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RFP for Mechanical Engineering Services read the RFP>> September 2010
Summer's First Class of UPS Interns Says Farewell to Henry Street July 15, 2010
The nine members of the summer’s first United Parcel Service (UPS) Community Internship Program (CIP) said farewell to Henry Street and New York City on July 1 at a recognition ceremony and lunch hosted on their behalf.
For four weeks, the interns senior-level UPS managers selected from places as diverse as Spain, China and Kentucky work full-time at Settlement programs, including its day care centers, shelters, senior center, job training sites and more.
Now in its 42nd year, the program aims to foster a greater sensitivity to the social effects of poverty, as well as ideas for building job opportunities for low-income residents living in the interns’ home communities, which are largely rural and suburban. Henry Street clients also benefit, from the mentoring and practical skills imparted by the interns.
Before having lunch with Settlement staff members in the amphitheater of the Abrons Arts Center, the interns shared their experiences and thanked Henry Street for setting an example.
“The inspiration we got from this will last a lifetime,” said Ivy Yang, a UPS manager from Guangzhou, China, who worked at Henry Street’s Workforce Development Center during her internship. “This has been a most rewarding journey for me.”
This session's interns were Brad Schwandt of Louisville, Kentucky; Jackie Seguerra of Rancho Cucamonga, California; Scott Millot of Corona, California; Al Worthy of O'Fallon, Missouri; Scott Bowerman of Cibolo, Texas; Mike Slabaugh of Lebanon, Tennessee; Paco Conejo of Madrid, Spain; Gabriel Obregon of Distrito Federal, Mexico; and Ivy Yang of Guangzhou, China.
The second session interns began at the Settlement on July 13.
Henry Street Honors 100 Senior Companions at Luncheon June 29, 2010
Approximately 100 volunteers in Henry Street Settlement’s Senior Companion Program were honored for outstanding work and years of service at a luncheon held June 17 at the Metropolitan Hospital Center. The volunteers also received certificates of recognition from their respective borough presidents.
Donna Smith, New York State Director of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the program’s federal funder, took to the podium to thank the volunteers for their work, and to commend them on leading healthy and active lives. She was followed by Henry Street Executive Director Verona Middleton-Jeter, who told the senior companions that she plans to follow their continued commitment to service after she retires on June 30.
Henry Street’s Senior Companion Program pairs healthy older adults with homebound, elderly individuals. In addition to providing friendship, senior companions help with shopping and getting to and from medical appointments. Senior Companions must be 55 years old or older and in good health, have a limited income and be able to travel on mass transit. They volunteer 20 hours a week and receive a small stipend for their efforts.
To learn more about the Senior Companion Program, call 212.406.5044.
Students Celebrate Successful First Semester of Architecture Residency June 24, 2010
At a party held in their honor on June 22, students at the Shuang Wen School in Chinatown celebrated the completion of the first semester of a yearlong architecture residency, an after-school program coordinated by the Arts-in-Education program at Henry Street’s Abrons Arts Center and made possible through the generous support of the MetLife Foundation’s Out-of-School Time Initiative. Henry Street was honored to have April Hawkins, director of the foundation’s Civic Affairs Program, at the event to see the culmination of the students’ hard work and creativity.
The project, developed by teaching architect Howard Stern, challenged 168 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders to design chairs for the school’s outdoor courtyard. In teams of two or three, the students brainstormed ideas and translated them into three-dimensional models.
At the celebration, the students’ designs were prominently displayed onstage in the school’s auditorium, and representatives from each grade spoke about how much they learned through the program — and how much fun they had. The designs were as diverse as they were creative: Some students adopted an abstract, ultra-modern approach; others modeled their chairs after an animal, such as a duck or cat. At least two of the best designs, decided by a student vote, will be built and installed in the courtyard.
Throughout the residency’s 30 sessions, which began in January, students were assigned collaborative projects to teach them about the concepts of design, measurement, proportion and scale.
Community Leaders, Colleagues Celebrate Verona Middleton-Jeter June 17, 2010
Some 300 well-wishers filled the Abrons Arts Center on May 24 for a lively party to send Henry Street Executive Director Verona Middleton-Jeter off in style, as she retires after 38 years of service.
New York City Council Member Rosie Mendez praised Middleton-Jeter’s impact on the city, as did representatives from the offices of New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, New York State Sen. Daniel Squadron and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. The crowd also heard of Middleton-Jeter’s achievements from several of her colleagues, including Nancy Wackstein, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses; Suzi Epstein, Managing Director of Robin Hood Foundation; Mary Haviland, Commissioner of the Crime Victims Board; Rita Zimmer, Executive Director of Housing Plus Solutions; Stephanie Palmer, Executive Director of NYC Mission Society/Minisink; and Danny Kronenfeld, who preceded Middleton-Jeter as Henry Street’s Executive Director.
On the lighter side, a video tribute, featuring humorous skits from employees, was shown to great applause, and a performance of “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” (with new lyrics written for the occasion) by three senior staff members dressed in California Raisins costumes brought down the house. Guests later enjoyed a light buffet and dancing in the Abrons Main Gallery.
Abrons Family's Support of Henry Street Recognized in The Wall Street Journal June 10, 2010
Richard Abrons — and his family’s 114-year-old bond with Henry Street Settlement — are featured in the June 9 edition of The Wall Street Journal.
In 1896, Lillian Wald, Henry Street’s founder, visited Mr. Abrons’s widowed grandmother and her children. Seeing their poverty, Ms. Wald provided work sewing nurses' uniforms and established a connection that exists to this day. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren are still repaying that act of kindness by giving generously to the Settlement and serving on the Board of Directors. In addition to offering general support to the Settlement, the family's gifts have helped to create Henry Street’s Abrons Arts Center, Workforce Development Center and Parent Center, and provide scholarships annually for college students in the agency's college prep program.
“It’s part of our family’s tradition,” Mr. Abrons told The Journal. “If you strengthen neighborhoods, you strengthen the city.”
Henry Street Gives Out Record-Breaking 100 Youth Scholarships June 10, 2010
Thanks to a generous donation from the Abrons/Aranow Scholarship Fund, Henry Street Settlement awarded scholarships to a record-breaking 100 students at the Eighth Annual Youth Scholar Awards Ceremony on June 3, held at St. Augustine Church. The awards which totaled $50,000 will help the recipients purchase books and pay for other college-related expenses.
“You are our leaders and the voice of Henry Street dispersed throughout the country,” Ritu Sen, Henry Street's Director of Adolescent Education, said at the ceremony. “Take what you’ve learned here on the Lower East Side and spread it to Binghamton, Syracuse, Mount Holyoke and beyond.”
The students’ academic achievements were also recognized by proclamations from three local politicians: State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, State Sen. Daniel Squadron and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.
“You won’t leave the neighborhood forever,” Squadron said when presenting his proclamation. “Come back to Henry Street and help the next generation get what you got.”
Mary Ng, a first-time scholarship recipient who will attend Barnard College this fall, spoke of the invaluable college admissions counseling she received at Henry Street, which her high school lacked.
“Imagine 1,000 seniors stressing over the college process but finding that the appointment list was already packed,” she said. “I had to look for help Henry Street was there.”
This year’s scholars also received congratulations from Henry Street's Executive Director-Elect David Garza, who shared his own story of going to college despite growing up with limited resources. He urged the students to use what they learn in college to improve the world.
“The true value of an education is gaining knowledge so you can help others,” he said.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Visits Henry Street, Pledges to Help Settlement Achieve Its Goals June 2, 2010
Executive Director Verona Middleton-Jeter, Gillibrand, and Executive Director Elect David Garza
While visiting Henry Street Settlement on June 1, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) vowed to do her best to connect the agency with federal funds to aid the residents of the Lower East Side.
