February 2026

February was a busy and exciting month at NIA! Our Read Out Loud Campaign was in full swing this month with multiple inspiring author visits, while our Community Kitchen Cooking Series brought community and families together for the first workshops in our new cooking event series. We also celebrated Lunar New Year and shared the love on Valentine’s Day. Read on to learn more about all the great programs and events happening at NIA!

Read Out Loud

NIA’s annual Read Out Loud campaign is spreading the joy of reading by distributing more than 10,000 new books, expanding after-school libraries, and strengthening literacy programs across 20 schools. This year’s campaign is up and running, featuring inspiring author visits across multiple school districts. At NIA/PS 185, students enjoyed a special reading of I’m So Happy You’re Here! with author and host of PBS’ Reading Rainbow, Mychal Threets and illustrator Lorraine Nam. NYC Council Member Kayla Santusuosso also took part in the special visit and delivered opening remarks to kick off the event. At NIA/PS/IS 30, author Julio Anta shared Speak Up, Santiago, while author Nikita Aird visited PS 889 and NIA/PS 705 to read I Don’t Want to Wash My Hair, Mama! The excitement is just beginning! Stay tuned for more upcoming author visits, including visits by author Lowey Bundy Sichol.

NIA Attends Nets Game

NIA had an incredible time cheering on the Brooklyn Nets! Over 650 NIA students and staff attended the game and enjoyed an unforgettable experience. NIA President Michael A. Bové and program participants even had the exciting opportunity to step onto the court and high-five the players. NIA’s Community Liaison, Tom Hoefel, was interviewed live during the game by Chris Carrino and had the chance to share the amazing work happening at NIA with the entire arena. To top off an already fantastic evening, the Nets brought home a win! A special thank you to the Barclays Center for hosting us. We were honored to be recognized as the Non-Profit of the Night and we can’t wait to cheer on the team for the rest of the season.

Lunar New Year Celebrations

On January 12, NIA proudly hosted our 8th annual Lunar New Year Celebration at our Beacon Community Center at NIA/PS 247, bringing our community together for an afternoon of culture, tradition, and fun! Guests enjoyed a traditional Chinese meal while taking part in festive activities such as an interactive traditional Lion Dance performance and the opportunity to participate in a hands-on martial arts demonstration, making this celebration both engaging and memorable. The Lunar New Year celebrations did not end there -NIA/PS 186 also celebrated with a night of delicious Chinese food samples, family crafts, and music which celebrated culture and tradition heading into the year of the horse. Thank you to everyone who joined us in welcoming the new Lunar New Year!

Valentine’s Day at NIA

Love was in the air as NIA celebrated Valentine's Day. NIA/PS 247 hosted “Paint with Love”, a “Paint and Snack” night at the Beacon Community Center. This event was a fantastic evening where the community came together to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit! The participants painted Valentine's Day themed pink heart art while enjoying refreshments and themed snacks. Our youth programs also celebrated Valentine's Day with swoon-worthy crafts and activities. NIA at PS 705 had a blast decorating heart shaped cookies. Meanwhile, NIA’s PS 682 and PS 686 made their own stuffed animals with Bear Magic Workshop while enjoying delicious hot chocolate and desserts from a festive hot chocolate bar! Valentine’s festivities were also well underway at NIA/PS 104, where students eagerly hopped from station to station to take part in themed activities. At the STEM station, participants built colorful towers using marshmallow hearts and toothpicks, putting their creativity and engineering skills to the test. Over at the art station, students had fun designing and painting hearts on their own canvases, expressing their unique styles. The final stop was the DIY station, where everyone had a blast painting ceramic bears. The day was filled with creativity, collaboration, and plenty of Valentine’s cheer.

Mid-Winter Break

During Mid-Winter Break, NIA’s JHS 227 hosted Hustle & Hoops, a two-day basketball clinic and tournament that brought energy, teamwork, and NIA spirit to the court. Day one focused on active, skill-building drills, helping students sharpen their techniques and strengthen collaboration. The excitement carried into day two with an exhilarating tournament that showcased their hard work, growth, and outstanding sportsmanship. NIA middle school students from JHS 227, BUGS, IS 229, IS 187, IS 95, IS 30, and IS 303 all joined in the basketball fun. A special thank you to NIA’s JHS 227 Program Director Erik Paz and everyone involved for their dedication and hard work in planning and hosting such an incredible event! The sports fun continued with Round 2 of NIA’s EA Sports Tournament during the break. NIA’s IS 303 and IS 281 teamed up for a friendly and competitive showdown. Thank you to Program Director Jay Harris for bringing students together and creating such a positive experience. It was inspiring to see students reconnect, meet new peers, and showcase their skills in a supportive and spirited environment. Mid-Winter Break also featured an unforgettable trip to American Dream Mall. Students from NIA’s IS 281, MS 443, and IS 303 enjoyed thrilling rides at Nickelodeon Universe. The day was filled with laughter, excitement, and plenty of smiling faces. To wrap up the spectacular break, NIA’s IS 30, IS 95, and JHS 227 students had an amazing time at Dave & Buster's. They enjoyed arcade games, friendly competition, and selecting fun prizes from the gift shop. Overall, it was a fantastic Mid-Winter Break filled with connection, competition, and unforgettable memories for NIA students across multiple sites.

