Tag: Charity

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Featured NYC

Rocking the Boat during the COVID Pandemic

Rocking the Boat during the COVID Pandemic
Troy Messenger

 

Rocking the Boat

We believe in giving back to our community and city. When you are a publication it becomes difficult to dig into your pockets for every great charity program. Rather, our part is to inform our readers of the causes that we have worked with and believe in.

Rocking the boat is one of the many programs that we feel is solid for you to invest your time and money. Launching in 1996 as a volunteer project in an East Harlem junior high school, Rocking the Boat worked under the aegis of New Settlement Apartments, which provided both workshop space and students for the cornerstone Boatbuilding Program.

They incorporated as an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 2001,

Rocking the Boat continued to cultivate relationships with a wide variety of community-based, educational, environmental, cultural, and historical organizations, and over the years have expanded their size and scope of its services.

Namely, the On-Water Education Program which is near and dear to our hearts. This was added in 2002, the On-Water Classroom in 2005, the Job Skills Program in 2006, Community Rowing in 2007, and the Sailing Program in 2015.

This year with the pandemic we were worried as to how this and many children/young adults charity programs would manage. The word for 2020 seems to be Virtual.

Rocking the Boat was brought to the attention of Downtown by one of our subscribers, and close friends Alies van den Berg

Here’s our conversation with Rocking the Boat Development Director, Jaye Pockriss

DTM: Give us the rundown on how the virtual RTB is going this year and are the participants only walking or running this year or are they doing other activities like Rowan get home or cycling?

RTB: They are walking, running, rowing, kayaking, sailing, cycling, hiking.  One woman is riding an adult trike because she has multiple sclerosis.  At least two participants are volunteering to encourage voting in the election.  One woman is knitting, another gardening.  Some dudes are golfing.

DTM: Do you have as many participants and donors?

RTB: We have the most participants ever, roughly 200, and they are from more places across the country (Texas, California) capitalizing on the “anywhere and everywhere” aspect of this year’s event.  Going into the final weekend, 1,700 gifts have been received so far, on par with last year.

DTM: With all the many charitable organizations popping up, why would you encourage our readers to support RTB?

RTB: We can go in a couple of directions here…Rocking the Boat’s South Bronx neighborhood, Hunts Point, is in the poorest congressional district in the nation. Students here need comprehensive and sustained services to contend with the disadvantage of under-resourced schools, and the too frequent lack of adequate family support.

Despite having become synonymous with urban decay and pollution, the Bronx boasts some outstanding natural features including the oldest forest and the only true river in New York City. These spaces are home to a wide variety of trees, plants, fish, land animals, and birds. Rocking the Boat programs intimately connects Hunts Point youth to their environment by helping them enjoy it and giving them the skills to care for it.

 

Rocking the Boat during the COVID Pandemic
Leola Specht and Jeff Scales

 

Rocking the Boat students work together to build wooden boats, learn to row and sail, and restore local urban waterways, revitalizing their community while creating better lives for themselves.

Rocking the Boat is committed to helping its participants:

  • Stay in high school until they graduate or receive an equivalency diploma—on average 96% of Rocking the Boat students graduate from high school on time; the rate is an alarming 17.8% in Hunts Point generally
  • Enroll in college or trade school and be prepared academically and emotionally to succeed there—nearly 100% growth in social-emotional competency and enroll in a post-secondary program directly out of high school
  • Develop technical skills such as sailing, boat handling, navigating, chart reading, carpentry, sample collection and testing, scientific observation, and recording data, all of which reinforce STEM concepts and put them into a practical context
  • Develop soft skills such as leadership, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking
Rocking the Boat during the COVID Pandemic
Team members from Flotsam and Jetsam

DTM: What would you like our readers to know about your organization in order to get them involved?