“Henry Street makes a difference for people who are struggling," Gillibrand said. "Thank you for your commitment, advocacy and hard work, and I pledge to work with you to help you to bring federal dollars here.”
During the senator’s one-hour visit to Henry Street, she spoke to members of the staff and Board of Directors in the Settlement’s historic dining room and then toured the agency’s Good Companions Senior Center, where she spoke to seniors and saw several programs in action, including a tai chi class and an afternoon tea.
Addressing the standing room only crowd, Robert Harrison, Chairman of Henry Street’s Board, said, “On behalf of our 400 employees, 1,200 volunteers and 50,000 clients, I am honored to welcome Senator Gillibrand.” He noted that she was in good company: Over the years, visitors to the agency have included Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, Princess Diana, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and a long list of mayors, senators, governors and presidential candidates.
Verona Middleton-Jeter, Henry Street’s Executive Director, spoke of the common interests shared by the agency and the senator, particularly in the areas of affordable child care, affordable housing, domestic violence and helping seniors citizens maintain their independence. She also spoke of frustration over lack of resources to help more individuals, and asked the senator for help accessing federal funds.
When asked by David Garza, Henry Street’s Executive Director-Elect, about bringing more jobs to New York City, Gillibrand said that the government is taking a broad, three-pronged approach: helping small businesses access capital; allocating more dollars toward infrastructure creation (bridges, sewers and other public works projects); and making New York more energy efficient, which creates jobs to do so.
Henry Street youth client and Mount Saint Mary College student Nadirah Muhammad asked the Senator whether more summer jobs for youth could be created. Gillibrand responded that although there are additional programs now to keep kids engaged and occupied — and away from gang influence — she admitted this is going to be a “tough summer” for teens searching for jobs.
Gillibrand, in response to a question from Larraine Ahto, Henry Street Chief Officer for Planning and Integration, vowed to support the agency’s efforts in providing primary and mental health services to clilents.
Senator Gillibrand was invited to the Settlement by Advisory Board member Michael Wolkowitz who said, "It was my great honor to bring the Senator to meet the people of Henry Street."
Daniel Squadron Pays Second Visit This Month to Good Companions Senior Center May 21, 2010
State Senator Daniel Squadron is getting to be a regular visitor here at Henry Street.
Dropping by the Good Companion Senior Center for the second time in two weeks, Sen. Squadron, Chairman of the Social Services Committee, received a big round of applause from seniors when he said, in reference to the pending state budget, "We can't cut services to seniors."
Before speaking with dozens of seniors individually, he invited members of the center to call his office with issues they may have, and distributed information cards in English, Spanish and Chinese.
Scott Stringer Visits Henry Street's Good Companions Senior Center May 13, 2010
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer visited Henry Street Settlement’s Good Companions Senior Center at lunchtime on May 10 to speak to seniors about impending state budget cuts. Stringer told the seniors that the proposed cuts totaling $25 million would put many senior centers like Henry Street’s at risk. Seniors, he said, shouldn’t have to bear the burden of the budget crisis in Albany, and he urged his audience to send letters of concern to their state representatives.
Rare Dances by Pioneer Alwin Nikolais Restaged at Henry Street Playhouse May 3, 2010
Nearly 1,000 dance enthusiasts gathered at the Abrons Arts Center for the Alwin Nikolais Centennial, an historic three-day festival honoring the one of the most innovative founders of modern dance and former director of Henry Street’s Playhouse.
The celebration, which marked the 100th anniversary of Nikolais’s birth, began April 30 with From the Horse’s Mouse: Remembering Nik, a “live dance documentary” featuring dance legends Murray Louis, Phyllis Lamhut and 30 other performers, who shared poignant anecdotes — some funny, others serious — about the choreographer and his legacy.
The festival continued May 1 and 2 with remounting of classic Nikolais dances by the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, as well as a performance of audience favorite Tensile Involvement by the Abrons Dance Ensemble.
“It was thrilling to see these dances recreated on the stage where they were originally conceived and performed and especially exciting to see the next generation of dancers carry on this spirit of innovation,” said Jay Wegman, Artistic Director of the Abrons.
Henry Street Youth Employment Participants, Alums Protest Budget Cuts April 23, 2010
About 30 participants, alumni and staff members of Henry Street’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) convened at City Hall on April 1 for the Save Summer Jobs Rally, a demonstration against SYEP funding cuts that drew a crowd of more than 200. Henry Street’s own Natalie Colon and Tamika Cruz (pictured, front and center) served as the Youth MCs of the event, which was sponsored by United Neighborhood Houses and Neighborhood Family Services Coalition.
A Big Serving of Advocacy: Legislative Breakfast at Henry Street April 14, 2010
City Council members Margaret Chin and Rosie Mendez, and representatives from the offices of State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, City Council member Jessica Lappin and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer lauded the work of Henry Street Settlement and spoke of the challenges ahead at the first annual Legislative Breakfast sponsored by Henry Street.
The legislators addressed nearly 70 Settlement staff members at the April 8 event, answering questions about how they entered public service, programs that are currently threatened by budget cuts and how Henry Street can collaborate with elected officials to improve the lives of community members.
Welcoming the group in the Settlement’s historic dining room was Janet Fischer, Henry Street Chief Administrator for Senior Services. Verona Middleton-Jeter, Executive Director, spoke, and Roxana Tetenbaum, Senior Services social worker, introduced the panelists.
Margaret Chin — a lifelong advocate, the first Chinatown resident elected to represent that district and a member of the City Council’s new Progressive Coalition — encouraged everyone to get involved. “When you have ideas about programs, please get in touch,” she said. “You don’t need to develop a full-blown program to do so.
“Getting involved will not only improve the lives of people who need help,” said Ms. Chin, “it will also make your jobs more interesting.”
Arriving a bit late because she was on the phone trying to stop an eviction, Rosie Mendez told the audience that, while she was an activist from an early age (protesting that she had to stay in her church clothes while her brother could change and play outside), it was “after I came out that I realized I needed to be active in issues in my community.” She spoke about a cross-pollination of ideas, explaining that an idea she got from Henry Street was responsible for a positive change in the placement of domestic violence victims in Staten Island. Mendez, also a member of the Progressive Coalition, gave special acknowledgement to fellow Council member Chin, calling her “my sister.”
Zachary Bommer, the Deputy District Office Director for Speaker Silver, got a round of applause when he, acknowledging the work of Henry Street, said, “Everyone in this room is working for the common good of people in our community.” And he got a laugh upon revealing that, when he first arrived on the Lower East Side from California, he “couldn’t tell a bialy from a plantain.” On a more serious note, Bommer talked about how the Speaker’s files on initiatives like Universal Pre-K and affordable health insurance read like war epics, a sad commentary on how difficult it has been to establish important programs for the community.
Rosemary Diaz, Community Liaison for Sen. Squadron and a social worker by training, said that the senator is working toward the full restoration of funding for the settlement house initiative. Jane Swanson, Chief of Staff for Council member Jessica Lappin said that Lappin, who is chair of the Committee on Aging, is concerned that budget cuts could potentially close 110 senior centers. “That would be a disaster,” she said.
Jose Davila, Director of Community Organizing and Constituent Services for Bill de Blasio, spoke of some issues education, housing, homelessness and ensuring that development enhance local communities that are priorities for the Public Advocate. Greg Kirschenbaum, Community Liaison for the Manhattan Borough President, called Henry Street an “amazing organization,” and noted the successful relationship his office has with Henry Street in offering the free tax preparation service. Both Davila and Kirschenbaum encouraged audience members to get in touch with their offices, as they are both committed to helping the agency serve its clients.
