30 years of Service

C.O.C.O.A House Inc was founded in 1996 by Union College student Rachel Graham. The Graham family were a staple in the community as they owned Grace Temple C.O.G.I.C which was located around the corner from the 869 Stanley Street address. Harnessing support from Union college and her Church Family; the project quickly became a viable program offering Academic services to youth living in Hamilton Hill in Schenectady.

In 2017 after some difficult times, a new opportunity came about as Community leader William Rivas came in with a renewed vision and energy. William's focus was/is community Oriented and centered around Innovation and Collaboration. William raised $250,000 to renovate his childhood home into the 518 Empowerment Center and was able to secure a $500,000 ARPA Federal Grant to hire and retain local youth and employees. 

At C.O.C.O.A House Inc, we offer a variety of programs designed to meet the unique needs of young people in our community. From academic support and career readiness to arts and culture and sports and recreation, our programs provide young people with the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to succeed in life.