Alex Czertok
Co-founder & Executive DirectorAfter 25 years in real estate development and management, Alex moved into mental health in 2023, creating the Achieve Clubhouse, a recovery-oriented support community within Achieve Behavioral Health. He previously ran a boys’ drop-in center in Brooklyn and co-founded Lighthouse with Bayla in 2021 to address the need for support for girls and young women in Monsey.
Bayla Czertok
Co-founder & Program DirectorOriginally from Toronto, Canada, Bayla is the Program Director and Co-Founder of the Monsey Lighthouse, a full-time occupational therapist with the New York City Department of Education, and a mother of four. Together with her husband, Alex, she created Lighthouse in 2021 as a welcoming place where girls can build friendships, find support, and feel at home. As Program Director, she leads the meals, activities, and programming that bring the Lighthouse community together.
OUR STORY
The Lighthouse story
Before Lighthouse, Alex Czertok ran a drop-in center for boys in Brooklyn from 2017 to 2020. Seeing a huge need in the Monsey community for a safe place for girls, he and his wife, Bayla, founded The Monsey Lighthouse in 2021.
Together, they created a warm, non-judgmental space where girls can spend time with friends, build relationships with mentors, share a meal, and find support with the challenges they face.
What began with a need for connection has become a community. Since opening, Lighthouse has served more than 500 girls, with over 100 currently engaged members.
OUR PURPOSE
The Lighthouse Project’s primary focus is to provide a non-judgmental safe space for people to connect to each other with unconditional love, support, and guidance, so people can be happy, healthy, and productive individuals.
THE LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT
Meet the Team
LIGHTHOUSE IN CONVERSATION
Podcasts & Conversations
VOICES FROM OUR COMMUNITY
In their own words.
Words shared by Lighthouse members and community supporters. Names are kept private.
“Lighthouse has always been a safe place for me to be able to go, make friendships, socialize, and have a good time!”
“I began going to the Lighthouse during one of the darkest periods of my life. At that time, it was the only place where I felt safe and supported, thanks to the incredible mentors there.”
“When I felt I had nowhere to turn, I still had a place I could go that made me feel loved and supported.”
“It helped me get my social life and I met some of my closest friends there”
“Lighthouse provides a safe non-judgemental space for teens/young adults to connect to others and helps a lot of people who are struggling!”
“Lighthouse is a space for teenage girls to come together, hang out, and feel included no matter what they’re going through. It’s a place where girls can feel supported, welcomed, and like they truly belong.”
BEFORE YOUR FIRST VISIT
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to join?+
Please message our team for current membership and program details, including any costs.
Who can join Lighthouse?+
Lighthouse serves girls and young women ages 15–25 in the Monsey community. Sunday is for ages 15–18, Tuesday for ages 15–25, and Thursday for ages 18–25. Contact our team before your first visit so we can help you get started.
Do I need to know someone to come?+
You do not need to come with a friend. Message our team before your first visit so we can welcome you and share the details.
Can I get a ride?+
Yes. If you do not have a car, we provide door-to-door transportation. Contact our team to arrange your ride. Wednesday transportation is only available to members signed up for a Resource Day appointment.
How do I arrange Resource Day?+
Wednesday Resource Day runs from noon to 3 PM by appointment. Meet one-on-one with a social worker for help with housing, employment, car repair assistance, finding a therapist, or other resources. Message us to arrange a time.