Following the panel, Henry Street staffers broke out into small groups to discuss Henry Street’s role as advocate for the community.
The Legislative Breakfast was held as part of the advocacy initiative of Henry Street’s strategic plan. “Our objective was to inspire staff to be part of the new advocacy movement at the Settlement,” said Janet Fischer.
Workforce Development Center Featured in New York Daily News March 8, 2010
Henry Street Settlement’s Workforce Development Center (WDC) was featured in the March 8 edition of the New York Daily News. The story focused on how the WDC is helping Carlos Ramirez, a 21-year-old computer technician, find a job by helping him improve his resume and interviewing skills through work-readiness courses.
“Before [I came to Henry Street], my resume was in shambles,” Ramirez, who lives in the Bronx, told the News.
His coursework at the WDC also taught him how to interview for jobs without becoming anxious. Ramirez is now looking for an entry-level job as a computer technician, help desk staffer, data-entry clerk or secretary.
Henry Street Offers Free Tax Preparation Services March 4, 2010
Henry Street’s Workforce Development Center (WDC) will host Free Tax Preparation Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, March 6, through a partnership with Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, State Senator Daniel L. Squadron, Assemblymember Brian P. Kavanagh, Councilmembers Margaret Chin and Rosie Mendez, and several local organizations.
Families with dependents earning less than $50,000 — and individuals earning less than $18,000 — are eligible for New York State and federal tax preparation services offered at the WDC, located at 99 Essex Street. Last year, the WDC helped New Yorkers get over $8 million in tax refunds.
Free screenings for earned income tax credits, public benefits, food stamps and health insurance will also be provided.
New Yorkers in need of tax preparation help can also visit the WDC Monday through Friday by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call Lavanya Mohan at 212.478.5400 x227 or Keon Pitter at 212.478.5400 x237. Saturday walk-in services will be available on March 13 and 27 and April 3 and 10, starting at 9 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.
Art Show Gala Preview a Huge Success; Exhibition Is Open Through Sunday March 3, 2010
More than 1,500 art lovers, philanthropists, and business and civic leaders filled the Park Avenue Armory last night for the 22nd Annual Art Show Gala Preview. The mood and the crowd on the hint-of-spring evening was upbeat, perhaps reflecting the improving economy, as 25 percent more tickets were sold for the gala than last year.
The gala, a “don’t miss” event on the city’s cultural calendar, kicked off The Art Show, which is organized by the Art Dealers Association of America to benefit Henry Street Settlement’s social service, arts and health care programs.
The Art Show — an exhibition "you will be grateful to see," according to The New York Times — is open to the public from March 3 through 7, Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door of the Park Avenue Armory (644 Park Avenue).
In addition to the ticket sales, a limited number of artwork is sold to benefit the Settlement. At last night’s gala, nearly all of 10 of the mono-prints by Josh Smith, donated by the artist and the Luhring Augustine Gallery, were sold. The remaining mono-prints are available for purchase through Sunday. Bids on several silent auction items are being accepted through Sunday, as well.
Every year, 70 of the nation's leading art dealers come together for the Art Show, one of the most important events on the international art scene.
The Wall Street Journal gives a tour of the Art Show
Henry Street Settlement Welcomes David Garza as New Executive Director March 1, 2010
David Garza has been named Executive Director of Henry Street Settlement.
Garza, who is currently Chief Administrator of Henry Street’s Workforce Development Center (WDC), will assume his new role on July 1, 2010. He is succeeding Verona Middleton-Jeter who announced last year that she would retire after 38 years at the Settlement, seven of them as Executive Director.
Under Garza’s leadership the WDC has been established as one of the premier employment service programs in New York City. He began at Henry Street’s WDC in July 2001 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming its Chief Administrator in 2005. Prior to joining Henry Street, he worked as a retail management executive and an independent producer for film, television and corporate marketing projects.
Raised in a single-parent working-class home in Brooklyn, Garza graduated from Harvard College in 1986 and later from the Institute for Not-for-Profit Management at Columbia Business School. Although he lives in Brooklyn, his Lower East Side roots run deep: his mother, a nurse; his aunt, a social worker; his brother, a police detective; and his sister, a teacher, all worked and were very involved in the neighborhood.
“David’s success in building the WDC into one of the city’s preeminent centers and his deep understanding of the Henry Street community will serve the agency well going forward,” said Robert Harrison, Chairman of Henry Street’s Board of Directors, which elected Garza at its February 22, 2010, meeting following a six-month national search. Dale Burch, Henry Street Board President, lauded David’s passion for the agency and his ability to motivate and inspire.
Henry Street Settlement, founded in 1893 by Progressive reformer Lillian Wald, offers social services, health care and arts programs to more than 50,000 New Yorkers each year from 17 program sites on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
“Today, the services Henry Street provides are more vital than ever,” said Garza. “I am honored and quite thrilled with the opportunity to build on the Settlement’s remarkable legacy as we move into the future.”
Ms. Middleton-Jeter, who joined Henry Street as a live-in social worker right out of graduate school, said, “I know that I’m leaving Henry Street in good hands; I’m confident that David will excel at leading the Settlement in the years ahead.”
Henry Street Welcomes New Executive Director.
Onion Editor, Gramercy Tavern Cook Speak at Henry Street Career Night February 24, 2010
Some 150 teenagers attended Henry Street Settlement’s Fifth Annual Career Night on February 4 to hear advice from a diverse group of professionals working in the legal, medical, media, business and construction fields. The event was hosted by the Settlement’s Adolescent Services program.
“This is an invaluable opportunity for the teenagers we serve to learn about career options, and the education and experience needed to pursue their passions,” said Ritu Sen, Henry Street’s Director of Educational Services. “We thank all of the speakers for taking the time to share their experiences.”
The 26 volunteer speakers included Joe Randazzo, the editor of the satirical newspaper The Onion, as well as Assistant District Attorneys Rosemary Yu and Amy Abrons Sharpe, Gramercy Tavern pastry cook Catherine Kemp, DJ Whutevva of radio station Power 105.1, architect Darris W. James, who helped design the JetBlue Terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Paul LaRosa, an Emmy-award winning producer at CBS News.
Henry Street Youth Services Chief Speaks Out About State Cuts to Summer Youth Employment Program February 8, 2010
The New York Daily News quoted Greg Rideout, Henry Street’s Deputy Program Officer for Youth Services and Workforce Development, in a February 1 article about the state’s proposed cuts to the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Rideout expressed concern about the “ripple effect” the cuts would have on unemployed teens.
“What are they doing with all that idle time?” he told the News. “And what are they doing with that pressure for some kind of income? My assumption is that a lot of it ends up being not very good.”
Gov. Patterson’s proposed budget would remove all state funding $19 million in all from SYEP, which places teens in minimum-wage jobs at nonprofit organizations, private corporations and city agencies.
In 2009, Henry Street placed 2,473 youth in jobs through SYEP, at 366 work sites.
Young Collectors Committee Party: Cupcakes, Wine and Good Works January 29, 2010
More than 100 friends and members of the Young Collectors Committee of Henry Street Settlement gathered on January 28 for an evening of wine, cupcakes, music and conversation and, most importantly, to learn about the work of Henry Street. The party was held at Henry Street's Abrons Arts Center.
The Committee — formed to support the agency’s annual fundraising event, The Art Show — hosted the event to encourage more young individuals to support Henry Street Settlement.
