HISTORY

 Thornhill Community Supportive Services Incorporated is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization located in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. T.C.S.S.I. is dedicated to the elevation of the quality of life for the disadvantaged population of our urban communities. We are caring individuals who live and work in these communities. We have an investment and desire to improve our community one person/life at a time. We serve as advocates who empower people with disabilities, mental illnesses. We also take a keen interest in our youths who lack or are resistant to direction and individuals who are released from prison or mental health facilities. In addition, we assist seniors in becoming more productive and in participating in the rehabilitation and stabilization of our communities.

As a tribute to a great woman, T.C.S.S.I was named and created in honor of Carmen E. Thornhill born 01/16/1921 to 10/12/2001 she was the mother of Ivan & Steven Bannister, mother in-law to Marilyn & Bertha Bannister. She dedicated her entire life to improving the lives of others. She believed that in order to enjoy the total fulfillment that God has promised us we must provide service to those who are less fortunate than ourselves. She raised several children (as a sleep in nanny) from households of doctors, lawyers and other professionals. She cooked, baked and fed those that were hungry and used her own resources to buy clothes for those who had none. She used traditional family values to mentor the children and their parents. She was a true humanitarian and loved all unconditionally.

VISION

Thornhill believes that if we want to bring about real change in our communities we must be willing to give back and share! We must organize and utilize skilled people from our communities to share their knowledge, experiences and passions with the youth and other forgotten people. In order to change some of the conditions that affect our inner cities such as gang violence, crime against each other, violence in our school systems, high rates of substance abuse among our children, high rates of teen pregnancy, our failing educational and penal systems, we must work to change the mind set of youth and young adults. Many people in our underprivileged area lack exposure and opportunities; they are afraid of the red tape associated with accessing services from big agencies. We at Thornhill have the experience and patience to help navigate these mazes. We must be willing to bring information, education and training to the people. If each one of us donates a minimum of four (4) hours per week or even per month to mentor a child (who holds our future) and a young mother, we can change our future generation. If we reach out to at least one senior (who holds our history) we can reduce hopelessness, loneliness and worthlessness. Through this integration of our youth and seniors we change the lives of two generations. This is the Village Concept, in which we take care of our own. This new empowerment of a people will bring about a more respectful, loving, caring and understanding community of people.

THORNHILL INTERNET RADIO STATION AND TV

The desire to bring about a form of media (Radio and Film) produced by our youths is the innovation of an organization, which has dedicated its many years of services to the empowerment of our at risk youths. The youths will have the opportunity to work on personal projects from the beginning to the end.

Working with our children and young adults to become more active is Thornhill’s overall goal in the betterment and stabilization of our communities. Through the collaboration and merging of the minds of a few powerhouse members of our community (Kelvin Lilies, Ivan Bannister and Robert Pondexter) Thornhill Internet Radio/TV was born. (website: www.thornhillinternetradiotv.org )