September 2025
Meet the NYC Community Schools Technical Assistance Center
Contact: cstac@fordham.edu or or 212-636-6100
The NYC CSTAC delivers free, quality professional development and thought-partner consultation to community schools throughout New York City. In exemplifying the mission of Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education, the CSTAC serves public school leaders, community school directors, teachers, and their respective stakeholders by ensuring access to resources and supports while providing quality professional development to build community.
Funded by the New York State Education Department, the CSTAC works collaboratively with all stakeholders engaged in the Community Schools movement and in partnership with the NYCPS’s Office of Community Schools to ensure that local capacity is strengthened and deeper community relationships are fostered.
Joe Vereen, Director, NYC CSTAC
Joseph “Joe” Vereen is the Director of the Community Schools Technical Assistance Center (CSTAC) at Fordham University. He leads all activities of the CSTAC’s work with new and existing schools in the New York City Region. Joe brings nearly 20 years of experience in youth and community development, including seven years focused on community schools. Most recently, Joe served as the Managing Director of Community Education and Schools at Phipps Neighborhoods in the Bronx, where he supervised five community schools and nine after-school programs for students in Pre-K through 12th grade. Before his time at Phipps Neighborhoods, Joe held various roles including Beacon Director at the Flushing YMCA, Cornerstone Director at Neighborhood Initiatives Development Corps (NIDC), Program Director and Manager at SASF (now New York Edge), and OST Facilitator at Ramapo for Children. Joe also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for seven years before transitioning into youth development.
Joe holds a BS in Psychology from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is currently pursuing a MA/PhD in Counseling Psychology at Fordham University.
Do you have a community school story that you would like featured in our e-newsletter?
Email Kevin Coyne at cstac@fordham.edu or call 212-636-6100.