Dale Burch, President of Henry Street’s Board of Directors, welcomed the group, and Verona Middleton-Jeter, Executive Director, explained how Henry Street has been saving and enriching lives for 117 years. The group viewed a video about the Settlement’s Workforce Development Center. Malachi Farrell, the artist whose work is on exhibit currently at the Abrons, spoke briefly to the group. Melissa Burch, chair of the Young Collectors Committee, addressed the group, as well.
Organizers of the event were Amy Diaz and Abigail Feuer, assisted by planning committee members Yael Berman, Rebecca Siegel, Helen Weng and Henry Street employee Sasha Silcox. Cupcakes were donated by Butter Lane and Crumbs Bake Shop, and the cookies were courtesy of Sugar Sweet Sunshine.
The Art Show will be held this year from March 2 to 7 at the Park Avenue Armory. Tickets are still available to the March 2 Gala Preview, one of New York’s premier social and cultural events. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.
Abrons Arts Center Exhibit Featured on WNET January 27, 2010
In its January 17 broadcast, Channel 13's SundayArts News program featured Irish artist Malachi Farrell’s The Shops Are Closed and Too Early for Vacation, two works currently on display in the Main Gallery of Henry Street Settlement's Abrons Arts Center.
Celebrated for his kinetic installations of robotic figures employing familiar materials and sophisticated choreographies, Farrell animates white plastic air-conditioning tubes, calling forth a range of associations from strict military cadence to childlike freedom of movement. The Shops Are Closed refers to the military curfew during the violent conflicts in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s, when the closure of shops represented the chaos of war and its dysfunctional interference in the everyday lives of civilians.
Too Early for Vacation, a sculpture of two artillery bombs conversing in lounge chairs, “skewers tourism and the art world.”
“Malachi Farrell's work is able to address serious political issues and still remain humorous and totally accessible,” said Jonathan Durham, Visual Arts Director at the Abrons. “We are proud to be able to present the works of this talented artist, and we encourage viewers of all ages to visit the exhibition before it closes on January 31.”
Henry Street Rugby Team Wins Video Contest January 27, 2010
Henry Street Settlement’s after-school rugby team won first place — and a football signed by Clint Eastwood — in a video contest organized by Play Rugby USA, a national program to help and encourage youth through the sport. The competition, timed to coincide with Eastwood's rugby-themed film Invictus, challenged 36 youth teams nationwide to create videos showing why they love the game.
“It changes your attitude,” Billy Gonzalez, one of the Henry Street players, said in the video. “At first I had the biggest, baddest attitude, and I never accomplished anything. Now I’m a team captain.”
About 300 kids play rugby through Henry Street’s After-School Services every year, and many make the added commitment to play on the weekends. Henry Street began its rugby program five years ago at P.S. 110 through Play Rugby USA. After interest in the sport peaked, it expanded to all five of Henry Street’s after-school sites. The team participates in several tournaments each year, including New York’s Mayor’s Cup.
“This is a perfect game for everyone,” said Katha Cato, Henry Street’s Director of After-School Services. “Everyone on that field is extremely important, and it teaches kids the value of respect. You call the referee ‘sir,’ and even when he rules against you, you say, ‘Thank you, sir.’ I’m watching it transform lives.”
Watch the video:
Human Services Council Honors Henry Street Executive Director December 22, 2009
HSC Board Chair Nancy Wackstein, Verona Middleton-Jeter and HSC Executive Director Michael Stoller
The Human Services Council honored Henry Street Settlement Executive Director Verona Middleton-Jeter at its annual dinner on December 14 with an award celebrating her many years of community service. Middleton-Jeter, who began working at the Settlement 37 years ago as a live-in social worker, will retire in June.
“Tonight is special because my work means so much to me and because you have all added so much to my life,” Middleton-Jeter said while accepting the honor.
After dedicating the award to her staff, she thanked her mentors and her husband, Emmett, for years of support, Middleton-Jeter reminisced her first years in New York City.
“I can vividly recall the first time I climbed the stairs of Henry Street Settlement in 1972, a farm girl from South Carolina, a product of rural poverty eager to assist homeless families living in urban poverty,” she said. “Where did the time go?”
Middleton-Jeter was introduced by Nancy Wackstein, Chair of the Human Services Council Board of Directors and Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses, of which Henry Street Settlement is a member. Wackstein recalled how the Settlement’s Urban Family Shelter became, under Middleton-Jeter’s leadership, a “template for what a humane, effective and caring shelter should be.”
“She brings enormous compassion, knowledge and practicality to her ED role,” Wackstein said of her friend and colleague. “She is just a down to earth person who has never forgotten her South Carolina roots or her social work training. I admire Verona for her ability to walk in many different worlds, and to be such an effective advocate and spokesperson for people in need.”
Two Abrons Arts Center Productions Make New Yorker's Best of 2009 Lists December 21, 2009
The New Yorker named two Abrons Arts Center productions — Justin Bond's Christmas Spells and Banana Bag & Bodice's Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage — to its best theater of 2009 lists, published December 18.
Introducing his list, The New Yorker's Hilton Als said "there was precious little to unequivocally love in 2009" as a critic but that Bond's annual Christmas show at the Abrons (December 9-12) was among the year's top 5 "sensational moments that reminded one of why looking and articulating what one saw onstage remains such a powerful experience." Bond's gender-bending singing and storytelling, Als said, "helped italicize one of the primary reasons we go to the theatre: to watch bodies, and thus truth, unfold as they tell stories."
Banana Bag & Bodice's acclaimed Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage (April 9-12) made the magazine's list of 2009's 12 best Off Broadway shows. Critic Sarah Larson called the songs "brilliant" and said the show offered "fresh insight" into the characters of the Old English epic poem.
"We couldn't be more thrilled that these wonderful artists graced our stage this year," said Jay Wegman, Artistic Director of the Abrons Arts Center at Henry Street Settlement. "Next year promises to be spectacular for us too!"
New Coffee Blend to Benefit Henry Street Settlement's Workforce Development Center December 16, 2009
Plowshares Coffee, an artisanal coffee roaster in New York, has introduced a new coffee Workforce Blend that will benefit Henry Street Settlement’s Workforce Development Center (WDC).
The company will donate a portion of sales from the new blend to the WDC.
Workforce Blend is sold at Bklyn Larder in Park Slope (228 Flatbush Ave.) and on the Plowshares website. This flavorful blend (from Rainforest Alliance Certified small producers) offers a deep, full-bodied cup.
“We are thrilled that Plowshares has not only created a blend to recognize the WDC, but is generously donating proceeds to support our program,” said David Garza, chief administrator of the WDC.
Henry Street’s Workforce Development Center, located in the heart of New York City’s Lower East Side, offers job training, placement and retention services for adults, out-of-school youth and public assistance recipients, as well as customized staffing services for small business owners.
“I started Plowshares Coffee Roasters, in part, to support the work of local communities as well as coffee growers,” said Anthony Kurutz, President/CEO of Plowshares. “Developing a coffee blend that supports sustainability and contributes to the Workforce Development Center promotes both of those goals. I could not find a better cause at a more crucial time.”
Credit Suisse Employees Spread Holiday Cheer at Annual Home for the Holidays Celebration December 16, 2009
Employees of Credit Suisse made the holidays brighter for more than 250 residents of Henry Street’s Urban Family Center (UFC) at the shelter’s annual Home for the Holidays celebration on December 2.
