ATTENTION: 2-11 NYC Civic Corps Application Open

The 2011-2012 NYC Civic Corps Host Site Application is now open!

Apply now to be an NYC Civic Corps Host Site for the 2011-2012 Program Year.

The NYC Civic Corps, an AmeriCorps program run by NYC Service, unites a diverse group of professionals to assist organizations and City agencies in increasing their organizational capacity to engage volunteers and building sustainable volunteer initiatives. NYC Service dispatches 150 NYC Civic Corps members to serve full-time with partnering nonprofits and City agencies, who work to build and support host organization’s capacity to engage and manage volunteers. As an AmeriCorps program, NYC Service reimburses partner organizations (host sites) for the cost of providing stipends to NYC Civic Corps members for the duration of their term of service.

Organizations selected to receive a team of NYC Civic Corps members will be assigned a group of at least two corps members trained in volunteer management. Organizations will be required to manage their corps members' progress toward attaining of a minimum of 1700 service hours. Corps members will serve at their host organizations full-time for a ten month term of service, from September 2011 through June 2012.

Please note that this project is contingent on receiving federal funding administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the New York State Commission for National and Community Service.

Potential applicants who are interested in attending an upcoming informational reception should notify NYC Service at corps@cityhall.nyc.gov. Email corps@cityhall.nyc.gov or call 212.788.7550 with questions. The request for application can be found here.

NYC Parks Department Recruiting Volunteers To Assist Storm Clean-Up

On Thursday, September 16, 2010, New York City was hit by a major storm that caused unprecedented damage to parts of Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens. Many of our neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and residential areas were ravaged by falling trees and debris. The NYC Parks Department is working hard to clean these areas from the storm’s aftermath, but they need help.

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, in cooperation with NYC Service, is looking to recruit volunteers this weekend to help clean up following the storm. Please let us know if you are available to join us either this Saturday, October 2, or this Sunday, October 3. If you are willing to volunteer or if you have any questions, please call Larry Scott Blackmon (212) 360-3421 or emailCommunity.Outreach@parks.nyc.gov. You can also call NYC Service at (212) 788-7550, or email them at nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov.

ATTENTION: CHMC Seeking Paid Volunteers for NY Juvenile Justice Corps Positions

The Crown Heights Mediation Center is looking for candidates for paid volunteer positions that will start in October 2010. The positions will be offered through a new AmeriCorps program called the New York Juvenile Justice Corps. The program will serve young people currently involved or at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. Corps members receive a living stipend of $11,100 and an educational award of $5,350. The application deadline is August 30th, 2010.

BK Boro President Markowitz Presents 9th Annual Assembly of the Fed. of BK Block Assns. 4/22; BK Boro Hall; 5:30PM

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz invites you to the Ninth Annual Assembly of the Federation of Brooklyn Block Associations at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Thursday, April 22nd from 5:30pm- 8:30pm.

Keynote Speaker

Caswell F. Hollaway (Commisioner, New York City Department of Environment Protection)

Presentations
Assistance for Community Building Projects (Citizens Committee for NYC)

Postal Service and Solutions for Residents (United States Postal Service)

Volunteer Services and Skills Exchange (TimeBanks, Department for the Aging)

Census 2010 (U.S Census Bureau & Brooklyn Borough Presidents Office)

Workshop
Social Security Online Pension Services (Social Security Administration)

This is a chance for you to talk with agencies, organizations and company representatives about issues and concerns facing our blocks and communities.

Please RSVP 718-802-4042 by April 14th, 2010

NYers for Better Neighborhoods Provide Grant Opportunities

Have a great idea for a community improvement project?!

Through New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods the Citizens Committee for New York City may grant awards of between $500-$3,000 to volunteer-led groups to improve their community.

Projects may include providing healthy food, transforming empty lots, organizing tenants or starting school recycling programs. Any idea you may have to improve the quality of life in your community may be eligible.

The next grant deadline is September 30, 2010.

For more information or to apply, call/email Arif Ullah or Saleen Shah at 212.989.0909/grants@citizensnyc.org.

CM James Supports Green FG and CH Initiative, "Greening Business & Community" Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2009

Council Member Letitia James and Attorney Jed Marcus Support the Green Fort Greene & Clinton Hill Initiative, a ‘Greening Businesses and Community’ Project Underway within the 35th Council District

Council Member James joins Jed Marcus, coordinator of the Fort Greene Association’s Green Fort Greene & Clinton Hill (GFGCH) spring greening initiatives, for a press event on Tuesday, May 12th, at 2:30 pm, in front of Marcus Attorneys, located at 13 Greene Avenue (near Fulton St.)

(Brooklyn, NY) - The FGA’s Green Fort Greene & Clinton Hill spring greening initiatives are in full swing, and next Tuesday Council Member Letitia James and Attorney Jed Marcus will be discussing the importance of reducing our community’s contribution to global warming, as well as our use of non-renewable resources. Green Fort Green & Clinton Hill is a volunteer organization, which is helping to make our neighborhoods more environmentally friendly.

Next Tuesday will begin with volunteer students from the Academy for Young Writers working with Jed Marcus to distribute the “green business survey” to local businesses. These high school students will join the press conference, along with other elected officials and representatives from the eco-eatery Habana Outpost, New York’s first solar powered restaurant located in Fort Greene.

Other subjects that will be discussed at the press conference include recycling in parks: this project is taking place on a pilot basis in Fort Greene Park, Cuyler Gore Park, as well as Underhill Playground. Bins will be placed first for paper, and then for bottles and cans later this month. Lawn Litter Act signs: GFGCH is distributing free waterproof signs to prevent unwanted paper waste and to encourage businesses to promote themselves in a more green way, such as through their websites. Tree bed expansions: in order to maintain the health of trees that line the streets of Fort Greene/Clinton Hill - GFGCH with Council Member James want to expand tree beds to 50 square feet. This project called Take Back the Pavement will create longer living trees and more shade, safer sidewalks, as well as jobs for the community.

Who: Council Member Letitia James, Attorney Jed Marcus, and Academy for Young Writers students

What: Press Conference highlighting the Green Fort Greene & Clinton Hill spring greening initiatives

When: Tuesday, May 12th at 2:30 pm, in front of 13 Greene Avenue - near corner of Fulton Street


Contacts: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191, and Jenna Payne at (718) 643-6555

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Things We May Have Neglected To Mention

So we're definitely behind in our updates, but here are some quick things we thought you might be interested in:

1). Helping Out In Your Community

Alliance of Resident Theaters (ART) and Food Bank for New York City have partnered to collect food four times a year at ART's South Oxford Space. Their latest drive begins today and runs through Monday, June 1st. Bring your donations to the 1st floor lobby at 138 S. Oxford Street during regular weekday office hours or between 9:30am and 1:30pm on weekends. Here's a helpful chart on what food groups are most needed:



If you have any questions, ART can be contacted at (718) 398-3078.

2). Maintenance In The Community

Flatbush Avenue is being repaved between Plaza Street and Atlantic Avenue. The project is scheduled to begin next Thursday, May 14, 2009 (weather permitting). The maintenance is scheduled as exclusively night work. Please contact our Urban Planner, Alfred Chiodo, at (718) 260-9191 if you have any further questions.

3). And Don't Forget Your Mother!

If you're still thinking about ideas for Mother's Day (shame, ya'll), the Prospect Park Alliance offers you to chance to give your mother a tree in Prospect Park.

Brooklyn Designs is also celebrating from May 8-10 at St. Anns Warehouse (38 Water Street, DUMBO).

Lastly, we're going to try to make it to this Brooklyn Blogfest event, which sounds pretty amazing.