Community Matters Event -- A Huge Success!

We had a wonderful gathering last Thursday at The Strycker's Bay Community Matters Event. People made new connections and networked with old colleagues. I met new folks excited to learn about and become part of the Strycker's Bay community. A very big THANK YOU to Cal Snyder and Gale Brewer for hosting the event!

 

Kelley Williams present award plaque to Diana Metz

(l-r) Judy Maysles, SBNC Board Member Mary Geissman and Cynthia Doty

Karen Jorgensen, SBNC Board President and Pete Rosenblum (Doris's Husband)

I was a pleasure introduce our Doris Rosenblum Youth Leadership Awardees, Diana Metz, Lauren Howard and Willie Breslau. Take a look at who they are....

I want to thank those of you who are reading my blog posts and reaching out to me with resources and ideas...your support is greatly appreciated!!!!

Until the next post.....

Kelley

Looking Forward To Seeing You Tonight!

 As you must have heard via all my emails, Facebook and LinkedIn postings, Strycker's Bay will host COMMUNITY MATTERS a community networking event, this Thursday, January 20, 2011.  In an age of the social networking frenzy, Community Matters offers a throwback at networking in-person, with business cards, rather than Blackberries in hand, the forging of connections face-to-face, rather than on Facebook. I look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. 

Recognizing the need for strong networks as non-profits and their communities struggle to keep existing resources and secure new ones, the Community Matters networking event is designed to bring together neighborhood residents and organizations. It will be an evening of empowering conversation, sharing of ideas, and promoting of partnerships that will strengthen the Upper West Side Community. This inaugural event is being held in the home of Councilmember Gale Brewer and her husband, Cal Snyder. 

The idea behind The Community Matters event is to foster connections and relationships within the community that can help strengthen non-profits like Strycker's Bay, through partnerships and alliances.  Meeting the people of Strycker’s Bay as a teen back in 1975 changed how viewed and connected with my neighbors and community. I did not know my own power or that of a community to effect change until then. I learned from Strycker's Bay how much community matters.

Engaging emerging leaders is as crucial to building and strengthening communities.  Tonight he Community Matters event serve as the backdrop for a very special award ceremony for The Third Annual Doris Rosenblum Youth Leadership Award to be presented by Councilmember Gale Brewer.  The teen recipients of the award this year, Diana Metz,  Lauren Howard, and William Breslau, have all shown exemplary leadership and growth within Strycker's Bay's LACASA After School Program.  

The award commemorates the memory of Doris Rosenblum, Executive Board member of SBNC, District Manager of Community Board 7 and Manhattan Borough Historian. Doris was leader and mentor to many. Her husband, Paul “Pete” Rosenblum and other family members are expected to attend.

I look forward to seeing you tonight at 6PM at The Home of Councilmember Gale Brewer,  29 West 95th Street.

Until the next post....

Kelley

One of Many 2011 New Year's Resolutions for Strycker's Bay

Happy New Year All (again)!

I am just getting back to posting here on NEIGHBORHOOD COMMONS. As I mentioned in yesterday's post,  relocating and organizing our administrative offices and program operations at two different locations has taken up most of my time. But now that I have settled in and the dedicated staff of Strycker’s Bay are running their programs, activities and services, I can share with you Strycker’s Bay’s New Year’s Resolution…wait for it….are you ready? …

THIS YEAR WE ARE 

GOING TO ASK!

Yep its that’s simple, it seems that we take our roles and work here so personally we may have been just too proud to ask…well of course that is silly and it took a new mentor of mine (who shall remain nameless but he knows who he is) to make me realize that “…if you don't ask, you don't get.”

It’s really that simple. We are doing grassroots charitable work and we need help. It’s not only financial contributions we need. We need access to resources, strategic partnerships, corporate sponsorships and supporters that can help us leverage the kind of financial (corporate, private and public) support we need to keep our doors open.

WE HAVE LOST MORE THAN $70,000 IN FUNDING THIS FISCAL YEAR; however, we have used our limited resources wisely and have accessed the energy, knowledge and passion of others to help get us through a very difficult time. We will get through this difficult period but the plan is to get through it and come out stronger than ever…and therefore we plan on ASKING, ASKING, and then ASKING SOME MORE…we know that our supporters will do what they can, but we have to let you know what we need.

Right now I am going to ASK that you think of ways you can help make Strycker’s Bay stronger than ever by looking at a list at our TOP TEN LIST OF NEEDS:

• 1.      WE NEED A SUB-TENANT IN OUR NEW LOCATION ON WEST 109^TH STREET to help defray the cost of our new rent which is more than twice what we have been paying over the past five years. For further details please contact me or Ramon Cuevas at 212-874-7272
  
  
• 2.      IN-KIND PUBLICATION DESIGN AND PRINTING – We are doing wonderful things, but we need to share our story to help leverage support and resources. We have NO BUDGET LINE for printed publications such and brochures and annual reports. 
  
• 3.      OFFICE SUPPLIES – Donations of paper, pads and envelops are needed year-round. We welcome with open arms anything you can contribute in the way of office supplies.
  