The Credit Suisse employees — 44 in all — arrived at UFC by bus shortly after 5:30 p.m. to a crowd of enthusiastic children, who sang Christmas songs such as “Jingle Bells” and “Feliz Navidad.” The volunteers braved rain to decorate the shelter with lights and garlands, then set up and staffed booths with indoor activities for children, including arts and crafts, cookie decorating and face painting. The kids also lined up to have their pictures taken with Santa — and to tell him what was on their Christmas lists.
Geniria Armstrong, the Settlement’s Deputy Program Officer for Transitional & Supportive Housing, thanked Credit Suisse for bringing holiday cheer to the residence.
"We are grateful to Credit Suisse for bringing joy to our families," Armstrong said. "Home for the Holidays is becoming a cherished tradition at the Urban Family Center."
"Hands down, this is my favorite volunteer event of the year,” said Jennifer Bornemann, a Credit Suisse vice president who helps coordinate volunteer efforts. “The joy on the children's faces, the hope in their parents' eyes and the cheer in our volunteers' smiles marks the UFC Home for the Holidays event as the true beginning of each holiday season."
Funded by the New York City Department of Homeless Services and located in a six-story walk-up building on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, UFC houses eighty-two homeless families with children in separate apartments, and provides them access to a comprehensive array of social services.
Henry Street Hosts Annual World AIDS Day Event December 10, 2009
More than 50 teenagers gathered at 301 Henry Street on December 2 for Henry Street’s Fourth Annual Adolescent Services World AIDS Day event, organized by the Settlement’s Peer Training Institute (PTI).
Teens heard from a variety of speakers about HIV/AIDS, its effects and how to prevent it. Osvaldo Perdomo, a patient at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, shared his story about contracting the virus five years ago. From Beth Israel Medical Center’s AIDS Clinical Trial Unit, senior research clinician Gwen Constantine and physician’s assistant Sondra Middleton spoke about medical research on treating HIV/AIDS and described typical treatment regimens. Natalie Stephens, a New York University social work intern at PTI, organized educational exercises to demonstrate how HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted illnesses are spread.
Rapid testing and counseling services were also available for attendees.
"For years Henry Street has been educating young people on HIV/AIDS information and safe sex practicies, and we're very proud to have come up with new and innovative ways to teach these invaluable lessons to teens," said Ashley Fields, Adolescent Services Social Work Coordinator.
PTI trains adolescents to become Peer Educators who conduct workshops at street outreach activities in the name of HIV/AIDS/STIprevention. To learn more about PTI, contact Adolescent Services Social Work Coordinator Ashley Fields at 212.473.1474 x17 or afields@henrystreet.org.
Spread Some Holiday Cheer: Join the 2009 Joy Drive November 17, 2009
Each year, Henry Street Settlement celebrates the holidays by hosting a number of holiday parties and providing gifts for the thousands of adults and children who participate in our programs.
Please consider donating goods to our Joy Drive, so that we can provide gifts to all of our clients.
We welcome donations of new, unwrapped toys, board games, stuffed animals and sport items for children. We also need items for teens, homeless and unemployed adults, senior citizens and other homebound individuals, including participants in Henry Street's HIV/AIDS and mental health programs. Items needed include school supplies for boys and girls of all ages, books, CDs, DVDs, gift cards, household items such as towels and kitchen utensils, and clothing accessories such as neckties, hats, gloves and scarves. Gift bags and wrapping paper are also great ideas.
If you have questions about giving gifts and money or volunteering your time, please contact Bernadette Perrette at bperrette@henrystreet.org or 212.766.9200 x259.
Hundreds Line Up at Abrons Arts Center to See Paul Taylor Dance Company November 11, 2009
Hundreds of Lower East Side residents, dance aficionados and others came to Henry Street Settlement’s Abrons Arts Center on Sunday, November 8, to enjoy a free dance concert courtesy of the Paul Taylor Dance Company and the Abrons Arts Center.
The concert, held to welcome and celebrate the dance company’s move to the Lower East Side, offered an afternoon of world-class dance by Taylor 2, the sister company formed in 1993 to bring the signature works of Paul Taylor — who made his stage debut at the Abrons in 1954 — to new audiences.
By 1 p.m. the crowd formed a line stretching around the block. By curtain, every one of the 350 seats in the Abrons’ historic theater was filled. Nearly 100 people were turned away, a testament to the need for continued performance offerings in the neighborhood.
Taylor 2 performed Company B, a lively piece set to songs by the Andrews Sisters, and Esplanade, featuring the music of Bach.
“We are grateful to Paul Taylor for their generosity to the Abrons and to the Lower East Side community,” said Jay Wegman, Artistic Director of the Abrons. “We hope to welcome many of those who attended the dance concert — and those who couldn’t get a seat — to our upcoming performances at the Abrons.”
Henry Street's After-School Kids Honor Their Supporters November 6, 2009
Hundreds of kids in Henry Street’s four after-school program sites P.S. 110, P.S. 134, P.S. 20 and the Boys & Girls Republic — gathered October 22 to celebrate the 10th annual Lights on After-School, a nationwide event sponsored by the Afterschool Alliance that recognizes after-school programs and the individuals who staff and support them.
Honorees which included parents and Settlement and school staff received certificates that recognized their efforts and support while the children chanted, cheered and applauded. The programs also recognized several “celebrity champions,” including New York State Assemblyman Brian Kavanaugh, New York State Senator Daniel Squadron, New York City Councilman Alan Gerson, New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Henry Street Executive Director Verona Middleton-Jeter.
“It’s very rewarding for us to be able to honor everyone at Henry Street and in the community who works to serve young people,” said Katha Cato, Director of After-School Services. “On behalf of the hundreds and hundreds of families who benefit from having a safe and high-quality after-school alternative for their children, thank you for helping us.”
Henry Street’s Executive Director to Retire; Search for Replacement is Underway November 2, 2009
Verona Middleton-Jeter, Executive Director of Henry Street since 2002, has announced her retirement, effective June 30, 2010. Middleton-Jeter, who has worked at the Settlement for 37 years, plans to spend time with family, travel and teach.
A search for a new Executive Director is underway. Henry Street’s Board of Directors has formed a search committee and has retained the firm of Phillips Oppenheim to conduct the nationwide search.
Middleton-Jeter joined Henry Street in 1972 as a live-in social worker at the Urban Family Center, the first transitional housing program for families with children in New York State. She rose through the ranks at the agency, and helped create new models for shelters so innovative that they were adopted nationally.
Hundreds Gather at Saks to Celebrate Designer's Donation to Henry Street October 30, 2009
More than 200 people gathered at Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship Manhattan store to honor Italian fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli and celebrate a generous donation his company made to Henry Street Settlement.
The event attracted several fashion celebrities, including Saks President Ronald Frasch, Saks CEO Steve Sadove and designers Michael Bastian and Rachel Roy, as well as Francesco Maria Talò, the Consul General of Italy. On hand from Henry Street were Executive Director Verona Middleton-Jeter; Robert S. Harrison and Dale J. Burch, Chairman and President, respectively, of Henry Street's Board; and Directors Pilar Crespi Robert, Angela Mariani, Margaret Chi, Lesley G. Schulhof, Anna P. Pinheiro and Michael D. Ryan; and advisory director Eva Jeanbart-Lorenzotti.
"It is a very special moment right now," Cucinelli said to the crowd. "We are very honored to be here. We are so proud to be a partner with Henry Street, and all the good work you do. I have a lot of esteem for the organization."
When thanking Cucinelli, Middleton-Jeter pointed out that — despite their different backgrounds and nationalities — they had much in common.
"I admire Mr. Cucinelli’s unique and deep understanding of how important community is, and we are so grateful to him for his generous donation," she said.