Community Kitchen Cooking Classes

NIA is excited to kick off our new Community Kitchen cooking class series, being hosted this year at our Carey Gardens Cornerstone center and our NIA program site at PS 253. We kicked things off with two engaging events at the Carey Gardens Cornerstone: a kids cooking class and an adult community class with a culinary teaching artist who guided attendees through a healthy stirfry recipe. During the kids cooking class, participants put on their aprons and prepared a delicious brunch-themed meal while learning new culinary skills. Adult attendees got to take home all of the ingredients and supplies to recreate their new recipe at home. Following the Cornerstone events, we also hosted a family cooking workshop at NIA/PS 253 where families gathered to whip up a healthy and delicious frozen berry parfait! These Community Kitchen Events are a fun and interactive way for families and neighbors to connect and build confidence in the kitchen. We’re looking forward to hosting even more cooking events this year, including an adult cooking class every last Thursday of the month at the NIA Carey Gardens Cornerstone. Special thanks to the NYC Civic Engagement Commission for funding these events through The People’s Money participatory budgeting process.

Program Highlights

BUGS trips to Bowl 360 and Ferox Ninja Park

NIA/PS 229 Esta A Mi Alrededor (Love is all around Me) Activity

NIA/PS 185 Program Activities

NIA President & Founder Michael A. Bové with IS 187 Principal Mina Sadiki and NIA/IS 187 Prog. Dir. John Herman

NIA Community Engagement

NYS Assembly Member Lester Chang present NIA with New York citation for our dedication to community engagement and family fun.

NIA President & Founder Michael A. Bové and NIA Community Liaison Thomas Hoefel attended Council Member Susan Zhuang’s State of the District meeting.

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Michael A. Bové, President; Mary Anne Cino, CEO

Annette Velez, Executive Director; Phyllis Smeragliuolo, Asst. Executive Director

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NIA SOCIAL SERVICES ASSISTANCE

NIA provides FREE services.

Most social services can be handled via phone or by virtual appointment.

Please contact NIA Director of Social Services Senja Frangipani at services@niabklyn.org or call 718-236-5266

HIGHLIGHTS

• NYC Housing Lottery Application Assistance

  Application assistance with applying for affordable rentals

  and housing opportunities throughout the five boroughs.

  (NIA does not work to secure an apartment for any applicants)

• Narcan/Naloxone Training

  Naloxone training is a service that teaches people how to respond to an opioid overdose.

  Every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:30PM

  Registration required, Limited seating, Must be 18 yrs.

  2nd floor conference room (No Elevator Access)

• Child Support Services

• Heap

• Medicare Savings Plan

• SCHE

• SCRIE

• Referral Assistance

• Access-A-Ride

• IDNYC

• NYCHA Housing Authority

• Passport Appointments

• WIC

• Counseling Services

• Fair Fares

• SNAP

• HPD

• DIRE

• CITYHEPS Renewal

• Health Insurance

• Health Proxy Assistance

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FAMILY SERVICES

For more information, please contact our Manager of Family Services, Isabel Paz:

isabel@niabklyn.org or call (929) 545-4172

Parent Advisory Committee

• We are looking for a community of parents and caregivers who would like to develop their leadership skills, plan activities, and support the NIA community. The Parent Advisory Committee’s (PAC) purpose is to provide input to NIA on designing programs and services that meet the needs of families in the NIA community.

  Parent Advisory Duties:

  • Suggest ideas and agenda items for NIA's Family Services parent education, family events, and other community projects.

  • Work collaboratively with other committee members.

  • Participate in a minimum of two out of four meetings (Meeting quarterly, every 3 months).

  • Help promote NIA's activities and events in the community.

Parenting Journey

This course is designed to help parents and caregivers understand how past experiences and present realities shape their attitudes and beliefs as parents and influence how they engage with their children. Through a process of self-reflection and guided conversation, Parenting Journey participants learn more about themselves not just as parents but also as individuals, resulting in a more confident parenting style. Upon successful graduation participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Private Family Support Session

• Family-support professional provides short-term support to families through one-on-one sessions and referrals. We provide support with:

  Behavioral changes in children, family conflicts, new stressors within the family, clothing, food, transportation, personal items

  All sessions are voluntary and based on each family’s needs, and include the option for referral for things outside of our scope such as domestic violence, mental health, and more.

New Moms Group

• A virtual community to support your parenting journey.

  Our new mom group discusses topics such as:

  • Baby development

  • what to anticipate as a new mom

  • journey from month to month for your baby’s first year

  • tips and tricks on navigating motherhood

  • and much more!

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