Community

If I could do one thing, I’d make sure we stay healthy.

If you could do one thing for your community, what would it be? More walk-in clinics? More funding for health services closer to home? Completing the 2020 Census is a safe and easy way to inform billions in funding for hundreds of services and programs in your community. Respond online, by phone, or by mail.

2020CENSUS.GOV Complete the census at:

HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS 3 Expert Pay Negotiation Tips for Women

(Statepoint)

As advocates continue to put gender equity under a microscope and some progress has been made, there’s still a long way to go. The income gap between men and women has yet to be closed, and while employers have a huge role to play in creating a level playing field, many women could advocate for themselves more effectively during salary negotiations.

A recent Randstad US survey found that 60 percent of women have never negotiated their pay. Additionally, roughly half of the women surveyed (51 percent) also said they’re more likely to leave a job because they’re underpaid, rather than ask their manager for a raise.

Asking for more money can be stressful, particularly for women. Research has shown that women have a tendency to both underestimate their value and avoid assertiveness (an essential skill for negotiating). These factors make negotiating more difficult, but no less

important -- which is why you should be extra prepared. According to the experts at Randstad US, here’s how:

1. Know your value. Seventy-four percent of millennials expect a pay raise every year in order to stay at their companies, versus 62 percent of boomers and 66 percent of all

workers. It appears younger generations know their value and aren’t shy about asking for fair compensation when it counts most -- during salary negotiations. Do the same! Take inventory of your achievements, new skills and contributions that demonstrate your value, and be prepared to showcase those once negotiations start.

2. Know your market. Sixty percent of all workers surveyed wish their employers would publish salary or pay ranges for what each role earns across the company. Even if your company doesn’t do this, you’ll still want to familiarize yourself with the going pay rates in your industry. There are plenty of resources online (including Randstad’s comprehensive salary guide) to help with your research.

3. Know when to speak up. Be proactive. If you didn’t receive a raise in your last performance review or if you don’t have formal performance reviews, consider scheduling a meeting with your supervisor to talk about your performance and compensation. Of course, if the company has been cutting budgets or is struggling to meet its business goals, it’s probably best to wait to ask for a raise. Instead, use this time to ask your manager for feedback: What are you doing well? How would they like to see you improve? Show your manager that you want to do your job better, and then go make it happen. Then, revisit that pay conversation a few months later.

Ultimately, the best thing you can do is advocate for yourself. For your employer, it’s all about the return on investment, and if you can make a solid case, most employers are willing to negotiate rather than lose you to one of their competitors.

NEW CARD DESIGN!

HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS BROOKLYN BP Adams Celebrates Ghanaian Heritage at Brooklyn Borough Hall

Photo By: Erica Krodman/ Brooklyn BP’s Office

On Friday, March 6 th , Brooklyn Borough Pres ident Eric Adams celebrated his third annual Ghanaian Heritage event at Brooklyn Borough Hall, in partnership with Consul General of Gha na in New York Professor Samuel Amoako and Am bassador and Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations Her Excellency Martha Ama A. Pobee. During the cer emony, he honored local Ghanaian-American lead ers (such as Nana Boakye Yiadom, above) who

were making a difference in their communities.

“During my time as Borough President, it has been my mission to build bridges between cultures and facilitate a common understanding that while we may hail from different parts of the world, we are united as One Brooklyn,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “Our Ghanaian communi ty contributes immeasurably to the cultural, social, economic, and civic life of our borough, and we are so grateful to all who attended this year’s event celebrating Ghanaian her itage.” “The goal of these events is to create a plat form for Ghana to showcase its rich cultural heritage and other attractions to an American audience in order to promote mutu ally beneficial exchanges, foster trade and investment exchange,organize special events, trade shows, con certs, exhibits, lectures, to celebrate Ghanaian culture in New York, and the cul ture and history of Ghana and Ghanaian-Ameri cans,” said Jerry Kwabena Kansis, Executive Direc tor of the Ghanaian-American heritage committee and Brooklyn Ambassador to Ghana.

BROOKLYN UPCOMING EVENTS

Due to the Coronavirus many events have been cancelled or rescheduled. Please check with the venue in advance before attempting to attend any event listed here.