The festive party, held near the designer's boutique on the second floor of Saks, featured cuisine from Cucinelli’s native Umbria, and Cucinelli staff wearing pieces from his latest collection.
Cucinelli — whose company produces luxury goods for men and women, specializing in cashmere — chose to support Henry Street because he knows the importance of investing in local communities. Back in Umbria, Cucinelli has dedicated himself to restoring the medieval village of Solomeo, where, in 1985, he purchased the dilapidated 14th-century castle that would become his business’s headquarters.
Verona Middleton-Jeter Speaks at NYU Conference on Poverty October 26, 2009
Henry Street Executive Director Verona Middleton-Jeter spoke on a panel at a conference hosted by New York University’s Silver School of Social Work. The conference, titled "Transforming Poverty Policy and Practice," held at the university’s Wasserman Center in the East Village, marked the launch of the McSilver Poverty Institute, a new initiative at the school that hopes to build relationships with more than 600 not-for-profit social service agencies to study the consequences of poverty.
Cited by the school as “one of the most foremost leaders working in the city today,” Middleton-Jeter spoke about the personal and social aspects of poverty, how Henry Street’s programs combat poverty, and the ways research from NYU could help the Settlement tackle the issues more effectively . Other speakers and panelists at the conference included Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda Gibbs, as well as representatives from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, the Human Services Council, and Open Society.
Henry Street Holds 10th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Conference October 20, 2009
More than 200 people domestic violence survivors, law enforcement officials, government officials, community activists and others attended Henry Street's 10th annual Domestic Violence Awareness conference held October 14 at the Abrons Arts Center. The conference, held during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, is sponsored by the Settlement's Transitional and Supportive Housing division.
Domestic violence survivors shared their stories, and other speakers covered intimidation, emotional abuse, economic abuse, isolation, coercion and, most important, how to stay safe when facing abuse. The theme of this year’s conference, “Each One Teach One,” chosen by Domestic Violence Program Director Frances Drayton, who organizes the annual conference, focused on passing along information about domestic violence to others.
“Educating the community about domestic violence is a priority,” said Geniria Armstrong, Deputy Program Officer for Transitional and Supportive Housing. “Whether or not you’re a victim, you might know someone who is. Sharing information can save lives.”
2 Youth Scholarship Clients Awarded Scholarships October 16, 2009
Two Henry Street Youth Services clients — Vivian Ortiz and Shaquana Gardner — each received a $2,000 scholarship from the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) to use for college tuition, books and living expenses. FPWA awards scholarships to young people who have overcome significant challenges to achieving educational success.
Vivian, a junior at Massachusetts Liberal Arts College and a first-generation college student, wrote her application essay about how attending school in rural Massachusetts has broadened her New York City perspective, exposed her to new cultures, and solidified her desire to help others like herself get to college.
“I am dedicated to my education and I want to better my future and that of my parents,” she wrote. “My hope for the future is that I can provide younger generations a place to go and help them get to college as I work as a high school guidance counselor.”
This is the second time both Vivian and Shaquana, a junior at Syracuse University, have been awarded the scholarship. We congratulate them both!
Sheldon Silver Catches Up with 19-Year-Old Henry Street Client in Syracuse October 13, 2009
Courtesy of The Post-Standard
During a recent visit to Syracuse, Speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver caught up with Shaquana Gardner, a 19-year-old Henry Street client who grew up five blocks from his childhood home on the Lower East Side. According to an article published October 6 in The Post-Standard, Syracuse’s daily newspaper, the two met at a Starbucks, where Silver bought Shaquana a raspberry passion tea and asked about her family and classes.
Shaquana, a sophomore studying political science at Syracuse University who aspires to be New York City’s first female African-American mayor, caught Silver’s attention in July, after the New York Daily News published an essay she wrote about the challenges she faces as a first-generation college student from a single-parent family. He honored her with a proclamation at his office on July 29 and endorsed her candidacy, 10 years early.
Silver told the newspaper that he and Shaquana “share an understanding of what it means to be from the Lower East Side to get along with all kinds of people.”
He encouraged Shaquana to look into the Assembly’s internship program and urged her to “give us a holler” when she returns to the city for Thanksgiving.
Settlement's Seniors Dance, Dine at Block Party October 13, 2009
More than 350 seniors dined, danced and enjoyed the last days of summer at Henry Street’s annual Senior Services Block Party, held September 17 in the courtyard of the Vladeck Houses on Madison Street. The event was funded by UBS, and 15 employees from the company were on hand to set up and serve food. Speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver also attended.
A balloon artist set up a booth, where he made animals and hats, and a live band played Latin dance music. The seniors couldn’t resist dancing: Even a 108-year-old woman, a Senior Services client of many years, danced with her home attendant while in a wheelchair.
“This is the only outdoor event dedicated to the seniors in the community,” said Sin Yung Lo, the program coordinator of the Settlement’s Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC). “It’s great to see people from different cultural backgrounds come together.”
FedEx "Gives Life" To Henry Street Sites October 12, 2009
Some 94 employees from FedEx volunteered at Henry Street on September 22 at six sites, making vast improvements to buildings that house the Settlement’s Youth Services and Senior Services programs, as well as the Abrons Arts Center.
Renee Epps, the Settlement’s Chief Officer for Facilities, said she was extremely impressed by the volunteers’ efforts and the results.
“This dynamic group of volunteers made significant contributions to Henry Street by giving life to classrooms with a new coat of paint, organizing rooms, and brightening gardens by planting flowers and bulbs,” she said. “The improvements they made are unbelievable.”
The staff of the Abrons Arts Center, where volunteers ripped up carpeting and helped remove unneeded items that had been in the building for years, was equally thankful.
“FedEx has made our building a more beautiful, more welcoming place for the students and audiences we serve,” said Abrons Director Jay Wegman.
FedEx was referred to Henry Street by United Way of New York City. United Way of New York City partners with Henry Street in a variety of programs that focus on education, income and health.
Henry Street Spreads the Word at Pickle Day October 6, 2009
State Senator Daniel Squadron and Abrons Director Jay Wegman
Thousands of New Yorkers converged on the Lower East Side on October 4 for the Ninth Annual New York City International Pickle Day, and members of Henry Street's staff were on hand to distribute literature and answer questions about the Settlement’s programs.
Among those who stopped by the Henry Street booth was New York State Senator Daniel Squadron (pictured above with Abrons Director Jay Wegman).
Co-sponsored by the NY Food Museum and the Lower East Side Business Improvement District, the event featured 14 vendors of pickles and pickled foods (from the immigrant communities of East Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa), as well as an exhibit about the briny food’s rich local history. The celebration took place in the neighborhood’s “Old Pickle District,” on Orchard Street between Grand and Broome Streets.
New York Times Covers Henry Street's Surivival Skills August 24, 2009
Photo by Librado Romero/The New York Times
On August 22, The New York Times featured Henry Street in a large story about recession-related budget problems facing the city's social-services agencies.
The article, which includes two color photographs taken at the Settlement, describes the steep decline in government funding and charitable donations after the economic collapse, as well as the ways Henry Street has — so far — managed to withstand cuts without reducing services.
11-Year-Old Henry Street Client Throws First Pitch at Mets Game August 24, 2009
Eleven-year-old Henry Street participant Samara Lozada experienced every child baseball fan's dream August 5 when she took to the mound at Citi Field with the New York Mets to throw the opening pitch in the team's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Samara — a soon-to-be sixth-grader and avid sports fan — has participated in the Settlement's after-school and arts programs, as well as Camp Henry summer day camp.
