In honor of the forthcoming holiday, all month long we’re paying tribute to the borough we love by celebrating our valentines—the nonprofit organizations doing their part to make Brooklyn a better home for all.

Brooklyn is one of the world’s great artistic communities. Every year, more and more people in the arts are migrating here and making it their home. But for generations, Brooklyn has also produced great artists—young people with big talent and big dreams who got their start in our borough.

Summer in Brooklyn is when our borough truly comes to life. Neighbors convene on stoops over a shared pitcher of lemonade; kids in a kaleidoscope of colored t-shirts ride the subway to summer camp; parks are packed with runners, readers, and picnickers from dawn ‘til dusk—our communities’ spirit thrives in the warmer months. It’s also during these months that Brooklynites get together to give our neighborhoods a boost, be it with a fresh coat of paint or a new community garden.

Without a doubt, Brooklyn is the most exciting place in the world right now to be in the business of culture. From St. Ann’s Warehouse to the Brooklyn Museum, the Regina Opera in Bensonhurst to the Music Hall of Williamsburg, our borders are home to the most innovative artists, authors, performers, and producers anywhere.