RTB: Rocking the Boat kept rocking. Virtually, at the onset of the pandemic and on through the summer. We know that the current circumstances could change at any moment, but at the same time, we are excited to have resumed in-person youth development programming as of September 21.  We have confidence that our hands-on boatbuilding, environmental science, and sailing experiences are exactly what our participants need right now.  We are lucky that building, rowing, and sailing boats all take place in spaces—a 2,500 square foot shop with 15′ foot ceilings and outdoors on the Bronx River—that offer plenty of space to spread out and fresh air to breathe. Comprehensive distancing and sanitizing procedures are in place and will be strictly enforced to keep everyone safe.

 

Rocking the Boat during the COVID Pandemic
Thom Thacker

 

 

Rocking the Boat engages over 200 teens per year in a series of STEM-based programs that last throughout their high school careers and into college. Participants enter as freshmen and sophomores and choose from one of three programs: Boatbuilding, Environmental Science, or Sailing. They move from being students to paid apprentices to alumni once they graduate high school, at which point they are eligible to work part-time for Rocking the Boat as Program Assistants.

 

Rocking the Boat during the COVID Pandemic
Troy Messenger

 

In addition, roughly 4,000 local residents take part in Rocking the Boat’s free weekend rowing events and school-driven programs, most often through their math and science classes. 200 teens and 4,000 community members per year, this is a huge feat!

Categories
Culture Events Featured News NYC

CHINATOWN NEEDS YOU!

Support Chinatown
Support Chinatown

Famed Chinatown store Pearl River Mart, which was founded in 1971, has partnered with grassroots organization Welcome to Chinatown to launch “The Chinatown Collection,” which drops on August 14. The collection of items such as t-shirts, mugs, and tote bags are available online and in Pearl River’s stores in TriBeCa, Chelsea Market, and at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA). Pearl River’s president, Joanne Kwong says, “To me, Chinatown is one of the neighborhoods in the city that symbolizes New York in a nutshell. The hustle and bustle, the great food, the immigrant legacy, the multi-generational families and organizations, the tourists, all of it.  So many neighborhoods have become overtaken by corporate brands and restaurant chains that it’s hard to find authentic New York. Chinatown is authentic New York.”

The neighborhood was one of the earliest and hardest hit parts of the city. The neighborhood took a downturn beginning in January, due to xenophobia and racism stemming from the spread of COVID-19. And now, along with restaurants and small businesses everywhere, the neighborhood is struggling to reopen as New York emerges from lockdown. It is estimated that one-third of all small businesses in NYC will close permanently as a result of COVID-19.

Shop for a great cause

MOCA lucky cat shirt
MOCA lucky cat shirt

During the last five months, in spite of the hardship they have faced, the Chinatown community has also been an inspiring source of strength and resilience. Neighbors have come together to feed the community’s elders and most vulnerable, to patrol and clean the streets and help mom-and-pop businesses modernize and survive. Pearl River has partnered with the grassroots organization Welcome to Chinatown to design and produce merchandise for businesses at no cost to them. All proceeds will go back into the community, including 10% to the many inspiring charitable initiatives.

Hop Kee mugThe first Chinatown Collection includes t-shirts, mugs, and tote bags celebrating beloved businesses like Jing Fong, Hop Kee, Nom Wah, Kopitiam, Fong On, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Congee Village, and Xi’an Famous Foods, as well as non-profit organizations like Museum of Chinese in America, and Think!Chinatown. Other collaborators include comic book artist Jerry Ma; filmmaker Ursula Liang; Designers For Good Measure and Wonton in a Million; and Pearl River Mart. New partners and items will be announced in coming weeks.

A Long Chinatown History

Kwong says, “Since Pearl River has 50 years of experience in designing, producing, and fulfilling merchandise, along with a robust e-commerce operation, we thought we could help provide an additional revenue channel for fellow businesses in the neighborhood. Most of them are restaurants or food purveyors, as opposed to retailers.”

