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!

Queens Borough Election Cancelled and Summer School Model to be Implemented in NYC Public Schools

By: Erin Lewenauer T he special election for Queens Borough President, slated for March 24th, is now canceled. Mayor Bill de Blasio said given the contact an individual might have in a polling place, he could not reasonably continue with the election. On Saturday, March 14th, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Queens residents are able to vote via absentee ballots, after candidates Councilman Donovan Richards and Anthony Mirandacalled for postponementand Councilman Costa Constantinides and former Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley asked for absentee ballots.

In an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, New York City public schools, the largest school system in the country, will close March 17 th until April. De Blasio said the first attempt to reopen schools will be April 20th, but this is a developing situation. Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said teachers and school administrators are undergoing training in order to implement remote (online) learning. Carranza said it is critical for parents to sign up for a New York City Schools account in order to receive all the updates and materials needed for their kids to learn.

The Department of Education wants to provide as much flexibility as possible for students, similar to the summer school module. “Our goal is to slow the spread of the virus to a rate that the healthcare system can manage, and one of the ways to do that is to reduce density,” Governor Cuomo said in a press release. “Closing the schools is a good idea but you have to anticipate and correct any unintended consequences — we have to ensure children who rely on free school meals continue to get them and that there’s adequate child care, especially for healthcare workers and first responders who are parents of young children. We will close these schools but it needs to be done with these contingencies in mind so that children are not harmed and our hospitals aren’t understaffed — otherwise we cut off our nose to spite our face.” The plan to shutdown public schools follows news of P.S. 306 in Woodhavenundergoing cleaning and disinfection after a school safety officer tested positive for coronavirus. Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee urged Queens families to keep their kids home from school before the official announcement. Numerous Queens elected officials also called for schools to close as the number of coronavirus cases rose to 329 confirmed cases in New York City as of March 17 th : 78 in Queens, 72 in Manhattan, 53 Brooklyn, 21 in the Bronx, 16 in Staten Island — de Blasio didn’t have the most recent tally with 5 deaths (all of whom had pre-existing conditions).

Everyone will work together to find a system that will ensure children who rely on school breakfast and lunch programs will continue to receive that support, and parents will be provided access to child care as needed, including temporary daycare centers. To manage more than a million public school students, some with nowhere to go, the city is planning “specialized sites” where children of essential workers can find childcare. Senior Centers will be closed and turned into food distribution centers, where some can get “grab-and-go” meals. The situation is constantly evolving and the priority is the health and safety of the community.

Queens Upcoming Events

Due to the Coronavirus many events have been cancelled or resched- uled. Please check with the venue in advance before attempting to at- tend any event listed here.

FREE Recurring events in Queens:

York College (94-20 Guy R Brewer Blvd): Ev- ery Tuesday, 6:00pm York College Jazz Workshop with Professor Mark Ad- ams

M.S. 216 (64-20 175th Street): Every Wednes- day, 6:00pm American Sign Language Class for Adults

Now Until March 22 8:00-4:00pm Art in the Garden: Rec- ollections: Highlights from our Permanent Collection See select works from the first ten years of exhi- bitions in QBG’s art gal- lery. 4350 Main Street. FREE drop-ins.

Now Until December 2020 Jay Jaxon: 40 Years of Fashion Design Brilliance The Jay Jaxon exhibi- tion celebrates the life of Queens native, Jay Jaxon as an American Fashion Designer, Haute Couture Designer, and Costume Designer. Further, it re- stores the history of Jax- on by displaying artifacts and objects from his per- sonal design archives as well as primary sources from the research of fash- ion scholar and guest cu- rator Rachel Fenderson. QHS. 143-35 37th Avenue. FREE.

Now Until May 5 6:30pm Make Something! Workshop Series

Create a baby quilt in time for Mother’s Day! Over ten weeks, learn the basics of quilting to sew a beautiful 36”x 36” quilt. Participants will learn to hand sew, edge, baste, bat, as well as some ma- chine work. Quilt sup- plies included, sewing machine onsite. Flushing Town Hall. 137-35 North- ern Blvd. All 10 week ses- sions for $125. March 19 6:30pm Colon Cancer Aware- ness & Screening

It’s National Colorec- tal Cancer Month! Learn about colon cancer screening and when and where to get tested. Sign up today! Broadway Li- brary. 40-20 Broadway. FREE.

March 19 7:00-10:00pm 10th Annual Queens World Film Festival Open- ing Night

Opening Night of the 10th Annual Queens World Film Festival featur- ing dazzling short films, a live musical performance and special guests. Come help kick-off the ten days of an experi- ence like no other. Muse- um of the Moving Image. 36-01 35 Ave. $20. March 21 10:00-1:00pm Meadow Lake Resto- ration: Pruning Project

Spring is around the corner! Join the FMCP En- vironmental Stewardship Team as they kickoff the spring season and work to maintain the rain gar- den at Meadow Lake. Rain gardens are import- ant for removing pollut- ants, absorbing nutrients, and increasing the bio- diversity within the area. You will use tools to prune ornamental grasses with- in the rain garden and re- move invasive plant spe- cies that have crept up and invaded the space. All ages and experience levels are welcome! 30 Meadow Lake Trail. FREE. March 21 7:00-10:00pm Dreaming of 1975 “Dreaming Of 1975” is inspired by the wide- spread birth of thousands of children born in 1975 during the rise of African Spirituality throughout the Diaspora. The work also pays homage to seminal African artists and pio- neers who were devot- ed to building families and strong communities. York College. 94-45 Guy R Brewer Blvd. FREE with RSVP.

March 21 2:00-4:00pm Introduction to Acrylic Painting on Fabric

This course will focus on the foundation of acrylic paints, including its appli- cation, color mixing and its different properties. The students will learn to create acrylic paintings that are applied to found fabrics and printed tex- tiles. By incorporating the textile designs to painted imagery, this workshop aims to combine found patterns into narrative paintings. Queens Muse- um New York City Build- ing. FREE with Museum admission.

March 22 1:30-4:30pm Sunday Family Work- shop: Sustainable City

In honor of World Wa- ter Day, let’s create the city of the future that is more eco friendly. Show how important water is to our city and the won- derful things we can do with the power of clean water. Queens Museum. New York City Building. FREE.

March 23 6:30-8:30pm Public Speaking and Women’s Advocacy

Have trepidation about public speaking or making presentations? Join to help surmount your fears. Better public speaking skills can help you in many areas, in- cluding your career and when you advocate for women’s rights. Queens Borough Hall. 120-55 Queens Blvd. FREE.

March 25 6:00-8:00pm Bangladesh Indepen- dence Day

Queens Borough Presi- dent Sharon Lee cordially invites you to the annual Bangladesh Indepen- dence Day Celebration. Queens Borough Hall. 120-55 Queens Blvd. FREE. March 26 5:00pm Way you’re Hurting Your Eyes & Tips for Sav- ing Them

Are you protecting your eyes from the sun? Following the 20-20-20 rule? If not, you are not doing enough for the health of your eyes. Learn from Mount Sinai Queens optometrist, Dr. Elena Schmidt, what you can do today to take care of your eyes and preserve your vision as you age. Trattoria L’incontro. 21-76 31st Street. FREE. Harlem Community Newspapers | March 19. 2020