Op Ed Editorial

HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS BP LEE, 100 SUITS, CROSS-BOROUGH PARTNERS ANNOUNCE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE

100 Suits’ “Senior Deliveries and Culinary Program” Provides Summer Jobs for Local Teens, Freshly-Prepared Meals for Queens Seniors While Sharpening Skills

Acting Queens Boremployment opportunities ough President to several youth from across Sharon Lee and Southeast Queens, ages 15 100 Suits for 100 Men (“100 to 19, in the form of preparSuits”), together with key ing 140 healthy meals each partners and leaders, today Wednesday. The meals are announced the launch of 100 then delivered by the particiSuits’ “Senior Deliveries and pating youth on Thursdays to Culinary Program” Youth seniors throughout Southeast Initiative — a summer-long Queens, with approximately program employing local 100-110 of the meals to seteenagers to prepare freshniors specifically in Rochdale ly-made, nutritious meals Village. The participating and deliver to area seniors. youth and their parents also The initiative kicked off on meet remotely every Friday July 1 and runs through the to discuss the past and folfirst week of September, and lowing work week, as well as is designed to teach team engage with guest speakers building, culinary skills, fiabout various topics such as nancial literacy, time manfinancial literacy and more. agement, organizational and “This cross-borough operational skills, and more. partnership to provide em

The cross-borough partployment opportunities and nership has provided paid life lessons for our youth, while helping feed seniors in need, represents the best of Queens,” said Borough President LEE. “We are deeply grateful to all the partners responsible for bringing such a creative program to life.”

“We are very excited to have this great partnership, but most of all provide opportunities for our young people in our community,” said

100 Suits Founder KEVIN

LIVINGSTON. “This is a clear example of the community creating its own opportunities, and that’s what we’ve done here with our partners. Teamwork makes the dream work.”

Financial support for the program, which is at capacity, was provided by Borough President Lee, Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates and Feel Beauty Supply in Jamaica. Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp also provided financial support, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE).

The fresh ingredients are entirely donated and delivered weekly by Long Island City-based commercial kitchen Kommissary LIC: approximately 400 pounds of chicken, 250 pounds of rice and 150 pounds of fresh vegetables throughout the duration of the program (40, 25 and 15 pounds of each respective ingredient per week).

The meals are freshly-made and prepared by the participating youth at the teaching kitchen at Forestdale, Inc. in Forest Hills — opened just last year thanks in part to prior funding by then-Borough President Melinda Katz.

“The importance of this partnership with 100 Suits and Kevin Livingston is in empowering our youth, enabling them to learn a great trade with stability,” said Rochdale Vil

lage Board of Directors President JEAN RAN

DOLPH-CASTRO. “Just as important and humbly rewarding is feeding Rochdale Village seniors during the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring their health and well-being through healthy eating and improving their quality of life.”

We need to do our part in supporting the community and restoring confidence. Together with 100 suits, we can create these opportunities to empower the Youth to further their involvement in the community,” said Kommis

sary Chief Culture Officer

EDWARD SONG. “Always improving and helping others is what we are all about.”

“Forestdale was very pleased when the Borough President made this introduction to 100 Suits. Young people from one of the communities hardest hit by the pandemic were desperate for an opportunity to make a contribution to help their neighbors,” said Forestdale,

Inc. Executive Director

BILL WEISBERG. “Making meals for hundreds of seniors who have been most vulnerable and isolated at this time was an inspired idea by 100 Suits. Pairing the young chefs with Forestdale’s stateof-the-art teaching kitchen, which was sponsored by the Borough President’s Office and the City Council for just this sort community-building activity, was perfect.”

