With 2019 behind us, I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you — my extended Children’s Aid family — a warm, healthy, and happy new year. I truly appreciate all of your contributions that helped make this past year a time when children could thrive, no matter what obstacles were put in their way.

Throughout this newsletter, you’ll read about the role we play during the holidays. Sadly, the reality is that too many of New York City’s children growing up in poverty spend the holidays without toys, holiday meals, or warm coats to wear in the winter.

Our response to this reality is a clear mission: to ensure that when we know of a child who is in need during the holidays, we’re able to help. That’s why every year, our generous corporate and individual supporters partner with our community centers and schools to hold holiday drives. And to make this season even more festive, our children enjoy holiday celebrations with their peers and mentors across our sites throughout the city.

This holiday season, we were once again able to distribute thousands of gifts, food items, and coats to children who would have otherwise gone without. When we’re able to fulfill this mission at Children’s Aid, it truly does make this season the most wonderful time of the year.

Wishing you and your loved ones all the best in this new year.

Warmly,

Phoebe C. Boyer
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

COMMITTED PARTNERS
Garden of Dreams Donates $1 Million to Renovate Frederick Douglass Center

It was only fitting Thanksgiving was the first occasion we celebrated at our newly renovated Frederick Douglass Center, located near Harlem. All of us, staff and families alike, had plenty to be thankful for.

Through an incredibly generous $1 million grant from the Garden of Dreams Foundation, which partners with The Madison Square Garden Company and MSG Networks, we began much needed improvements at this site which offers early childhood, after-school, athletics, arts, nutrition programs, and counseling.

In the lobby, our families and staff now benefit from more comfort and safety with the installation of a new HVAC system, a new key card access system, and additional security cameras. The lobby also expands accessibility to clients with disabilities with a new ADA compliant bathroom, and encourages children’s interests in books with a cozy new reading nook.

The donation also funded plenty of exciting updates in our gym. We’ll no longer have to close the courts during the summers because it’s too hot, thanks to a brand new HVAC. We also installed new theatrical lighting and audio visual systems, taking our technological capabilities for performances and group activities to the next level. And the refinished floor, new padding, and more welcoming look ensure something important for student morale — Fred Doug athletes are now proud to call this gym their home court.

For our families, these renovations were more than just new features at a youth center, they were like refurbishments on their home. And we mean that quite literally. This community center is located on-site a housing project called “Frederick Douglass Houses”, and since our days as one of the original tenants, we’ve continued to be a valued part of the residents’ and neighbors’ lives for 60 years.

To celebrate the renovation, we held an official ribbon cutting ceremony in early December, emceed by MSG Networks Studio Host Bill Pidto. Garden of Dreams Board Member and Knicks Alumnus John Starks helped cut the ribbon, along with Bill Pidto, Chairman of the Garden of Dreams Foundation Barry Watkins, Manhattan Deputy Borough President Matthew Washington, Children’s Aid President and CEO Phoebe C. Boyer, Fred Doug Center Director Amy Hyman, and other Children’s Aid staff members. After the ribbon cutting, the Junior Knicks and Knicks player Wayne Ellington hosted a basketball clinic in the brand new gym, as well as a fun round of bingo.

“Children’s Aid is committed to serving this community for generations to come, and the new renovation will symbolize our heartfelt dedication to our youth and families,” Phoebe C. Boyer said during the ceremony.

 

 

 

IMPACT
Maria Raheel: Superheroes Spread Holiday Cheer

The saying goes that not all superheroes wear capes. But at our Frederick Douglass Center’s holiday party near Harlem, NYPD Officer Maria Raheel (pictured above third from right) and her group of superhero volunteers not only wore capes, they also donned masks, princess outfits, and plenty more costumes.

After arriving to our community center for the third year in a row dressed up as Black Panther, Moana, Captain America, and other superheroes, Maria and her group of volunteers, who included NYPD Chiefs John Hart (pictured above second from right) and Thomas Galati (pictured above second from left), presented gifts to about 70 excited kids. The children chose which gifts they wanted, then enjoyed food, arts and crafts activities, face painting, and a dance contest with festive music. After several rounds of intense cha-cha and electric slide, a winner was chosen. 

“I love this celebration. It’s always the most gratifying day of my life,” Maria said. Maria has worked with other nonprofits before, but said Children’s Aid is particularly special. She could tell our Fred Doug Center creates an environment where kids respect each other as well as the adults who mentor them. Maria cites the kids’ warm welcome, and eagerness to talk to her and her volunteers. She added the children didn’t pressure other kids to  trade their toys with them after they received their gifts, and during the arts and crafts activities, older students took the initiative to approach younger students who were struggling with their projects, and offer a helping hand. “It’s a true group effort. There’s a real sense of community and gathering, especially during the holidays,” Maria said.