  
• 4.      VOLUNTEER LITERACY TUTORS – Many of the children we work with could benefit greatly from additional help in the area of reading. Our Learning Steps Literacy Program is looking for tutors age 14 and older that can volunteer between the hours of 3:30 and 5:30. Training will be provided.
  
  
• 5.      INTERNS – College Interns interested in working with in the nonprofit field
  
  
• 6.      PRO- BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE for low income tenants in need of representation in and out of housing court or corporate matters related to Strycker’s Bay.
  
  
• 7.      EVENT PLANNING ASSISTANCE – We could sure use some help planning fundraising events that would help us generate funds, friends and visibility.
  
  
• 8.      FREE OR LOW COST EVENT SPACE for upcoming Photography Exhibit and fundraiser.
  
  
• 9.      CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS – If you work for a corporation that provides grants to non-profits, please consider connecting Strycker’s Bay to the grants officer.
  
•  10. PRO-BONO PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTING -- We need professional assistance and advice on how to get the many stories surrounding the work of Strycker's Bay Neighborhood Council out to the public. Volunteer advisers, writers and access to media resources are all welcome.

If you have ways you would like to help Strycker’s Bay that we didn’t think of, please feel free to contact me at 212-874-7272 or kwilliams@stryckersbay.org.

Okay, I got the first ASK of 2011 over…whew!…that wasn’t so bad…now all I have to do is wait for everyone to come knocking down our doors to help! (Smile)…

I look forward to seeing you at our COMMUNITY MATTERS event next week on Thursday, January 20, 2011. You will have an opportunity to meet the great board, staff, volunteers and interns that keep Strycker’s Bay going and other folks from other organizations doing the great work that keeps things at the “grassroots” of this city alive. 

Until the next post...

Kelley

Following in the Steps of Doris Rosenblum -- There's New Leadership In The Strycker's Bay Community

 Hi All and Happy 2011,

I have been away from Neighborhood Commons for a bit -- relocation of our administrative offices and housing program wasn't an easy assignment -- but I will save that for another blog post....I am glad to be back and sharing with you the announcement of the recipients of the Third Annual Doris Rosenblum Youth Leadership Awards. 

Doris Rosenblum

I personally knew Doris from the time I was a 1st grade student at PS 75 -- The Emily Dickenson School on West 96th Street. That was sometime ago. Doris led parent and community activists to support small schools and helped establish West Side High School (now known as the Edward A. Reynolds West Side High School) more than 30 years ago. Ramon, Cuevas, SBNC's Assistant Director, Ramon “Been” Vasquez, senior staff at LACASA and I are all alumni of WSHS. She was a board member of Strycker’s Bay, District Manager of Community Board #7, and appointed Manhattan Borough Historian.

Doris was a leader, mentor and teacher -- a path these young community leaders are now on.  This years recipients exemplify what LACASA strives to help young people achieve. In the face growing pains and difficult teen years these young people have developed a sense of personal responsibility, social responsibility and their path to leadership and success.

I am excited to announce this year’s recipients of the Third Annual Doris Rosenblum Youth Leadership Awards. They are exemplary teens of Strycker’s Bay’s Youth Program, LACASA —Learning Action Center for Academic Success and Achievement and are great leaders in the making. The award presentation will take place at Strycker's Bay's Community Matters event on Thursday, January 20, 2011 .

Congratulations  Diana, Lauren and Willie!
Strycker's Bay Needs Leaders Like You!

Diana Metz, started as a volunteer with LACASA during the summer of 2008. In the ‘08-’09 academic year, she served as an assistant to a homework help group and the fitness club at LACASA’s Afterschool program. She has worked closely with Ramon “Been” Vasquez in the fitness club and has encouraged the girls of LACASA to get more involved in fitness activities. She is a well rounded youth worker with very strong leadership qualities, can play any role at LACASA and has the full confidence of the LACASA’s program coordinator, Melissa Long. She is expected to graduate from Beacon High School in June 2011 and  plans to attend college in the fall to pursue a career as a physical therapist.

Lauren Howard, at the tender age of 14 Lauren joined the LACASA family. She was introduced as a volunteer and later participated in our high school internship program where she was trained to perform as a group leader. Strycker’s Bay has given Lauren opportunities to learn, lead and thrive. She has taken advantage of each opportunity offered and has blossomed into a young leader full of potential. Lauren is now an afterschool  group leader with LACASA, working with our Kindergarten group. This once timid volunteer has turned into an activity organizer, classroom instructor and rising leader at LACASA. Expected to graduate from A. Philip Randolph High School in June of 2011, Lauren plans a career as a psychologist.  

William "Willie” Breslau, currently in his sophomore year at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, joined the LACASA family in September 2010. Willie walked in the door with his own plan to inspire and  reach children. Willie formulated a plan, raised money for it and has carried it out to perfection. He is using Taekwon-Do Martial Arts to inspire, build confidence and dreams in students just a few years younger than him with much success. LACASA prides it self in giving young people the opportunity to lead and mentor younger participants. Willie has inspired others through his selfless work with LACASA kids.  

I look forward to seeing all of you at Community Matters on Thursday, January 20, 2011.

Until the net post...


Kelley