Civic Engagement Commission311Search all NYC.gov websites
Community Boards
Community Boards are the first level of local government and consist of community volunteers appointed by Borough Presidents. Their charge is to weigh in on matters that affect their community regarding land use, transportation issues, small businesses, youth and education, and environmental issues, just to name a few.
The CEC works with all 59 Boards across the city to provide assistance and training to community board members, such as workshops on uniform meeting procedures, the city budget, and community outreach. Working with the Board Chairs, District Managers, and Board members, we assess the needs of the Boards across each borough and then work with City Agencies and Non-Profit providers to bring custom workshops for all the members. Past workshops include Affordable Housing in NYC, Role of the Parliamentarian, Disability Accessibility, and Increasing Diversity.
Sign up for CEC Workshop Information
Community Boards by Borough
For more information visit your Borough President's Office website:
- Queens Community Boards
- Brooklyn Community Boards
- Bronx Community Boards
- Manhattan Community Boards
- Staten Island Community Boards
Staten Island Community Board applications are accepted year around
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Current Trainings
Department of Buildings: Rules, Permits, Summons, and More
Come learn how to navigate the NYC Department of Buildings' online resources including DOB NOW, Building Permits, Certificate of Occupancy (COB) and the Building Information System (BIS). Owners who have existing “open” OATH summonses issued by a DOB Inspector can also learn how to resolve these.
This class presented by NYC Department of Buildings is intended for homeowners, property owners, and property managers. It will provide board members with an understanding of how DOB works to assist in their decision making and constituent services.
When: Jan 13, 2025 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Please register in advance for this meeting: DOB Workshop Registration
When: Jan 14, 2025 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Please register in advance for this meeting: DOB Workshop Registration
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Energy Efficiency and Solar Power for Homeowners
Everywhere in NYC solar panels are being installed on roofs. Learn about how to use solar power for your home and other ways to reduce your electricity bill through energy efficiencies in the home. Can heat pumps replace your old furnace? Are any of these right for you and your home and who should you talk to?
This class presented by Kinetic Communities is intended for board members to help provide resources for their constituents and understand what is available it the world of energy conservation.
When: Jan 15, 2025 06:00 PM Eastern Time
Please register in advance for this meeting: Energy Efficiency Workshop Registration
When: Jan 28, 2025 12:00 PM Eastern Time
Please register in advance for this meeting: Energy Efficiency Workshop Registration
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Tenants: Know Your Rights
Learn about the laws and rules that protect tenants from eviction, extra fees, and better understand what's in your lease. What is Rent Control, Rent Stabilization, and the new Good Cause Eviction Law? Learn your rights, clear up misconceptions, and learn more about landlord responsibilities.
When: Jan 23, 2025 06:00 PM Eastern Time
Please register in advance for this meeting: Tenants Workshop Registration
When: Jan 30, 2025 12:00 PM Eastern Time
Please register in advance for this meeting: Tenants Workshop Registration
Archived Trainings
Parliamentary Procedures Workshops
Workshop 1: Effective Meetings & Bylaws- Participants will learn how to actively participate as members and get business done through motions. Review of bylaws will be given (1 hour)- includes scripts & handouts.
Workshop 2: Importance of Committees - Participants will learn the importance of Committees and how to actively participate (1 hour)- Includes scripts & handouts.
October 22, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Effective Meetings Workshop hosted by the CEC
Please register in advance for this meeting: Register for the October 22, 2024 Effective Meetings Workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
October 24, 2024 6:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Importance of Committees workshop hosted by the CEC
Register in advance for this meeting: Register for the October 24, 2024 Importance of Committees Workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
December 3, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Importance of Committees workshops hosted by the CEC
Register in advance for this meeting: Register for the December 3, 2024 Importance of Committees Workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
December 5, 2024 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Effective Meetings Workshop hosted by the CEC
Register in advance for this meeting: Register for the December 5, 2024 Effective Meetings Workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
IBO: Explaining the City Budget
The New York City Independent Budget Office (IBO) is a non-partisan agency that provides independent analysis on the city's budget and public policy. We operate separately from the Mayor and City Council, offering clear and unbiased information to help New Yorkers understand the budget process. New York City's budget cycle has four phases: the November Plan, the Preliminary Budget, the Executive Budget, and the Adopted Budget. This process begins in the fall of the prior year and ends by June 30th of the current fiscal year. Community Boards play a role by submitting statements of needs, which inform the City about neighborhood priorities.
In this presentation, IBO will explain how New York City's budget and financial plans reflect the City's policy priorities. We'll also help new community board members understand the budget process and outline how they can engage with it.