She continues, “I also thought it would be powerful to see all the brands together. We joined forces with Welcome to Chinatown, a grassroots organization that was founded in response to the pandemic. They were designing merchandise for old school mom-and-pop shops but finding that producing and carrying the inventory was cost-prohibitive.  We helped to bring those costs down and streamline fulfillment. We hope to add more businesses that our less digitally savvy and would welcome any introductions to businesses who would like the help.”

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Events Featured NYC

Dine In For Life This Summer

More Than a Meal: Dine In For Life This Summer

At a time when many New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet, the nonprofit The Alliance for Positive Change is hosting a virtual event on July 30 to support its vital food and nutrition programs, which provide free meals to New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses.

The annual event, which normally goes by the moniker “Dining Out For Life,” will take place virtually this year in New York City due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dining Out For Life has been a widely successful international initiative that supports local HIV service nonprofits like Alliance.

Dine In For Life This Summer
Celebrity chef Ted Allen (pictured third from right) is an event ambassador this year. Credit: Alliance for Positive Change, 2018

On a dedicated day, restaurants around the nation donate a portion of their proceeds to these nonprofits. Last year, more than 50 local HIV service organizations partnered with 2,400+ participating restaurants, 4,500+ volunteers, and more than 300,000 diners to raise an astonishing $4.28 million for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States and Canada.

This year, Alliance is hosting “Dining In For Life” and encouraging participants to order takeout from participating restaurants in lieu of an in-person event across New York City. By dining in, participants can stay safe while continuing to support local restaurants and the food programs of Alliance.

Alliance will designate funds raised to support its food and nutrition programming, which provides more than 28,000 –

hot meals and food pantry items each year and offers a lifeline to New Yorkers who often struggle to make ends meet. The program is core to Alliance’s network of support, and the organization has been witnessing an even greater demand for nutritious food during these challenging times.

“This year, the global coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented economic hardship, and caused innumerable people to lose their jobs and livelihoods,” said Sharen Duke, Alliance CEO & Executive Director. “For nearly 30 years, Alliance has shown kindness and compassion and we will continue to do this now, as many of those we serve are facing even greater obstacles now to maintain their health. We are asking all New Yorkers to consider July 30 as a moment to help your fellow New Yorkers to feel better, live better, and do better.”

Diners can participate in Dining In For Life by ordering takeout on July 30 from –

  • Amata: 209 E 56th Street, New York, NY
  • Arabesque: 4 E 36th Street, New York, NY
  • Duke’s: 1596 2nd Avenue, New York, NY
  • Patrick’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar: 259 West 42nd Street, New York, NY
  • Sac’s Place – Kaufman Astoria Studios: 35-11 35th Avenue, Astoria, Queens, NY
  • Sazon Perez: 417 S 4th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
  • Staghorn Steakhouse: 315 W 36th Street, New York, NY
  • Yoon Haeundae Galbi: 8 W 36th Street, New York, NY

New Yorkers can get event updates at www.diningoutforlife.com/city/newyorkcity

Categories
Featured Health Nutrition NYC

Get Involved: How To Help Homeless/Displaced LGBTQ+ Youth At The Ali Forney Center

No, you’re not misreading this: LGBTQ youth in New York City comprise up to 40% of the homeless population.

LGBTQ youths are victims of greater levels of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, trauma, HIV infection, mental health issue and substance abuse than their non-LGBTQ/cisgender counterparts. They are eight times more likely to experience homelessness. According to a 2007 study of the NYC Council census of homeless youth by the Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services, 28% of the street youth identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual, 5% identified as transgender, and 11% said “unsure.” These statistics are chilling.

Ali Forney was a gay/transgender youth abandoned by his parents at the tender age of 13. After a group home and the foster care system failed him, he took to the streets fending for survival by any means possible, until his tragic 1997 murder in Harlem at just 22. During his short time on earth, he advocated safe sex, HIV prevention, and sought justice for the murders of fellow queer street youth. Forney worked with the staff of the Safe Horizon Streetwork program to help others find solace and safety as well.

