Purelements: An Evolution in Dance
City-funded organization
Purelements: An Evolution in Dance is a Brownsville, Brooklyn nonprofit, tax-exempt since 2008 (EIN 20-5332584), that runs a pre-professional dance training program introducing students to careers in the arts across multiple dance disciplines. The group has drawn city funding in 18 of the fiscal years between FY2009 and FY2027, including each of the last 4, and has received $1.4 million in discretionary council funding since FY2009. It currently holds $5.5 million in active contracts as of August 2026 with the Department of Youth and Community Development and the Department of Education, including a $2,876,603 "COMPASS Program NAE FY26" contract and a $1,600,000 "Student Support Services" contract with DOE. 72% of its contract value citywide has been awarded without a fresh competitive bid.
- Industry (per city contracts)
- Human Services
- City contracts (active)
- $5,496,607 · 3 contracts
- Awarded all-time
- $25,152,355 · 58 since 2010, incl. expired
- Paid to date
- $22,395,325
- Won without a fresh bid
- 72% of contract value · $18,082,959 · 26 contracts
- Discretionary funding (FY2009-FY2027)
- $1,388,659 · 82 awards
- Funding history
- Funded 18 years (FY2009–FY2027), including each of the last 4
- Top officer pay (FY2023)
- $110,589 · Lakai Worrell, Co-Exeutive Executive Director
Holds contracts at
- Department of Education City agency
- Department of Youth and Community Development City agency
City contracts
Registered city contracts, largest first by current contract value (not amount spent): running now, then registered to start later, then ended. Totals count every registered contract. Each line shows its Checkbook contract ID. The tag on each row is how it was awarded (“no-bid” = non-competitive).
- COMPASS Program NAE FY26 Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020268801943 $2,876,603
- Student Support Services Department of Education · MA104020269675041 $1,600,000
- COMPASS Program NAE Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020268801972 $1,020,004
- COMPASS Program Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020248800670 · ended 2025 $3,200,652
- COMPASS middle school services at Mott Hall Bridges Academy Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020190000200 · ended 2021 $2,086,200
- COMPASS programming at 210 Chester St Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020228800524 · ended 2023 $1,988,130
- COMPASS programming at 1000 Flatlands Avenue Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020228800598 · ended 2023 $1,481,422
- OST Middle School Expansion IC Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020151405058 · ended 2018 $1,316,700
- COMPASS middle school services at P.S. 235 Lenox School Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020190000199 · ended 2021 $1,308,600
- OST Middle School Expansion Department of Youth and Community Development · CT126020151405056 · ended 2018 $1,224,600
Discretionary funding received
City Council discretionary (member-item) awards, largest first. Covers FY2009-FY2027.
- Cultural Immigrant Initiative Cultural Immigrant Initiative · DCLA · FY2017 $50,000
- Cultural Immigrant Initiative - 42nd Council District Cultural Immigrant Initiative · DCLA · FY2018 $50,000
- Cultural Immigrant Initiative Cultural Immigrant Initiative · DCLA · FY2016 $46,875
- Cultural Immigrant Initiative Cultural Immigrant Initiative · DCLA · FY2019 $45,000
- 42nd Council District CM Barron · Cultural Immigrant Initiative · DCLA · FY2020 $45,000
- Council District 42 CM Barron · Cultural Immigrant Initiative · DCLA · FY2021 $45,000
- Cultural Immigrant Initiative Cultural Immigrant Initiative · DCLA · FY2015 $29,400
- P.S. 325 Fresh Creek Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2014 $20,000
- P.S. 213 New Lots Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2014 $20,000
- P.S. 213 New Lots Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2015 $20,000
- P.S. 325 Fresh Creek Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2015 $20,000
- Boys & Girls High School Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2015 $20,000
- P.S.184 Newport Sch Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2015 $20,000
- PS 137 Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2015 $20,000
- P.S. 184 Newport School Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2016 $20,000
- Boys & Girls High School Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2016 $20,000
- P.S. 325 Fresh Creek School Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2016 $20,000
- Public School 325K Fresh Creek School Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2017 $20,000
- Frances Perkins Academy Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2017 $20,000
- Public School 184K Newport School Cultural After-School Adventure (CASA) · DCLA · FY2017 $20,000
Funded by these council members
City Council members who steered discretionary (member-item) money to this organization, largest first (FY2020 and later, where the sponsoring member is disclosed). Sitting members link to their page.
- Barron FY2020-2021 · 8 awards $190,000
- Ampry-Samuel FY2020-2021 · 6 awards $85,000
- Eugene FY2020-2021 · 2 awards $40,000
- Rita C. Joseph FY2026-2027 · 2 awards $40,000
- Miller FY2020 · 1 award $20,000
- Cornegy FY2020-2021 · 2 awards $20,000
- Shahana K. Hanif FY2025 · 1 award $20,000
- Chris Banks FY2024 · 2 awards $12,500
Officer & key-staff pay
Reportable compensation from this organization's IRS Form 990 (Part VII), latest available filing (FY2023). Includes pay from related organizations where reported; an annual figure, not a running total. Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
- Lakai Worrell Co-Exeutive Executive Director $110,589
- Kevin Joseph Co-Exeutive Executive Director $108,564
Officer pay over time
Total officer pay changed +26% from FY2020 to FY2023. Top-officer reportable compensation by year (org-paid only), with each year's share of total revenue. Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer 990 filings.
- FY2020 Kevin Joseph · 8.62% of revenue $86,667
- FY2021 Kevin Joseph · 6.1% of revenue $85,714
- FY2022 Kevin Joseph · 6.55% of revenue $114,735
- FY2023 Lakai Worrell · 11.32% of revenue $110,589