COMMUNITY NEWS
2023: ISSUE 3 SPICING UP SUMMER
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POLICY PROS 3 POWER SOURCE 4
SPICING UP SUMMER
SILVER ANNIVERSARY
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IT TAKES A VILLAGE
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SETTLING IN 7 MAKING A SPLASH
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GRATEFUL EVERY DAY
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Y CAMPS PROVIDE A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES
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hey say variety is the spice of life, and this summer the Y offered a wide variety of camp themes and trips to keep kids of all ages engaged. Across the five boroughs Ys offered camps and Summer Rising programs with themes such as Animal Planet, Aquatic Adventures, Dance and Music, Mad
Science, Nature, NY State of Mind, and Superheroes. To complement the themes, Y staff took campers on trips to places such as the Bronx Zoo, Gateway National Recreation Area, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Museum of Illusions, Alley
Pond Environmental Center, Museum of the City of New York, and the Grit Ninja obstacle course, and visited local parks, playgrounds, bowling alleys, and firehouses. Camps also hosted special events such as a Broadway Showcase, Career Day, End of Summer Carnival, Karaoke Party, Multicultural Day, Science Exhibit, and Sports Tournaments. Many Y camps are supported by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, and the Y would like to thank Con Edison for their lead sponsorship of Y Summer Camp.• (top, seated l to r) Jamaica Y Executive Director Cedric Dew, Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams, and Council Member Althea Stevens take part in a magical visit at one of the Y’s Summer Rising programs. (left, l to r) Assembly Member Sam Pirozzolo visits with campers and Broadway Y Early Childhood Director Allison Sicuranza and Broadway Y Executive Director Meghan Sinback.
(l to r) State Senator Nathalia Fernandez reads to campers at the Castle Hill Y; State Senator Kristen Gonzalez laughs it up with campers and Greenpoint Y Executive Director Kendall Charter.
(l to r) Deputy Queens Borough President Ebony Young hugs it out with campers at the Cross Island Y; Campers enjoy swim lessons at the Northeast Bronx Y. 2
WE’RE HERE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS –
to empower youth, improve health, and strengthen community.
POLICY PROS Y TEENS RETURN TO CITY HALL
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or the first time since 2019, participants in the Y’s Teens Take the City (TTC) program took over City Hall for an important evening of civic engagement. TTC is the Y’s signature teen civic engagement program that helps teens learn about City government, including Community Boards, the City Council, the Mayor’s office and City agencies. At City Hall, Y teens displayed posters related to their issues of concern, and then gathered in Chambers to present and vote on policy proposals. Outgoing teen leaders also passed the torch to the incoming Youth Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough Presidents, and Deputy Mayors.•
Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams connects with a Y teen – and possibly a future fellow legislator.
Longtime TTC supporter Council Member Gale Brewer spends time chatting with the next generation of city leadership.
Council Member Rita Joseph chums it up with outgoing Youth Mayor Dianna Levans.
Outgoing youth leaders preside over proceedings.
Council Member Selvena BrooksPowers spends time connecting with teens from the Rockaway Y.
Teens tell Council Members Christopher Marte (left) and Alexa Avilés (above left) about their areas of focus. (above right) Council Member Marjorie Velazquez and YMCA President and CEO Sharon Greenberger.
2023 ISSUE 3
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POWER SOURCE
BANK OF AMERICA SUPPORTS Y YOUTH WITH A NEW GRANT
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he Y is incredibly proud of our 2023 Y Rowe Scholars graduates! Through the Y’s comprehensive college and career access program, this year’s participants graduated at an impressive 97% rate compared to 84% citywide, and matriculated into college at a higher rate: with 94% attending college in the fall compared to the city’s average of just 66%.
To help expand access to the Rowe Scholars program, Bank of America announced a $1 million grant over four years to the Y Rowe Scholars program. This grant is designed to help answer Bank of America’s guiding question: “What would you like the power to do?” For many Y teens, power starts with going to the college of their choice, and this grant will enable the
At the end of the school year teens gathered at Bank of America for the Y’s annual College Decision Day event, where they celebrated their hard work and the bright futures ahead. In a room full of proud peers and mentors, nearly 70 Y teens announced their chosen colleges, including Howard University, Northwestern University, CUNY Baruch College and SUNY Brockport. Many of our teens will be the first in their families to attend college, highlighting the need for college access programs and financial scholarships.
(top) Y teens celebrate their college admissions at Bank of America; (above) Scholarship recipients hold up the certificates with their awards. 4
WE’RE HERE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS –
to empower youth, improve health, and strengthen community.