Ali Forney. Photo: Meg Handler

After Forney’s brutal murder, the Ali Forney Center (AFC) opened in 2002 as a shelter and counseling center for displaced Manhattan and Brooklyn LGBTQ youth.

As the homelessness levels rise in the city, sending some love to the Ali Forney Center is something you can do that will mean the world to a young person who did not feel safe being themselves, and sought safe shelter.

The Ali Forney Center is very transparent about where donation money goes. If you would rather purchase sundry items that immediately go to those who need it, they have an Amazon Wish List set up on the website, asking for basic necessities and clothing, GED prep textbooks, professional clothing for job interviews, and goods specifically for transgender youth.

Make a difference to someone special who could use a little kindness.

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Categories
Events Featured

Event: Rocking Manhattan 2019

At 7:35 am on September 28th, teams of rowers will set out along the East River. No, this isn’t a mass exodus, nor is it an attempt to avoid morning traffic. It’s part of Rocking Manhattan, a 9-hour journey to circumnavigate Manhattan island in rowboats.

Rocking Manhattan is a 30-mile rowing event, providing participants with a rare perspective of New York City and a shared experience with a committed group of fellow New Yorkers (with a few Californians and Rhode Islanders mixed in). Formed into teams of between 4 and 12 people, they circle Manhattan Island along its three rivers—north up the East, west across the Harlem, and south down the Hudson. 

Each team is charged with raising at least $25,000 to support Rocking the Boat’s programs for youth in the South Bronx. Most raise significantly more towards the goal of $400,000, or 13% of Rocking the Boat’s annual budget.

  • Rocking Manhattan 2019

Event participants include rowers, coxswains, and powerboat drivers. Event beneficiaries are the roughly 4,000 members of the Hunts Point community who take part in Rocking the Boat’s youth development and public programs.

Groups of relatives, friends, and co-workers form the always creatively named teams rowing around Manhattan Island in Rocking Manhattan, including Flotsam and Jetsam, Dismasted, Knots Unlimited, Shore Thing, Going Full Circle, Rabble Rowsers, Either Oar, Sirens and Argonauts, Ebb and Flow, Rock Lobster. Some have been involved since the first circumnavigation in 2009, others are rowing for the very first time. Some started as members of other teams and have now taken the plunge to captain their own team. Rocking the Boat Board members are leading six of this year’s nine teams. Rocking the Boat’s Founder an Executive Director, Adam Green, always rows one or two of the three legs.

Graduates of Rocking the Boat’s after school youth development program serve as coxswains, steering the boats and keeping their rowers synchronized and motivated. They are members of Rocking the Boat’s Alumni Rowing Team, which trains all summer for the event.

A dear friend of Downtown’s Alies Van Den Berg, will be rowing two legs. We felt that this was something everyone can get out to support.

Members of the tight-knit sailing community in Barnegat Bay, NJ fill a vital role driving safety boats that accompany the rowing gigs throughout the day, providing support as needed from filling empty water bottles to giving weary rowers a short tow.

Rocking the Boat

Starting and ending at One°15 Brooklyn Marina in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the route includes a breakfast stop at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City and a lunch stop at Muscota Marsh in Inwood and brings rowers under bridges, past landmarks, and adjacent to ferries, cruise ships, and coast guard vessels. 

A celebration dinner and award presentation (for generating the most dollars, not rowing the fastest) takes place in Brooklyn once everyone returns to the dock.

Outside of a few smallish corporate sponsorships, this is a peer-to-peer fundraiser. Everyone involved has an individual fundraising page complete with progress thermometer. They post photos, write brief stories about their connection to the organization, and then proceed to hit up their networks for donations! 

Rocking the Boat posts updates on social media and engages sponsors like Hydroflask for water bottles and Hornblower (the operator of NYC Ferry and Hornblower Cruises) for dry bags.

