Bricks and Mortals NY

What trends are you seeing in your house of faith? The latest statistics about membership and attendance in The Episcopal Church show a decline in the average Sunday attendance of 35% from 2014 to 2023, a period that also reflects significant losses during the pandemic years. Numbers for 2023, however, show an increase in attendance of 10.2% from the year before. Church leaders view this growth as a positive sign of renewed interest in faith communities centered on belonging and accessibility. Have you seen similar interest among your communities?

One week until the 2025 Faith-Owned Property Summit! Bricks and Mortals is excited to host the 2025 Faith-Owned Property Summit: 📅 Tuesday, October 21 ⏰ 8:30AM – 3PM 📍 New York Society for Ethical Culture This citywide gathering will connect faith communities, housing organizations, real estate professionals, and policy leaders to reimagine how faith-owned properties can strengthen neighborhoods and expand opportunities. ✨ Why should you join us? ➡️ Faith leaders: Learn about new city and state policies like City of Yes, hear stories from other congregations, and connect with potential partners. ➡️ Professionals: Discover project opportunities, share expertise, and build relationships with congregations ready to move their ideas forward. From affordable housing to arts programs, immigrant services to education, faith properties can spark real change. 👉 Reserve your spot today: https://lnkd.in/eBfWzhMn

In just 1️⃣ week! Register now -

In Salt Lake City, Mountain Springs Community Church has gifted its building to St. John’s Anglican Church instead of selling it. ⛪ After years of decline, Mountain Springs decided to close, while St. John’s, Utah’s only Anglican Church in North America, has been steadily growing without a permanent home. "By the time Mountain Springs Community Church decided it no longer had the critical mass to continue, support for granting the building to St. John’s was unanimous — the first time they had ever been unanimous on anything." This generous transfer repurposes the church building and allows St. John’s to continue expanding its ministry and serving the community. https://lnkd.in/eBBnrkiK

At the Faith-Owned Property Summit, you’ll get answers from policy, immigration, real estate, finance, and housing experts on your in-depth questions, gain helpful guidance, and learn how to start and how to succeed. Our housing deep dive session — just one of six! — includes two real estate experts, two representatives from government agencies that you’ll directly work with, and one Pastor who successfully led a large redevelopment of their own. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dgWidnqZ

Meet our newly elected Board of Directors: Dr. Debbie Almontaser Dr. Almontaser is an influential community leader and the Founder and CEO of Bridging Cultures Group Inc., a business that provides professional development and coaching for companies, universities, firms, and K–12 education personnel. She was the founding and former principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn, NY. A twenty-five-year veteran of the NYC Public School System, she taught special education, inclusion, trained teachers in literacy, and served as a multicultural specialist and diversity advisor. Currently, she is the Board President of the Muslim Community Network and sits on the boards of Therapy and Learning Center Preschool, 21in21, EMGAGE National, and ADC National.

💡 Spotlight on one of the SIX breakout sessions on October 21st (in 3 weeks)! BREAKOUT: Space Use Deep Dive Immigration Services & Space Rev. Dr. Ellen Clemot, Esq., Senior Counsel at Goldstein Hall, will lead this discussion on how faith organizations are using their spaces to serve immigrant communities. Offering services to creating partnerships, hosting at a congregation to developing new property, the participants in this panel illustrate the wide range of how faith spaces are being leveraged to meet the needs of this crisis. 💥 Moderator: Rev. Dr. Ellen Clark Clemot, Senior Counsel, Goldstein Hall PLLC, Bricks and Mortals Member 💥 Mary Rothwell Davis, Vice-Chancellor for Immigration & Refugees, The Episcopal Diocese of New York, Bricks and Mortals Member 💥 Debra Kalmuss, Immigrant Outreach Program, Congregation Bnai Jeshurun 💥 Rev. Dr. K Karpen, Senior Pastor, Church of St Paul & St Andrew United Methodist, Director, Bricks and Mortals Board of Directors 💥 Rev. Anne Marie Witchger, Priest-in-Charge, St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery ✅ Register now: https://lnkd.in/e_C2k5dF

✅ Case studies ✅ Resources ✅ Networking ✅ Events ✅ So much more Membership at Bricks and Mortals is beneficial for faith communities and public sector partners alike! https://lnkd.in/gDDgjjnb

Don't miss the 2025 Faith-Owned Property Summit! 🗓️ Oct 21 | 8:30–3 | 📍 NYC Society for Ethical Culture We’re bringing together: 🕍 Faith leaders 🏘️ Housing advocates 🏗️ Real estate professionals 📜 Policy makers We will explore how faith-owned properties can drive affordable housing, community programs, and social impact. ✨ Learn how new policies like City of Yes impact your property ✨ Get inspired by congregations reimagining their space ✨ Build partnerships that move ideas forward https://lnkd.in/eHt7SR_s

🎉 Last week, we celebrated the conclusion of a Faith-Based Affordable Housing project! Over the past six months, a dedicated cohort of houses of faith has worked alongside the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President and Bricks and Mortals to navigate the complex process of developing affordable housing on their properties. Through structured support and expert technical assistance, these congregations have turned thoughtful vision into actionable plans. Many are now on track to enter the HPD pipeline, while others have identified alternate paths to make a difference in their communities. This program isn’t just about housing—it’s about partnership, collaboration, and community impact. By leveraging the unique resources of faith-based organizations and the expertise of development professionals, we’ve built a model that can accelerate change, foster learning, and create a built-in support network for congregations committed to affordable housing. A huge thank you to all participating congregations, consultants, and supporters who made this program a success! 🙏💛 Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, Antonio Reynoso Deputy Borough President, Kim Council LISC NY Enterprise Community Partners Fried Frank Matter Real Estate Ariel Pa & Michael Tortorici Hunter College Urban Planning #AffordableHousing #Brooklyn #FaithInAction #CommunityImpact #HousingForAll #NYC #Collaboration #SocialImpact #NeighborhoodRevitalization #BrooklynStrong