For many of these kids, this party was their only chance to receive toys for the holidays, so they look forward to this day every year with much anticipation. Because of Maria’s commitment to returning every winter to give special gifts and volunteer her resources, every K-8 child at Fred Doug had a reason to smile this holiday season. 

“The only wish I have left unfulfilled is being able to offer these gifts to even more Children’s Aid kids next year,” said Maria.

 

YOUTH ACTIVATED
Bridging Policy and Practice

Children’s Aid provides comprehensive services to our children, youth, and families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods, while also bridging policy and practice by advancing their interests at every level of government. Through partnerships with government agencies and elected officials, as well as our advocacy work in coalition with other organizations in the field, the Children’s Aid Office of Public Policy secures public funding and promotes public policy to ensure our work helps children and families reach their full potential.  

We are a professional powerhouse of solutions and advocate because our programs and services are critical to the communities we serve. Children’s Aid promotes public policy and investments in community schools, youth in and aging out of foster care, school-based health centers, after-school and summer programs, and early childhood. 

We are currently preparing for the upcoming legislative season at both the city and state levels. Although we have seen success on the city level, the state is projecting a looming budget deficit of $6 billion because of rising costs of the state’s Medicaid program. There are fears of cuts to funding streams critical to our communities, including education and health. 

We have recently made inroads at the city level advocating in the human services field on salary increases for certified, non-union teachers working in community-based organizations, an important step toward real salary parity for this crucial workforce. We also helped the city launch the “Indirect Cost Rate Funding Initiative”, which means the city will now cover some overhead costs for government-funded programs at Children’s Aid and other human service providers. These developments demonstrate the importance of advocacy to meet the ongoing challenges of the human services sector.

Children’s Aid’s advocacy work will be even more crucial this year to help elected officials understand the importance of investing in education, as well as supportive services and programs for children and families. To raise the profile of these issues, Children’s Aid will participate in several Advocacy Days in Albany with our varied coalitions. For our Fostering Youth Success Alliance’s Advocacy Day, we will advocate for funding to secure the continued success of the Foster Youth College Success Initiative. As members of the steering committee for the New York State Network for Community Schools, we will ask for additional resources to support growth and implementation of the community schools strategy statewide. We will also join Advocacy Days with other coalitions to support budget requests that include an expansion of access to after-school and summer programs; sustaining the human services sector; an increased investment in school-based health centers; workforce compensation for child care educators; and child care quality improvement.

We know this year may present challenges, but these challenges only make our advocacy work more important. Children’s Aid will continue to be a fierce advocate for public investment in programs that help our children, youth, and families thrive.

 

THE PATH TO PROMISE
Young Artist Perseveres With Guidance and Support

George Nkrumah Meizah was 2 years old when his father moved to the U.S., leaving George and his mother in their native Ghana. 

After spending his childhood in West Africa, George and his mother decided that moving to the U.S. to live with his father and stepmother would afford him a better education. So at 18 years old, George packed his bags and flew from Accra, Ghana to the Bronx to start a new life with his father. 

Living with his father did not strengthen their bond. Instead, their relationship deteriorated quickly.

“Things got rough between us,” George said. “I had to escape from him. He was too abusive and I needed help, so I went to my guidance counselor in high school.”

His guidance counselor’s name was Cedric Hawkins, and he became a lifeline for George at the Bronx Career and College Preparatory High School, a Children’s Aid community school. Though George’s life was turbulent in high school from the physical abuse he endured, Cedric pushed him to take advantage of all opportunities. 

George became a peer mentor at the Children’s Aid Hope Leadership Academy, where he strengthened his public speaking skills. He was also the valedictorian of his high school class.  

While he was excelling in school, George lived in a shelter during his senior year. With help from Cedric, he moved to a transitional youth shelter in the Bronx. 

The change of setting was good for George, he said, and he was able to focus on his studies. He is now a junior at St. Thomas Aquinas College where he studies art therapy.

“Art is my passion and what I see myself doing,” he said. “I felt like helping kids and elderly people in hospitals and rehab centers through whatever emotional thing they’re going through, to help them through art.”

Children’s Aid helps George shoulder his remaining tuition costs through the Jean L. Stern Memorial Scholarship, and when he was falling short on basic necessities this year, Children’s Aid also provided him with financial assistance to purchase food, clothes, and to pay off his phone bill. 

Through Children’s Aid’s College Access and Success program, George has a mentor who continues to track his progress in school and makes sure he has everything he needs to succeed.

Diversity in Action:

On the Rise: African American Advocates Inspire Next Generation of STEM Professionals

NY1:

Manhattan Community Center Gets a Makeover

New York Times:

Stifled in Foster Care, He Found His Way Through Dance