Samara's major league debut was organized through Citi Field Kids, a program started this year by Citigroup, the Mets, the Jackie Robinson Foundation and United Neighborhood Houses (an organization of New York settlement houses, of which Henry Street is a member). The program has brought more than 1,000 youth to Mets games since April.
Before games, the children — all in middle or high school — tour the stadium's Jackie Robinson Rotunda and learn about the ideals that guided the legendary second baseman, who broke baseball's color barrier in 1947. Special guest speakers have included current and former Mets players such as J.J. Putz, Darryl Strawberry, John Franco and Ed Charles.
"Samara has been a long-time participant of Youth Services programs," said Youth Services Chief Greg Rideout. "We were very pleased to give her this special opportunity to represent Henry Street on this major stage."
Second UPS Intern Class Bids Farewell to Settlement August 21, 2009
The seven members of the summer's second UPS Community Internship Program (CIP) said good-bye to Henry Street and the Lower East Side on June 25, at a lunch held on their behalf.
The interns — senior-level UPS managers selected from around the country and the world — work full-time at Henry Street programs for four weeks. They spend their time at Henry Street’s day care centers, shelters, senior center, job training sites and more.
The program, now in its 41st year, is designed to foster a greater sensitivity to the social effects of poverty, as well as ideas for building job opportunities for low-income residents living in the interns’ home communities, which are largely rural or suburban. Henry Street clients benefit, as well, from the mentoring and practical skills imparted by the UPS interns.
This year, the UPS managers met with Settlement senior staff members to share their perspectives on solving recession-related problems facing both non-profit and for profit organizations.
Before having lunch with Henry Street staff in the amphitheater of Abrons Arts Center, the UPS interns shared their experiences and thanked the Settlement for making a difference in the lives of thousands of New Yorkers.
"Henry Street is your biggest fan," Jason Walker, a manager from Atlanta, told the teens he worked with through the program. "They invest their time and love into every one of you."
NY Legislature Employees Tour Henry Street August 13, 2009
Six employees of the New York State Legislature toured Henry Street's programs — including the Summer Youth Employment Program, Camp Henry, the Abrons Arts Center and the domestic violence shelter — to better understand settlement houses and how they use state funding to help New Yorkers in need. The tour, held on August 5, was planned by United Neighborhood Houses of New York (UNH), an organization of 37 local settlement houses, including Henry Street.
The visitors included staff members of State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblyman William Scarborough, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the Office of Children and Family Services, and the Senate Finance Committee. They were joined by five UNH employees.
"It is very important that staff working for legislators and executive branch policymakers in Albany fully understand the impact of decisions that are made on programs and services for people in need in New York City," said Nancy Wackstein, executive director of UNH. "This tour was designed to show our friends and allies in Albany how meaningful their support is for the on-the-ground work helping people in communities like the Lower East Side.”
Henry Street Seniors Take a Bite Out of History August 7, 2009
The lunch crowd at Henry Street's Good Companions Senior Center took a bite out of history on August 6 when they were treated to a very special matzo ball soup — featuring pieces of the world's largest matzo ball! The occasion was featured in the August 7 edition of the New York Daily News.
The 267-pound matzo ball — created by Noah's Ark restaurant — made its debut at a red carpet ceremony in front of the restaurant's Grand Street location. When the fanfare died down, the restaurant generously donated the Guinness World Record-breaking matzo ball (cut into several pieces for transport) to Henry Street's senior center at 334 Madison Street. The Center's staff then served it in hot chicken soup to dozens of smiling seniors.
New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Honors 19-Year-Old Henry Street Client July 30, 2009
Speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver presented Shaquana Gardner, a long-time client of Henry Street, with a proclamation on July 29, commending the 19-year-old Lower East Side native for setting a strong example through "extensive academic accomplishments." Several local news outlets were present, including the New York Daily News the second time the newspaper has covered Shaquana in the past two weeks.
Currently a junior at Syracuse University studying political science and African-American studies, Shaquana impressed Silver with an essay she wrote about the challenges she faces as a first-generation college student from a poor single-parent family. She attributes her successful foray in higher education to Henry Street. "I would not be in college today if it weren't for Henry Street," she said.
"We see within that essay a whole New York education experience," said Silver. "There's a lesson for all of New York: You can achieve what you want if you apply yourself."
Shaquana has been a client of the Settlement since she was 8, and hopes to study law before becoming New York City’s first female African-American mayor. She's got the backing of Assemblyman Silver who said, "235 Henry Street [his childhood residence] is endorsing you!"
Credit Suisse Carnival Brings Summer Smiles July 29, 2009
There were 275 smiles at Henry Street on July 17th, thanks to Credit Suisse employees who hosted a carnival fair for 275 children from the Settlement's summer youth programs. Carnival attractions included face-painting, a dunk tank, a bouncy castle and other fun activities all paid for — and staffed — by Credit Suisse. The children, who ranged in age from 6 to 14, attend Camp Henry, Boys and Girls Republic and the Barbara L. Tate Summer Arts Camp.
"It's like a wonderland," Melody Dunbar, a 12-year-old from Boys and Girls Republic, said while surveying the scene, cotton candy in hand.
Now in its fifth year, the annual event was run entirely by analysts and associates who had started working at Credit Suisse the previous week, who will later work in the company's New York, Chicago, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Zurich and Istanbul offices. To help new analysts and associates understand the value of service, Credit Suisse includes volunteer work as part of its new employee orientation for the 2009 Training Class, according to Katie Rogers, a Credit Suisse securities training program manager and one of the event's organizers.
"We're so happy to be able to bring this to all these kids — and that they remember it and look forward to it every year," she said. "It's become a Credit Suisse tradition to volunteer at Henry Street and bring some summer fun."
Greg Rideout, Deputy Program Officer for Youth and Workforce Development, said this year's carnival was a huge success and "exciting as ever."
"The campers clearly enjoyed the special attractions and the attention of so many caring volunteers from Credit Suisse," he said. "I heard, however, that the dunking of the camp director may have been the highlight of the afternoon's festivities!"
American Express Helps Out At Henry Street July 17, 2009
Thirty American Express employees volunteered their time at Henry Street on July 15, gardening at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Park and spending time with seniors and with children in daycare.
The employees, who work in American Express's Global Rewards Finance and Global Consumer & Small Business Services departments, shared volunteer experiences with one another over lunch.
"We are so grateful to American Express for its community service efforts to benefit the clients of Henry Street Settlement," said Volunteer Program Manager Bernadette Perrette.
Henry Street Client Shaquana Gardner Gets Two-Page Spread In NY Daily News July 16, 2009
Courtesy of the New York Daily News
The New York Daily News devoted a two-page spread — with four photos — to Shaquana Gardner, a 19-year-old Henry Street client who scored a ticket to hear President Obama speak at tonight's black-tie NAACP gala at the New York Hilton.
The News story focuses on Shaquana’s struggles as a first generation college student, and even printed excerpts from the essay she wrote in hopes of receiving scholarship money from Henry Street. Currently a junior at Syracuse University studying political science and African-American studies, Shaquana has been a client of the Settlement since she was 8, and hopes to study law before becoming New York City’s first female African-American mayor.
“I go from being this broke college kid to being in a situation where I’m in front of Obama at the NAACP centenary,” Shaquana told the News. “I’m so excited to see Obama. I’m so excited to be part of a very historic moment.”
UPS Managers Give Emotional Farewell After Four Weeks At Henry Street July 15, 2009
Jan Pierini, a UPS Southern California package division manager, with program liaison Christine Koenig
The eight members of the summer's first United Parcel Service (UPS) Community Internship Program (CIP) gave an emotional farewell to Henry Street and the Lower East Side on June 25, at a lunch hosted on their behalf.
