ACT Programs at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

ACT Programs at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine is a religious organization in New York, NY. ACT, which stands for Advancing the Community of Tomorrow, has provided youth development and enrichment programs in and around the Cathedral of St. John the Divine since its founding in 1971. The programs serve a deliberately diverse population of young people, recognizing each child as an individual. Families can choose from a wide variety of programs delivered in a nurturing, educational environment and facilitated by caring, highly trained leaders. Core values guiding the work are child-centered learning, fun, diversity, safety, organization, and teamwork. ACT operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit and welcomes donations through the Cathedral website.

ACT is part of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world. The Cathedral grounds also host children's parties arranged through ACT, in addition to the broader programming overseen by leaders including the Executive Director of Cathedral Programming and the Executive Director of Operations, who oversees ACT alongside other departments. ACT has evolved over more than five decades to meet a range of developmental and enrichment needs for children and families in the surrounding community.

The Cathedral offers daily and Sunday worship, weekday Holy Eucharist services, online Morning and Evening Prayer via Zoom, and Choral Evensong on Sundays. Cathedral clergy officiate at marriages, including interfaith and same-sex ceremonies, as well as baptisms, funerals, and memorial services. Interment is available in the Columbarium regardless of religious affiliation. The grounds include a shop specializing in items from local artisans and fair trade certified sellers, and the Cathedral welcomes inquiries about corporate, non-profit, and film and television location rentals across its spaces.

ACT Programs holds a rating of 4.00 based on customer reviews, reflecting a positive reception from the families it serves. With more than fifty years of continuous programming for young people, ACT has built a longstanding presence within one of New York's most prominent religious institutions, offering a trusted environment where children of all ages and cultures can learn and grow.