FREE Recurring Events in Brooklyn:

Office of the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office (209 Joralemon St.): Mon.-Fri., All day Score NYC Small Business Mentoring

Office of the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office (209 Joralemon St.): Mon.-Thurs., 9:30am4:00pm Constituent Assistance Center Walk-In

Brooklyn Bridge Park (Fornino at Pier 6) Tues. nights, 7:00pm NYRR (New York Road Runners) Van Dyke Community Center (392 Blake Ave.): Fridays, 2:00-3:00pm FREE Zumba for all HealthFirst members

Weekends in March & April Take a Closer Look at Spring Signs of Spring are everywhere as animals at the zoo and in your own backyard wake up from their winter sleep. Join us every weekend in March and April to celebrate spring and learn how to be an urban scientist. They’ll have activities to help you spot signs of wildlife, create seed bombs, and more! Prospect Park Zoo. 455 Flatbush Ave. FREE with Zoo admission.

Now until June 30 6:00-7:30pm Soca Dance class at Cumbe

A high-energy dance class with a cultural experience that blends Caribbean dancing with African and jazz dance technique on Fridays. 1368 Fulton Street. $15.

Tuesdays until June 30 7:00-9:00pm

Ronald K. Brown Community Dance Class

All dance levels are welcome to this community dance class with Ronald K. Brown at the Billie Holiday Theatre. Classes begin center floor with

an emphasis on alignment, rhythm and using the body to express ideas and themes; strength, prayer, and celebration. Restoration Plaza. 1368 Fulton Street. $15.

Now Until June 13 4:00pm DanceAfrica at Weeksville Weekends

Experience the magic of DanceAfrica at these free community workshops on the 2nd Saturday of the month. Led by BAM teaching artists Kimani Fowlin and Farai Malianga, classes will focus on a variety of dances, songs, and traditions from Africa and the diaspora. Weeksville Heritage Center. 158 Buffalo Avenue. FREE.

Now until March 21 7:30pm Irondale’s On Women Festival

Irondale, Brooklyn’s leading theatrical ensemble producing immersive and non-traditional performance, will present the On Women Festival, a three-week theater festival that places the feminine perspective in the spotlight. With two mainstage productions, To Moscow! A Palimpsest and Night Shadows - Or, One Hundred Million Voices Shouting, and two works-in-progress, England’s Splendid Daughters and The Fainting Room, coupled with educational workshops and a special performance by the Young New Yorker’s Women’s Ensemble, the festival highlights Irondale’s mission to present relevant and reflective works while tackling current issues facing the community. 85 South Oxford Street. $20-$80.

March 17 6:00-8:00pm Nick Vaughan & Jake Margolin: “Cabin Boy Blue/ Under the Sediment Interdisciplinary artists Nick & Jake present a performance lecture about a queer 18th-century maritime scandal, Indigofera tinctoria, and the beauty of oxidation. The artists’ research into the queer history of Louisiana and its intersection with the colonial indigo trade introduces their life’s work, “50 States,” a series of large-scale installations rooted in LGBTQ histories from every corner of the United States. BBG. 990 Washington Ave. $18.

March 19-April 23 1:00pm Afternoon at the Piano A new series in which Conservatory of Music’s extraordinarily talented pianists perform works for the solo piano. The March 12th recital will feature Zifeng Michael Zheng and Danying Zhang. FREE. Brooklyn College. 2900 Campus Road.

March 19 6:00-9:30pm Hustle Party Join the Museum to learn the dance, popularized at the world-famous nightclub, in a class led by Marlene Veras, resident instructor of Salsa Party with Balmir Latin Dance Studio. Then, get into the Studio 54 spirit with live music, social dancing, and performances by Brooklyn’s best hustle dancers. Brooklyn Museum. 200 Eastern Parkway. FREE with RSVP.

March 21 2:30-4:30pm Crystals + Stones III: Grids for Spiritual Growth + Manifesting

Crystal grids are powerful tools to manifest dreams, goals, and intentions. Learn how to create, build and empower your own therapeutic crystal grid for spiritual growth and manifesting. Heal Haus. 1082 Fulton Street. $25.

March 21 7:30-9:30pm Tarot as a Ritual This workshop will include personalized and group tarot readings, ending with a mini guided meditation to embody the energy of what came up in the group. Heal Haus. 1082 Fulton Street. $30.

March 24 6:00-8:00pm Eiko Otake: “A Body in the Garden”

MacArthur-winning dancer-choreographer Eiko Otake creates and performs site-specific work in and around the Palm House. Grounded in the Japanese dance theater form of butoh, Otake is interested in exploring the life cycle, climate change, and aging. Dress warmly. BBG. 990 Washington Ave. $18. Harlem Community Newspapers | March 19. 2020