JawnAnthony Bramble
OST Director

OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (OST) nurtures the social development and academic success of youth by providing them with a safe and enriching environment outside of school and home. This free after-school program serves elementary and middle school students at 6 program sites across Central Harlem, Carroll Gardens, Coney Island, and Brownsville, Brooklyn.

OST students engage in age-appropriate conflict resolution sessions through our Adventures in Peace Keeping program, explore environmental science and grow produce through the Gardening Project, and reflect on self-empowerment and racial justice through Everyday Heroes. These programs embody OST’s commitment to serving the whole child and, by extension, meeting the needs of the community.

“We consider ourselves the nucleus of the community,” says OST Director JawnAnthony Bramble. “We take a holistic approach, asking ourselves ‘How are we serving the student and how are we serving the family?

JawnAnthony joined GAWA NYC in 2021, initially serving as a site program director before becoming OST Director later that year. He knows firsthand what it’s like to find a second home in Out-of-School programs. A self-described after-school kid from West Harlem, JawnAnthony joined GAWA NYC with a passion for youth development and a love for coaching and developing staff.

“If there’s anything I wish people would know about us, it’s that we go above and beyond. We’re not just a tutoring program. We ask what the students and community need, and we develop the resources to meet that gap,” says JawnAnthony..

The gap has grown even wider following the COVID-19 pandemic. Test scores are down, and there’s increased social disconnect among youth. “We want to bridge that gap,” says JawnAnthony. OST is committed to providing resources for students and families, hiring specialists within OST programs to address academic and social needs, and connecting families to social services, community forums, and other city resources.

I understand the support the kids need. I remember being that kid, says JawnAnthony. “This is what’s possible through OST: equity. Through OST, we shine a light on inequity and offer space for the community to advocate for themselves.