026 New Branding Swag Package
Help power our movement!
Over three decades of community leaders, organizers, alumni, partners, and donors made this landmark achievement possible at the Kingsbridge Armory. Your support will help bring this project to life—and scale our impact across the borough. The momentum we build together will help us achieve economic democracy and racial justice in the Bronx.
