Carroll Gardens Association

In the 1970s, the neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, and the Columbia Waterfront in South Brooklyn faced severe disinvestment. Affordable housing was scarce, government support was limited, and Puerto Rican families, who made up much of the local population, were being pushed to the margins. In response to these conditions, a small group of concerned neighbors came together to form what we know as the Carroll Gardens Association (CGA).

Their simple yet urgent mission was to build a better neighborhood through collective action.

Over 50 years later, CGA has grown into a cornerstone of community development in Brooklyn, carrying forward its grassroots approach while expanding its reach and deepening its impact. Today, CGA operates at the intersection of housing justice and immigrant worker rights, transforming lives while advancing a more just and inclusive city.

CGA’s work focuses on two critical areas: permanently affordable housing and domestic worker empowerment. The organization owns and manages 150 units of permanently low-income housing, which serve as anchors for South Brooklyn families who might otherwise be forced out due to rising rents and gentrification.

Equally impactful is CGA’s work on behalf of domestic workers, including childcare providers, home cleaning professionals, and home health aides—most of whom are immigrant women working in private homes. Through its Domestic Worker Program, the organization offers legal support, know-your-rights training, leadership development, and advocacy. This program now reaches more than 10,000 workers annually, both in person and through digital platforms such as Zoom workshops and WhatsApp groups.

One of CGA’s most important goals is to develop leadership from within the communities it serves. Many domestic workers arrive at CGA with stories of exploitation—wage theft, unsafe working conditions, or discrimination. Through training and support, these workers grow into empowered advocates and leaders.

Ben Fuller-Googins, Executive Director at Carroll Gardens Association, describes witnessing that transformation as one of the most rewarding parts of the work.

“It’s incredible to see someone go from being afraid to speak up to standing on the steps of City Hall, giving testimony or lobbying for new protections,” he said. “That kind of leadership fuels our movement and what we are committed to developing.”

On the housing front, CGA plays a key role in tenant advocacy. The organization helped establish the Southwest Brooklyn Tenant Union, supporting hundreds of residents annually with tenant education, legal guidance, and collective organizing. These efforts ensure that residents are not just housed but empowered to protect their rights and fight for systemic change.

A pivotal chapter in CGA’s story began with its partnership with Brooklyn Org—one of the first institutional funders to invest in CGA’s vision with a multiyear grant that provided both essential resources and something just as valuable: validation.

“At the time, we were building new organizing programs with very limited staff and no guaranteed funding,” said Fuller-Googins. “Brooklyn Org believed in us. That kind of support made all the difference.”

Beyond financial backing, Brooklyn Org has helped raise CGA’s visibility. Their inclusion in newsletters and social media led to increased interest from volunteers, donors, and collaborators.

“People would reach out saying, ‘I saw your name through Brooklyn Org, and I’d love to get involved,’” Fuller-Googins added. “For a small team without a communications department, that kind of exposure is huge.”

The partnership has also opened doors to valuable capacity-building opportunities, ranging from staff development to organizational planning.

As CGA charts the road ahead, a major milestone is currently underway—a new affordable housing development in Red Hook that will add over 300 new units. This will be the first development of its kind in the neighborhood in decades, marking a transformational moment for both CGA and the community it serves.

And its domestic worker program continues to gain momentum, advancing efforts for immigrant rights, economic justice, and gender equity. By investing in worker leadership, CGA is not only changing individual lives but helping to build a stronger, more unified movement for justice across New York City.

“Domestic workers are at the center of so many important issues,” Fuller-Googins shared. “Their empowerment ripples outward—to their families, to their communities, and the broader fight for dignity and respect.”

As it moves forward, the Carroll Gardens Association remains committed to its founding principles: building power from the ground up, standing with those most impacted by injustice, and fighting every day to make Brooklyn a place where everyone can thrive.

This story was written by Sada Connel, Brooklyn Org’s 2025 Coro Public Affairs Fellow.