Volunteer for L3BA Street Tree Care & Clean Up Events
Co-Founder + Project Director for L3BA, Brenda B is a native of NYC who has lived in East Harlem since 1997. Inspired by the Holy Spirit of God to do community service, she partnered with her neighbor and friend Brian to start L3BA. She recently launched the Lex & 3rd Unity Project (L3UP), a newly established nonprofit [status pending]. L3UP serves as a coordinating entity and fiduciary partner for L3BA neighborhood initiatives, providing the professional administrative framework and oversight needed to secure grants and manage large-scale charitable projects.
The Lex & 3rd Block Association aka L3BA is a committed group of local residents striving to support the neighborhood in areas of cleanliness, political representation, and cultural preservation.
L3BA is an Unregistered Community Group: This is a group of people in a neighborhood who organize to address local community issues, like safety, beautification, or organizing community events, without formal legal incorporation or nonprofit registration. Such groups operate informally but have an important impact on their community.
Co-Founder + Senior Board Member, Brian has been a 20+ veteran of the community and has seen a lot of positive change in our community since moving here in January 2000. His enthusiasm and care for the neighborhood started in the early 2000’s when he worked with the parks department and city to have trees planted along East 99th Street! Brian has known Brenda for many years, and they shared common goals and ideals to help keep our community clean, safe and support our many local businesses.
All L3BA Board Members volunteer their time without compensation.** They live in the neighborhood, have planted deep roots here, and plan to remain in the community permanently. They participate in decisions about L3BA activities while maintaining a semi-private profile, so we do not publish their last names.
Brian M
Bridgette B
Brenda B
Naoko K
** Along with the L3BA Board, our Project Director & Event Volunteers also volunteer their time without compensation.
The Lex & 3rd Block Association Pillars:
* Keep our streets clean – free of pet waste, unnecessary trash/dumping and recent uptick in graffiti
* Support local businesses – promote events, buy local, share security footage for safety reasons
* Liaise with public officials – specifically the City Council, State and Federal legislature representatives, working to secure funding for our area
L3BA IS NON PARTISAN WE WELCOME ALL. We respect your right to vote as you see fit. We accept respectful diverse political points of view. We work with anyone who wants to do good for our neighborhood.
The Lex & 3rd Block Association is an inclusive community organization for ALL residents! We celebrate our diverse community & collaborate with everyone - regardless of beliefs - to make our neighborhood a better place. We believe in focusing on what unites us while respecting our differences. Join us for meet-ups, events and online gatherings!
Our Fiduciary Partner: Lex & 3rd Unity Project (L3UP) For formal funding avenues and grant-funded initiatives, L3BA partners with the Lex & 3rd Unity Project (L3UP). As a newly established nonprofit [501(c)(3) status pending], L3UP serves as the coordinating entity and fiduciary framework for our community’s charitable projects.
L3UP directly pursues grants and manages specialized fundraising efforts, providing the professional oversight and administrative structure required to ensure all resources are used effectively for the benefit of East Harlem. This partnership ensures that neighborhood projects meet the highest standards of transparency and regulatory compliance.
For more information on our coordinating partner, visit the L3UP website: