April 2025 Newsletter
April was an exciting and productive month for NIA! We hosted a various range of multi-site events, including the NIA Cup, Spring Break Outings, and our annual NIA STEM Fair. Additionally, we hosted several engaging author visits as part of our ongoing Read Out Loud Initiative. This month also brought some wonderful highlights from our Family and Social Services programs. Read on to discover all the great things we’ve been up to!
nia cup
This spring break, NIA proudly hosted its annual NIA Cup, a lively two-day event dedicated to our students. The first day welcomed middle school students, while the second was tailored for elementary students. The festivities featured a mix of engaging outdoor and indoor activities. Students enjoyed outdoor games such as soccer, sack races, tic-tac-toe races, egg races, barrel runs, and much more. Inside, they dove into a variety of entertaining e-games, puzzles, math challenges, and word games. A special thank you to NIA/IS 468 for graciously hosting our middle school participants and NIA/PS 186 for welcoming our elementary students. Congratulations are in order for NIA/IS 30, who triumphed on the middle school day, and for NIA/PS 186, who claimed victory during the elementary day! We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated NIA staff, especially Program Supervisor Jonathan Lugo and Director of Education Corinne Colosimo, for helping to make this two day event such a success!
nia spring break
This April, our NIA participants enjoyed a lively array of activities tailored to their interests during Spring Break. The NIA Cup kicked off the festivities, spanning two exciting days at NIA/PS 186 and NIA/PS 468. Participants from NIA/PS 247 had an action packed spring break from exploring the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, to learning yoyo tricks and soaring through Urban Air to meeting their favorite characters at Sesame Street and striking it big at the bowling alley, each day brought something new. Meanwhile, NIA/IS 281 also enjoyed bowling and an adventurous outing at Beat the Bomb, where they immersed themselves in exciting games. Their drama club had an amazing Broadway Experience with Broadway Evolved where they recieved lessons from cast members from &Juliet, a vocal class by Betsy Wolfe, and more dance lessons from the Aladdin show. NIA/MS 443 had an action-packed experience at the nerf arena in Industry City, indulging in games and tasty snacks. NIA/IS 303 got to explore the Bronx Zoo where they were able to interact with the animals. Other highlights across all NIA programs include movie days, visits to Urban Air and Dave & Busters, Brooklyn Escape, and so much more. A heartfelt thank you to all our NIA Program Directors for organizing such wonderful experiences for our participants.
NIA Stem fair
NIA recently celebrated its annual STEM Fair, held at NIA/PS/IS 229 hosted by Program Director Linda Panza. This interactive evening showcased a variety of captivating projects that our students have been diligently working on. From drones and virtual reality games to volcanoes and plant growth, students were eager to display their achievements and explore the innovative work of their peers. Attendees also received free books, enhancing the evening's enjoyment. Many of NIA’s leadership were in attendance including NIA Founder and President Michael A. Bové, Director of Program Operations Vera Ekht, Program Supervisors Thomas Zaki, Kevin Richtback, Darryl Robinson, and Ieeyana Nieves, and more. A special thank you to NIA’s Director of Education, Corinne Colosimo who did a wonderful job of putting together this event and coordinating with all of the programs to get their work together and ready for the STEM Fair.
nia take your child to work day
Take Your Child to Work Day at NIA was such a fun and memorable experience! The day kicked off with breakfast and a “staff meeting,” followed by a tour so the kids could see where their parents work. They designed T-shirts for upcoming NIA events, learned about their parent’s role at NIA, and even helped out with some simple tasks. Our little interns got the full NIA experience! Huge thank you toNIA Executive Director Annette Velez and NIA Assistant Executive Director Phyllis Smergagliuolo for making the day happen. A shout out to NIA Director of Education Corinne Colosimo for organizing such engaging activities and to NIA Office Assistant Angelica Bove for her support throughout the day.
read out loud
Throughout April, our Read Out Loud program has been flourishing. This month’s theme focused on Business Management, featuring the work of our newest author, Lowey Bundy Sichol. She brought her unique background in entrepreneurship to life through her three children's books and two novels, which explore the journey of successful companies in a whimsical way. As part of her Giving Back Program, Lowey is on a mission to give back to Title 1 schools that may not have access to author visits or free books. Lowey connected with our participants, sharing her passion for writing, entrepreneurship, and inspiring them to believe in their ideas, and with the support of PL$, she was able to provided every student with a free copy of her book.
nia social services highlights
Our Social Services Director, Senja Frangipani, had a busy month filled with community engagement and vital training initiatives. She attended a ceremony honoring Scoutmaster Shirley Chin, where Troop 18G opened the pledge at CB10. In addition to this, she has actively participated in several community meetings and visited various senior centers, fostering connections and sharing important resources with our community members. One of her key initiatives includes conducting Naloxone Training Sessions at our offices, where attendees gain valuable knowledge about the critical use of Narcan/Naloxone in emergency situations. As an added value, participants at these training sessions will receive a free Naloxone training kit, equipping them with the tools needed to respond effectively in emergencies. For those interested in learning more about this, we have two upcoming sessions scheduled for May 14th and June 11th, hosted at NIA’s main office at 6:30 PM. Registration is required; please contact Senja directly for details at 718-236-5266.
nia family services highlights
In April, our Manager of Family Services, Isabel Paz, orchestrated a delightful Spring Family Event at NIA/PS/IS 30. Families participated in a crafty spring project, followed by an exciting egg hunt filled with goodies! It was a joyous gathering filled with laughter and connection. Thank you, Isabel, for creating such a wonderful experience for our families! Additionally, April marks Child Abuse Prevention Month. Isabel has initiated a social media campaign called the Family Challenge, encouraging followers to share photos of their families enjoying quality time together using #NIAFamilyTime. By participating, families can win an essential needs basket while helping raise awareness on this important issue.
DYCD Spring cleanup day at NIA Cornerstone
This month, our staff at the NIA Carey Gardens Cornerstone dedicated time to participate in the DYCD Spring Clean Up Day, a citywide initiative focused on cleaning, decluttering, organizing, and refreshing community spaces. The entire team came together to repaint the walls and create new banners, adding vibrant decorations to our environment. We are also involved in a Cornerstone Beautification Project that is bringing remarkable improvements to our location. This ongoing project promises exciting developments, so stay tuned for more updates!
NIA/PS 186 Read out loud visit
Councilwoman Susan Zhang visited NIA/PS 186 this month, where she read "All Are Welcome" to the 4th and 5th grade classes. The students were particularly excited to hear from a councilwoman as they explored various career possibilities that week. With great enthusiasm, they engaged with her, asking questions about her role and journey. To the delight of all, each student took home a free copy of the book to enrich their personal libraries.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
NIA/IS 303 Field Trip to Pfizer Labs
NIA/PS 186 Event with NYPD for Autism Awareness Month
NIA/PS 52 in collaboration with Noble Maritime Collection at Snug Harbor
One of the highlights for both our students and program directors at NIA is the opportunity to engage with parents. Events like Family Nights and our Halloween Festival bring everyone together, allowing parents and families to contribute to the NIA experience.
Our students take great pride in sharing what they have learned with their parents, and we strive to highlight their achievements through our multi-site events such as the Art Fair, STEM Fair, and Dance Festival. We recognize and appreciate the vital role that parent involvement plays in enhancing student engagement in our programs. Thank you for your continued support and for helping make NIA a more vibrant community as we work together to fulfill our mission.
NIA SOCIAL SERVICES ASSISTANCE
NIA social services assistance is free of charge and many issues can be handled via phone or by virtual appointment.
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)
Access-A-Ride
Child Support Service
CITYHEPS Renewals
Counseling Services
DRIE
EAP (Energy Assistance Program)
Fair Fares
Health Insurance
Health Proxy Assistance
HEAP
HPD
IDNYC
Medical Savings Plan
Narcan/Naloxone Training
NYC Housing Lottery Application Assistance
NYCHA Housing Authority
Passport Appointment
Referral Assistance
SCHE
SCRIE
SNAP
WIC
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
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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.
PRIVATE FAMILY SUPPORT SESSION
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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
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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!