October 28, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
IBO: Explaining the City Budget
Please register in advance for this meeting: Register for the October 28, 2024 IBO: Explaining the City Budget workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
October 29, 2024 6:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
IBO: Explaining the City Budget
Please register in advance for this meeting: Register for the October 29, 2024 IBO: Explaining the City Budget workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
November 4, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
IBO: Explaining the City Budget
Please register in advance for this meeting: Register for the November 4, 2024 IBO: Explaining the City Budget workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Office of Opportunity Workshop
EquityNYC, a project of the Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity, reports on the status of racial and social equity in New York City and tracks the City's work to address disparities. The site includes data disaggregated by race/ethnicity, gender, income, sexual orientation, neighborhood, and other demographic categories as well as mapped data on well-being, service delivery, service locations, and overall population-level demographics. Learn how to navigate this site to help make determinations about where services and programs might be needed in your community.
November 13, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Office Of Equity Workshop
Please register in advance for this meeting: Register for the November 13, 2024 Office of Equity Workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
November 19, 2024 6:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Office Of Equity Workshop
Please register in advance for this meeting: Register for the November 19, 2024 Office of Equity Workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
November 21, 2024 6:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Office Of Equity Workshop
Please register on advance for this meeting: Register for the November 21, 2024 Office of Equity Workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Spring 2024
CEC Language Access Workshops
This presentation will give an overview of New York City's language access landscape and provide information on available resources to meet the diverse needs of your communities. Important information for Board members and staff alike. We will also discuss our Poll Site Language assistance program.
February 6, 2024 at 12:00pm
You must register in advance for this meeting:
Register for the February 6, 2024 CEC Language Access Workshops training
February 8, 2024 at 12:00pm
Register for the February 8, 2024 CEC Language Access Workshops training
February 13, 2024 at 6:30pm
You must register in advance for this meeting:
Register for the February 13, 2024 CEC Language Access Workshops training
Introduction to Homeownership in NYC
All the various departments and regulations can make homeowners dizzy. We sort them all out for you, tell you who does what and where to go with concerns, problems, or questions. Learn the basics of managing residential property in New York City, including the roles of key City agencies and what they require. Workshop is presented by HPD Office of Neighborhood Strategies.
View the Video of session here.
Introduction to Department of Buildings
Come learn how to navigate the Department of Buildings' online resources including DOB NOW, Building Permits, Certificate of Occupancy (COB) and the Building Information System (BIS). This class will be also geared towards how to help property owners who have existing "open" OATH summonses issued by a DOB Inspector. Guidance will be provided on how to resolve these and submitting an acceptable Certificate of Correction to the Department of Buildings Administrative Enforcement Unit. Workshop is presented by NYC Department of Buildings.
View the Video of session here.
Housing Discrimination and Harassment
Discrimination and harassment are illegal! Learn about how and who housing law protects: From "protected classes" like age or ethnicity, to protections based on sources of income and disabilities. It also covers unlawful, discriminatory lending practices and how the human rights law can protect against tenant harassment. The City Commission on Human Rights is here to help! Workshop is presented by NYC Commission on Human Rights.
View the Video of session here.
Fall 2023
Disability Etiquette and Awareness Workshop
The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities presents on appropriate etiquette and awareness when discussing and working with people with disabilities. This includes appropriate and inappropriate behavior and language, accessibility considerations, and more.
Parliamentary Procedures - Effective Meetings, Motions and Amendments
This training for Community Board members held on October 16, 2023, by Diana Duncan (PRP), provides information so that participants will be able to hold effective meetings. They will learn how to actively participate as members and get business through by way of motions. They will also learn how to amend motions and move business along efficiently, the importance of Committees and the importance of, and how to amend, bylaws.
Independent Budget Office Workshop - Intro to the City Budget
This workshop for Community Board Members from October 19, 2023, conducted by the Independent Budget Office, outlines their services and covers some basic information about understanding the City Budget.
Winter/ Spring 2023
MOPD Disability Etiquette and Awareness
Arthur Jacobs from the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities presents on appropriate etiquette and awareness when discussing and working with people with disabilities. This includes appropriate and inappropriate behavior and language, accessibility considerations, and more.
Download MOPD Disability Etiquette and Awareness
MOPD Accessible Documents and Communications
Arthur Jacobs from the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities presents strategies and guidelines for ensuring documents and communications are accessible for people with disabilities. This includes recommendations for accessible file formats, using accessible fonts, and more.