The interns — senior-level UPS managers selected from around the country and the world — work full-time at Henry Street programs for four weeks. They spend their time at Henry Street’s day care centers, shelters, senior center, job training sites and more.
The program, now in its 41st year, is designed to foster a greater sensitivity to the social effects of poverty, as well as ideas for building job opportunities for low-income residents living in the interns’ home communities, which are largely rural or suburban. Henry Street clients benefit, as well, from the mentoring and practical skills imparted by the UPS interns.
This year, the UPS managers met with Settlement senior staff members to share their perspectives on solving recession-related problems facing both non-profit and for profit organizations.
Before having lunch with Henry Street staff in the amphitheater of Abrons Arts Center, the UPS interns shared their experiences and thanked the Settlement for setting an example and giving them an opportunity to learn and grow.
"The relationships I've built in this program will never be lost, never be forgotten," said Jan Pierini, a Southern California package division manager.
Goldman Sachs Interns Show Off Their Green Thumbs At Henry Street July 9, 2009
Some 25 interns and four employees from Goldman Sachs volunteered their time to plant and clean the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Garden adjacent to Henry Street on July 9, 2009, as part of the company's Community TeamWorks volunteer program. The volunteers swept pathways, pruned rosebushes, and planted new flowers and plants, all donated by Goldman.
"Henry Street has a long and rich relationship with Goldman Sachs," said Kathleen Z. Gupta, Chief Officer for Development and External Relations at Henry Street. "You have given generously and been loyal volunteers. We are deeply grateful."
Twenty three of the interns, who are working in Goldman's Global Investment Research Department, will be college seniors this fall; two are Ph.D. candidates.
"I grew up in New York, and when I was younger I came to Henry Street's Abrons Arts Center," said Athena Maikish, one of Goldman's two doctorate-level interns. "It's great to be doing something for this community."
The park is used by the local community, as well as by the Settlement for events.
Start planning now to join Henry Street at the 2010 Art Show as we kick off one of New York City’s most stimulating and enjoyable early spring events, New York City ArtsWeek.
This year, the always lively Art Show Gala Preview, a "don't-miss" event on New York’s social and cultural calendars, will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 — a departure from the traditional Presidents' Week date. Esty and Dan Brodsky, Alexandra Lebenthal, and Byron and Anita Volz Wien will co-chair.
The Art Show, held at the Park Avenue Armory, will be open to the public from March 3 - 7, 2010. Described last year by Roberta Smith in The New York Times as "a fair loaded with work that you will be grateful to see," the Art Show is organized annually by the Art Dealers Association of America to benefit Henry Street Settlement.
Henry Street's Teen Jobs On WCBS-TV June 29, 2009
WCBS-TV featured Henry Street in a story on how stimulus money has expanded the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), a government job placement program for teens.
Henry Street is one of the largest providers for SYEP in the city and is placing 2,500 youth in jobs at almost 400 work sites.
"Women of Henry Street" Honored At Luncheon June 29, 2009
Eight members of the Women of Henry Street — a club formed approximately 75 years ago - were recognized at a luncheon at the Settlement on June 11, 2009. The club, which once had 70 members, made an annual donation to Henry Street and met monthly at the Abrons Arts Center to plan social outings.
While dining on kosher food at the Settlement's headquarters, the women reminisced about friends, family and the ever-changing Lower East Side, where most of them have lived since childhood.
"I joined the club when my son was two years old," said Goldie Mendelson, laughing. "He's 66 now."
"We are just so pleased to honor the Women of Henry Street and acknowledge their long-time support of the Settlement," said Verona Middleton-Jeter, Executive Director of Henry Street. "Our doors are always open to them."
Deloitte Volunteers Brave Heavy Rain To Garden At Henry Street June 8, 2009
Deloitte employees planting at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Garden
Some 51 Deloitte employees braved heavy rainstorms on June 5, 2009, to volunteer their time to work in the gardens at five Henry Street Settlement locations for the company's annual Impact Day. Volunteers planted flowers and shrubs—all donated by Deloitte—at the Abrons Arts Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Park, the Community Consultation Center and the Urban Family Center.
"Henry Street is very grateful for the contributions of the Deloitte employees," said Volunteer Program Manager Bernadette Perrette. "Volunteers are important at all times, but never more so than during this economic crisis."
Kenneth McGrath, a manager at Deloitte Consulting and three-time Henry Street volunteer, commended Henry Street for its work in assisting others and says he looks forward to returning again next year.
"Impact Day confirms how important it is to give back to others with the most precious gift we have: our time," he said. "I am proud of our entire extended team for their participation."
Deborah Watkins, who grew up in the Lower East Side and participated in Henry Street's programs as a child, was also among the volunteers. As a child, Watkins helped create the mural outside Henry Street's Youth Services building and acted with Pete's House Productions.
"As soon as I saw Henry Street Settlement on the list of sites, I knew I had to volunteer there for Impact Day," said Ms. Watkins, now an executive assistant in Deloitte's securitization department. "They did so much for me. The least I could do was give something back."
Henry Street Honors Senior Companions June 4, 2009
Program Director Jennifer Fields Joseph congratulates Monserrate Rodriguez on 25 years of service.
More than 100 people attended Henry Street's Senior Companion Recognition Luncheon on June 3, 2009, where the Settlement honored the Senior Companion volunteers for outstanding work and years of service. Volunteers also received community service certificates from the City Comptroller's Office.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer spoke at the event, held at New York University's Kimmel Center, to thank Henry Street and its volunteers for improving the lives of the city's senior citizens.
"No matter what the budget looks like or what the recession looks like, we have to take care of our elders," he said, sparking applause. "You make this city what it is."
Senior Companions are healthy older adults who help other older adults live independently by providing companionship and other services in all five boroughs of New York City. Senior Companions must be 60 years or older, in good health, have a limited income and be able to travel on mass transit. They volunteer 20 hours per week and receive a small stipend.
For more information on the program, click here or call 212.406.5044.
Henry Street Settlement awarded scholarships to 71 college students—the most ever in a single year—at the seventh annual Youth Scholarship Awards Ceremony on May 28. The awards ranged from $600 to $1,100. More than 120 people—students, proud family members and friends—attended the lively ceremony, held at St. Augustine Church.
Danielle Algranati-Ellman, Henry Street’s Director of Adolescent Services, congratulated recipients and said she hoped the scholarships would inspire them to "pay it forward" one day.
"I was a Henry Street Scholar and felt indebted to Henry Street for helping me," she said. "It made me realize we all have an obligation to give back."
Michael Chan, from the office of Speaker of the State Assembly Sheldon Silver, presented Henry Street with a proclamation to recognize the important work the Settlement does with youth.
Rozan Abdulrahman, a 2007-2008 scholarship awardee and recent Bard College graduate, gave the keynote address.
"This nation now has the first black president and the first Hispanic judge to be nominated for a Supreme Court position," she said. "This country is progressing, and this evening is proof that we are progressing along with it."
Giving closing remarks on behalf of Henry Street Executive Director Verona Middleton-Jeter, Chief Program Officer Diane Rubin congratulated recipients and thanked the Abrons/Aranow Scholarship Fund and Trinity Wall Street for making the scholarships possible. Because of the generosity of the funders, a total of $56,600 was awarded to the students, who will use their awards to purchase textbooks and pay for other school expenses.
"When I started at Henry Street a few years ago, there were less than 20 scholarships awarded, and the year before that there were only 10," said Ms. Rubin. "I look forward to the day we can give out 100 scholarships to students."