Y to bring more teens into a studentcentered career planning process, and strengthen their career readiness, expand alumni services, and enhance social-emotional learning. Bank of America has been supporting Y Rowe Scholars and other Y programs since 2018, and this is their largest gift to date. You can read more about this grant in our press release.•
SILVER ANNIVERSARY 25 YEARS OF THE VON DER HEYDEN SCHOLARSHIP
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mong the highlights of this year’s Heroes of New York Gala (formerly the Dodge Dinner) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art was the opportunity to celebrate Karl and Mary Ellen von der Heyden on the 25th anniversary of their YMCA college scholarship. Since the first awards were given in 1998, more than 40 students have benefited from the von der Heyden Scholarship Fund and have gone on to careers in banking, medicine, education and social services. The Y welcomed back twelve alumni who attended the gala to toast the von der Heydens for their steadfast commitment to making college a reality for YMCA youth, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. Currently each recipient receives a four-year scholarship that helps with tuition and other college expenses. The toast to Karl and Mary Ellen was capped off with awarding this year’s scholarships to Ryan La Barrie, attending Vanderbilt University, and Kimberly Navarrete, attending CUNY Hunter College.•
(clockwise from top) Karl and Mary von der Heyden celebrate their commitment to education over 25 years; YMCA President and CEO Sharon Greenberger gives remarks at Heroes of New York Gala; Ryan La Barrie and Kimberly Navarette, former Rowe Scholars and Teens Take the City leaders, receiving scholarship awards for their hard work; The Met lit for the Y.
2023 ISSUE 3
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
THE Y AND ITS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS DEEPEN IMPACT IN COMMUNITIES DADS DELIVER Council Member Kevin Riley and the Real Dads Network hosted a discussion and basketball clinic at the Northeast Bronx Y in honor of Father’s Day. WHOA BABY! Over 600 people attended a community baby shower hosted by Fred Washington and Gabriel DeJesus and the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau at the La Central Y.
GIVING BACK The Office of Council Member Nantasha Williams collaborated with the Jamaica Y to distribute clothing, pampers, socks, food supplies, and other materials to families.
DOLLARS AND SENSE The Financial Women’s Association led a financial literacy workshop for teens at the McBurney Y.
DRILL DOWN Former Knicks player Tim Thomas was joined by Brooklyn Deputy Borough President Kim Council and Council Member Farrah Louis at a special basketball clinic hosted by the New York Knicks for participants in the Saturday Night Lights program at the Flatbush Y. State Senator Leroy Comrie visited a similar clinic for kids in Y Afterschool in Jamaica. 6
WE’RE HERE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS –
to empower youth, improve health, and strengthen community.
PRIDE YMCA President and CEO Sharon Greenberger (center) led a Y contingent of staff, family, and members in the NYC Pride Parade.
SETTLING IN
THE Y SUPPORTS ASYLUM SEEKERS MAKING A NEW HOME IN NYC
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s New York City welcomes large numbers of asylum seekers, YMCAs across the five boroughs have looked for ways to support our newest neighbors as they settle in and integrate into their new communities. Our New Americans Initiative has partnered with Welcome.Us to mobilize Americans to sponsor those seeking refuge in the U.S. from Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The Y is also providing asylum seekers with wrap around support such as resources and referrals for legal, education, housing and other critical services, case management, free English language classes, workforce training and civics education. Y programs such as Y Afterschool, Summer Rising, summer camp, and early childhood programs have enrolled asylum seekers, and some YMCAs, such as the Greenpoint Y, offered them special scholarships. Our Y Community Markets at Coney Island, Flatbush, and North Brooklyn have provided free food and hygiene products to those in need, while the Long Island
Participants in the Y’s New Americans Initiatives, some of whom are asylum seekers, come together for a celebration.
City and Ridgewood Ys partnered with Assembly Member Juan Ardila to host clothing drives for families. Finally, Y housing locations have collaborated with Seafarers International and Samaritan Village to rent rooms or offer transitional housing.•
MAKING A SPLASH
THE CHINATOWN Y RESTARTS AQUATICS AND MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
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fter playing a pivotal role in helping the Chinatown Y restart membership services and aquatics programming, Council Member Christopher Marte stopped by to enjoy everything the Y has to offer. The Council Member swam a few laps in the pool and toured through the facility as the Y hosted a Community Day to celebrate being fully operational for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic affected operations.•
2023 ISSUE 3
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YMCA of Greater New York 5 West 63rd Street, 6th Floor New York, NY 10023 212 630 9600 ymcanyc.org
GRATEFUL EVERY DAY
THE Y THANKS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES FOR THEIR SUPPORT
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n recent years the Y has counted on government leaders more than ever to help us serve the most vulnerable families in our communities. Thanks to New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and members of the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate, the Y has received support for program operations, youth services, and swim instruction. New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and the New York City Council have also stepped in to support Y Afterschool, Teens Take the City, aquatics, opioid prevention and treatment, Asian American Pacific Islander services, a range of youth programs, and operations in key locations serving vulnerable communities. At the Y we show our gratitude by channeling that support into positive impacts. In 2022, the Y employed 2,584 youth, helped 14,600 people learn to swim and develop water safety skills, and distributed 466,000 pounds of food, among other things.• 8
WE’RE HERE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS –
to empower youth, improve health, and strengthen community.