QUEENS UPCOMING EVENTS

Every Friday-Sunday 5:30pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm

Open Mic at QED

The best open mics in the city are BACK! Well, the backyard, to be specific! Comedians, poets, musicians, storytellers, performers of ALL types are welcome to perform for 4 minutes! Audience members are welcome, too! Events have very limited seating, temperature taken at the door and masks are to be worn at all times. Tickets are purchased online in advance. 27-16 23rd Ave. Buy tickets at qedastoria. com

Every Friday 8:00-9:30pm

Safe & Sound with Natalie Cuomo

Stand up comedy with Natalie Cuomo! Every Friday at 8pm. Featuring comedians from Netflix, HBO, Comedy Central & more! Events have very limited seating, temperature taken at the door and masks are to be worn at all times. Tickets are purchased online in advance. 27-16 23rd Ave. Buy tickets at qedastoria.com

Every Saturday 5:30pm

Transplants ComedyLive, In person, Outdoor Show

Comedians and new New Yorkers tell jokes about how they got here and where they’re from. Events have very limited seating, temperature taken at the door and masks are to be worn at all times. Tickets are purchased online in advance. 27-16 23rd Ave. Buy tickets at qedastoria.com

Every Saturday 8:00-9:00pm

Nerd is the /new Black

Nerd Is The New Black is a smart and edgy stand-up comedy show and also one of the hottest shows at QED. Charles McBee brings some of the funniest comedians from MTV, Comedy Central, and Netflix to perform on QED stage. Events have very limited seating, temperature taken at the door and masks are to be worn at all times. Tickets are purchased online in advance. 27-16 23rd Ave. Buy tickets at qedastoria. com

Every Sunday 2:00-3:30pm

The Re-Open Storytelling Show & Mic

Show up to QED, head to the backyard, throw your name in the bucket and tell a true, no theme, 5 minute story about something that happened to you at The Re-Open Storytelling Show! Hosted by David Lawson. $10 tickets must be purchased in advance. Proceeds will go towards keeping the lights on at QED in this uncertain time for venues everywhere. 27-16 23rd Ave. Buy tickets at qedastoria.com

Every Wednesday 6:00pm

Wellness Wednesdays

Every Wednesday at 6pm, join LIFE Camp, Inc and Kheperah Kearse live on Facebook for #WellnessWednesday. Learn simple wellness tips to bolster our mental, physical and emotional well-being during these trying times. Visit lifecampinc.com/wellness to join.

July 20-24 11:00am & 5:00pm

Virtual Week 2: Traditional Indian Dance with Abha Roy

Join Flushing Town Hall at home with this virtual dance camp. The first session for kids (5-12), students will be introduced to one particular state (region) of India through its dance movements, rhythms, and folk songs. The second session for adults features yoga and breathing exercises, followed by learning one particular Indian folk dance, and concludes with a revision and sharing session. General admission $60, $50 for members.

July 23 6:00pm

PBQS Community Affairs 3rd Annual Youth Camping in the Park

The Community Affairs Division of Patrol Borough Queens South is pleased to present the 3rd Annual Youth Camping in the Park event. Register now by contacting Detective Duhaney at (917) 353-0149. Meals will be served. Parents are invited to participate. This is a BYOT (Bring Your Own Tent) event.

July 24 1:00-1:45pm

Summer STEAM Series: Parachutes and Aerodynamics

Join for a unique virtual program! Run experiments with paper and parachutes! Participants will develop tests and trials to find the most effective parachute. Explore resistance and aerodynamics while documenting observations, and discover the best way to parachute your payloads of dolls and action figures down to safety! Please have printer paper or magazine pages, string (ribbon, twine, or yarn), tape, Scissors, and 5-10 paper clips (5 big or 10 small) available. Visit the lewislatimerhouse.org for more info.

July 25 All Day

Thrive NYC

The COVID-19 crisis, coupled with everything that’s going on right now, can feel alarming and heartbreaking all at once. If you’re having trouble with it, you are not alone. Call 1-888-NYC-Well or text WELL to 65173.

Vanderbilt Motor Parkway

Join the Queens Historical Society on this unique virtual tour! You will be exploring the neighborhood on foot and learning about its intricate histories from their tour guide, Marketing & Tourism Director at Queens Economic Development Corp., Rob Mackay. The tour will be a real-time live stream event via Instagram Live. Visit queenshistoricalsociety.org for more info.

July 25 All Day

Traditions Festival Online ‘20 (Artist Submission Deadline)

King Manor is calling for submissions of creative cultural expressions that celebrate heritage, identity, and minority voices while also tackling social justice issues in our community such as racial inequity, immigration, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights. This opportunity is open to any 18+ resident of New York City or Long Island! Selected submissions will be awarded an honorarium and be curated into a public, online gallery. Visit kingmanor.org to learn more on where to submit.