CMs James, Lander, and Van Bramer Award NYC Cultural Institutions, Joined By Actor/Activist Ed Norton

New York City Councilmembers Letitia James, Brad Lander, and Jimmy Van Bramer were joined at today's Stated Council meeting by two-time Academy Award-nominated actor Edward Norton to recognize this year’s NYC-based National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award winners.

Heart of Brooklyn and Global Action Project, are two of just fifteen organizations nationwide to receive this prestigious annual award from the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH). This award is the nation’s highest honor for outstanding after-school arts and humanities programs, particularly those that reach underserved children and youth. The awards were presented by First Lady and Honorary Chairperson Michelle Obama on October 20th at the White House, and Committee Member Ed Norton joined the New York City Council in recognizing these two outstanding organizations.

Photo Credit: William Alatriste, New York City Council

Watch FL Michelle Obama Award BCAP on Behalf of President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities

Watch Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (BCAP) get awarded by First Lady Michelle Obama as one of the best youth arts programs in the country. The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award is the highest honor out-of-school youth arts programs can receive in the United States. Read more here.

BCAP Awarded by President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities; Honored by First Lady

First Lady Michelle Obama Honors Heart of Brooklyn’s BCAP Initiative; One of 15 Youth Programs Awarded Nationwide

First Lady Michelle Obama will recognize Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (BCAP), the youth education program that gave rise to the award-winning Heart of Brooklyn cultural partnership, with a prestigious National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award at a White House ceremony on Wednesday, October 20. Heart of Brooklyn Director Ellen F. Salpeter and BCAP Summer Camp Adventurer Jamell Allen-Thomas will accept the award on behalf of the thousands of children served by BCAP since 1998.

Selected from a pool of more than 400 nominations, BCAP is one of 15 after-school and out-of-school programs across the country to be presented with a 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award (formerly, the Coming Up Taller Award- BCAP also was named a 2009 semi-finalist for the Coming Up Taller Award) from Mrs. Obama. The award is the highest honor such programs can receive in the United States. BCAP is one of two New York City-based organizations to be recognized at the ceremony, along with youth media organization Global Action Project.

The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards are administered by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). With the award, Heart of Brooklyn will also receive $10,000 to support its engaging programming that weaves connections between art, world culture, literature, history, nature and science.

The Awards Ceremony will be streamed live at www.whitehouse.gov/live at 11am, EST.

Learn more about BCAP’s innovative programming and the Heart of Brooklyn cultural partnership by visiting www.heartofbrooklyn.org/bcap.

BROOKLYN PAYS TRIBUTE TO SPIKE LEE; 3-DAY EVENT MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF "DO THE RIGHT THING"; STARTS 6/25

*THE FOLLOWING RELEASE IS A DRAFT FOR USE BY MEDIA; COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AMYRE LOOMIS SHOULD BE CONTACTED AT (718) 260-9191 FOR MOST UPDATED RELEASE*

Contact:
Sallomé Hralima
(347) 410 7277
media@wheresmars.com

For Immediate Release

BROOKLYN PAYS TRIBUTE TO VISIONARY FILMMAKER SPIKE LEE
Three-day event marks the 20th anniversary of Lee's "Do the Right Thing"

Brooklyn, New York, June 24, 2009 – Respected Brooklyn businesses and cultural institutions will come together for the three-day tribute Brooklyn Honors Spike Lee. Set at various locations for June 25-27, 2009, the event aims to celebrate the influence and scope of Lee's work and its impact in arts, media, fashion and
sports.

Highlighting the event will be Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz's proclamation of June 30, 2009 as "Spike Lee Day". This will mark the 20th anniversary of Lee's third film Do The Right Thing, which was deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Organized by marketing and production company PlanIt Brooklyn, several noteworthy Brooklynites have agreed to lend their talents to the host of events including: Nelson George, Kevin Powell, Michaela Angela Davis, Roger Guenveur Smith, Danny Simmons, Council Member Letitia James, and Fab 5 Freddy.

A summary of events follows:

• We've Gotta Have It!: Art Inspired by Spike Lee – Salena Gallery, Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University, Thursday, June 25, 2009, 6PM

• The Man & the Brand: Spike Lee Panel – Spike Lee Screening Room, Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University, Thursday, June 25, 2009, 7PM

• No Jheri Curls & No Drugs: A David Lee Photo Exhibit – Brooklyn Historical Society, Friday, June, 26, 2009, 6PM

• Buggin’ Out: Poetry Inspired by Spike Lee – Brooklyn Historical Society, Friday, June, 26, 2009, 7PM

• He Got Game: Father & Son Basketball Tournament – McLaughlin "Tillary" Park, Saturday, June 27, 2009, 5PM

Although Lee's films have served as turning points for Brooklyn's neighborhoods and can be directly linked to the emerging cultural regeneration known as “The Brooklyn Renaissance”, Brooklyn Honors Spike Lee will be the first borough-wide celebration honoring the living legend. Brooklyn Honors Spike Lee is not produced by Spike Lee, 40 Acres & and A Mule Filmworks or Spike DDB.

For more information about Brooklyn Honors Spike Lee, please visit www.wheresmars.com.

About PlanIt Brooklyn

PlanIt Brooklyn is an innovative marketing & production company, built to develop Brooklyn into an international arts and culture mecca. With expertise in trendsetting, global and popular culture, the company creates unique programming and uses non-traditional promotional tactics to engage audiences.


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BCAP Recognized by President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities!

We've mentioned the Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (BCAP) in the past, and we just wanted to share their great news- BCAP has been named a 2009 Coming Up Taller semifinalist by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and its partner agencies (the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities). The program recognizes "successful work in youth after-school and out-of-school arts and humanities learning...BCAP's selection distinguishes it as one of the top arts and humanities based programs in the country serving youth beyond school hours."

For more information, see here.

Interested parents: We're also told there's still time to register for upcoming summer classes. Please see here for more information: http://bcap.heartofbrooklyn.org/general-info-summer-camp/