Rocking the Boat

Rocking the Boat brings tremendous positive impact to the high-need youth of Hunts Point by sustaining a hub of crucial resources and opportunities that help students overcome the circumstantial disadvantages that threaten to stifle their full potential. Activities centered on small boats and local waters are the unique vehicles Rocking the Boat uses to affect profound changes in the lives of young people and the vitality of their community. Wooden boatbuilding, sailing, and environmental research and restoration captivate and challenge young people, expose them to new experiences, and show them they are capable of doing things they never imagined, or only dreamed of. In doing so they develop the technical, social and emotional skills to replicate the successes they have in the shop and on the water in their personal, academic, and professional lives.

Rocking the Boat

The event is a circumnavigation of Manhattan Island over the course of nine hours. The boats, the rowers, the hydration and snacks, and the accumulated enthusiasm of over 100 volunteers are all in place…the only element we cannot plan for (other than the weather!) is a cheering section. Downtown has assembled the following list of locations and estimated times (+/- 10 minutes) for anyone who wants to have a one-of-a-kind New York experience coming out and cheering on the rowers. 

Rocking the Boat

Schedule – Enjoy a one-of-a-kind New York experience come on out to cheer on the rowers at any of these viewing areas along the New York Waterway.

Leg 1: East River

Empire Ferry Fulton Ferry Park (base of Brooklyn Bridge): 7:35 a.m.

Main Street Park (base of the Manhattan Bridge): 7:40 a.m.

Gantry Plaza State Park (Hunters Point): 8:10 a.m.

Queensboro Bridge: 8:20 a.m.

Queens Bridge Park (Long Island City): 8:20 a.m.

Roosevelt Island Bridge: 8:40 a.m.

Leg 2: Hell Gate and Harlem River

Carl Schurz Park: 10 a.m.

Thomas Jefferson Park: 10:15 a.m.

The High Bridge: 11:15 a.m.

Sherman Creek Park: 11:40 a.m.

Leg 3: Hudson River

George Washington Bridge / The Little Red Lighthouse: 2:15 p.m.

Riverside Park promenade at 116th Street: 3:15 p.m.

Riverside Park Boat Basin at 79th Street: 3:45 p.m.

Pier 40: 4:15 p.m.

Pier 25: 4:30 p.m.

Rockefeller Park 4:35 p.m.

Robert F. Wagner Park: 4:45 p.m.

Categories
Featured Fitness Health Wellness

Pop-up Workout Opportunity at The Dogpound

Pop-up Workout Opportunity at The Dogpound
Dog Pound Trainers Rhys Athayde, Christian Castano, Matt Tralli, Nicole Beauregard, Lalaina Duncan

In need of a new exercise class? Well, you’re in luck because an international, non-profit organization, Hoops for Hope, is working together with Dogpound, a fitness facility, on pop-up workout sessions open to all on August 3rd and the 4th at the Surfer Lodge in Montauk, New York from 9am-12pm.

The workout classes will be instructed by Sadiq Abubakar, Pawel Maslag, Andreina Marrero, Emily Samuel, and Carter Gallo.

As a final event, Southern African Braai, sundowners, and live music will be performed during the evening from on August 4th at Amagansett, Long Island from 6-9pm.

    All proceeds from the pop-up classes will go to Hoops for Hope and their foundation in order to help the growing community and children in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

    Pop-up Workout Opportunity at The Dogpound
    Andreina Nu, Christian Castano, Matt Tralli, Nicole Beauregard DogPound Trainers

    Hoops for Hope has helped over 10,000 young children around the ages of 6-16 in underserved areas in Zimbabwe and South Africa to improve important life skills like learning about health and diseases, gender equality, happiness, and education in order to better themselves and the community. 

    Our job is to remind young people that we can still have a better tomorrow even though things are not so good today,” Ngoni Mukukula, Hoops for Hope director said in a video on their website.

    To sign up for the pop-up class or donate to the Hoops for Hope organization, click here.