Cooper Square Committee

You’re invited to a performance and fundraiser celebrating The Actors Playground program, formerly known as Studio One. Our theater program, which began in mid-2022, offers free acting classes to students ages 18 and up, and is led by our Artistic Director, Zainab Musa. The courses range from “Exploring the Basics,” to “Laying Your Foundation,” “Building a Character” and “Playing with Text.” This impactful program operates on a slim budget. We’re inviting you to join the growing circle of donors who want to support art education, particularly for artists of color.

We hope you will join us for:

* Wine and beer reception from 6:30 to 7:30 PM
* A 20-minute performance at 7:30 PM by The Actors Playground students
* A silent auction of tickets to various Broadway and Off-Broadway shows
* An art exhibit by sculptor Emily Clark

WHEN
Thursday, July 9, 2026
6:30 PM

WHERE
The Harriet Putterman Center
59-61 East 4th Street, Suite 3W

Free Training! Rent Overcharges
Tuesday, April 28, 6:30pm
Zoom

Over the years, landlords have illegally deregulated thousands of apartments in NYC, contributing to soaring rents. In this training, Mike Grinthal, Director of Housing Rights at TakeRoot Justice, will break down the process of determining whether you’re being overcharged for rent, and, if so, how to challenge it and potentially win back what you’ve overpaid.

RSVP required: bit.ly/rent-overcharges

TONIGHT!

Are you concerned that your landlord is surveilling you and your neighbors, or entering your apartment unlawfully? Join us for a free online training on Tuesday, March 31, at 6:30pm!

Mike Grinthal, Director of Housing Rights at TakeRoot Justice, will break down your right to privacy against these unwarranted intrusions.

RSVP required! Register at bit.ly/right-2-privacy

Organized tenants of 109 E 9th St rallied outside their building on March 24, 2026 alongside Cooper Square Committee and local elected officials to call attention to the fight to save their deeply affordable SRO housing, and the City’s recent decision to rescind their landlord Michael Geylik’s Certificate of No Harassment (CONH).

Single Room Occupancy buildings (SROs) are a form of deeply affordable housing where tenants rent a private room, and share common facilities like showers, toilets, and kitchens. 109 E 9th St is one of the few remaining SROs in the East Village. Prior to the building's sale to Michael Geylik in 2021, most of the 14 units at 109 E 9th St were tenanted. Now only 6 tenants remain. The landlord has refused to rent the other units, holding deeply affordable housing off the market, and has made it increasingly challenging for the remaining tenants to stay in their homes. The landlord's tactics have included the removal of 2 communal toilets, 1 bathing facility, and the building's only kitchen, as well as a lack of repairs on open DOB violations.

Read all about it at https://coopersquare.org/news-and-events/sro-032426