Download MOPD Accessible Documents and Communications
MOPD Accessible Virtual Meetings
Arthur Jacobs from the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities presents strategies and guidelines for ensuring virtual meetings are accessible for people with disabilities. This includes recommendations for accessible virtual meeting platforms, equipping accessible settings within meeting platforms, and more.
Download MOPD Accessible Virtual Meetings
Fair Housing Training
Charlie Rudoy and Yuju Park, Representatives from the NYC Department of Housing & Preservation (HPD) Office of Neighborhood Strategies HPD present a fair housing workshop in conjunction with the release of the first progress report for NYC's fair housing plan- Where We Live NYC. They share insight into fair housing history and concepts, the City's progress on fair housing initiatives, and explore the ways community boards can further fair housing in their communities.
Download Fair Housing Training
Affordable Housing Training
"Affordable housing"- it's a simple phrase that actually refers to a complex assortment of housing types and tools. Charlie Rudoy and Yuju Park, Representatives from the NYC Department of Housing & Preservation (HPD) Office of Neighborhood Strategies unpack the landscape of affordable housing in NYC. They share insights on the several housing crises the City is facing today, their underlying causes, and how City agencies are working to tackle these issues.
Download Affordable Housing 101
Land Use and Equity
Senior Land Use Policy Associate Chris Walters from the Association for Neighborhood Housing & Development presents on the role and power of Community Boards in proactive planning as it relates to land use.
Download Land Use and Equity Training
Parliamentary Workshops
The training was offered on several topics relating to using Roberts Rules of Order. They were presented by the Parliamentarians of Metro NY. These documents are frompmNY and are available for all to use.
Handout-Committees
Handout-Efficient-Board-Meeting
Handout-Motions-Amendments
Handout-Role-of-Parliamentarian
2022 Fall
Intro to the City Budget
This was a workshop conducted by the Independent Budget Office, going over their services and covering some basic information about understanding the City Budget. Two workshops were held, one on October 12, 2022, focusing on Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, and one on October 19 for Brooklyn and Queens. The recording attached is from the Oct 19th session. Visit the IBO website. Download the IBO Budget Basics report. And if you want to reach out to the IBO with a specific question, you can email Elizabeth Brown, Communications Director, at elizabethb@ibo.nyc.ny.us.
Launch the video and enter the passcode below
Passcode: 1Mw$Fnls
Explore the Open Data Portal
In October and November 2022, we offered five workshops to all community board members with the Office of Open Data and BetaNYC teaching about the Open Data Portal. Open Data is free public data published by New York City agencies and other partners. With over 3000 data sets, you can learn detailed information about your communities.
Learn more about the Open Data Portal
Watch the BetaNYC Open Data Community Hour Nov 18, 2020, video
Youth Engagement Training
We are partnered with the NYC Youth Agenda to host workshops showcasing the power of intergenerational alliances in advancing outcomes for Community Districts and NYC at large!
Other Resources
Community District Profiles: New York City's 59 community boards were created by local law in 1975, and each represents a community district. These districts range in population from 50,000 to over 200,000 and reflect the City's diversity. The Department of City Planning's Community District Profiles organizes a wide variety of data, maps, and other content to present an accessible and informative view of the built environment, key socio-economic conditions, community board perspectives, and planning activities in each district. This information empowers residents, community board members, planners, and other stakeholders to engage in city planning and advocate for their communities.
Equity NYC: Use this website to explore the economic, social, environmental, and physical health of New York City across race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, location, and income.
Accessibility Guidance: Visit the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities website for guidance on how to learn best practices for making sure people with disabilities can access your meetings and published documents.
Zoning and Land Use Application Search: The Department of City Planning's beta Zoning Application Portal (ZAP) search allows the public to find current and historic information about Land Use applications.
Facilities Explorer: The New York City Department of City Planning aggregates information about facilities and program sites that are owned, operated, funded, licensed, or certified by a City, State, or Federal agency in the City of New York into a central database called the City Planning Facilities Database. These facilities generally help to shape the quality of life in the city's neighborhoods, and this dataset is the basis for a series of planning activities. The NYC Facilities Explorer is designed to make this expansive database more accessible to planners and city-builders across the five boroughs and to help all New Yorkers understand the breadth of government resources in their neighborhoods.
Population Factfinder: The New York City Population FactFinder provides detailed population and housing profiles for user-defined areas within New York City. Using data from decennial censuses and the American Community Survey, the profiles are comprehensive, covering the most basic population statistics, along with detailed social, economic, and housing information.
For more information, contact the Community Board Advisor, Benjamin Solotaire, at bsolotaire@civicengagement.nyc.gov