November 2024

Here at NIA we are excited for the start of the holiday season and have had a fun-filled fall! We have hosted our first annual NIA Craft Fair, a Community Harvest Day, enriched students with a variety of after-school program highlights, and have been busy preparing for our annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Ceremonies. Read on to learn about all the wonderful activities happening in our communities.

NIA PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER MICHAEL A. BOVÉ DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

In early October, we were thrilled to host our annual Senior Picnics, which were a huge success thanks to the support of Council Member Justin Brannan, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Senator Iwen Chu. With over 1200 seniors in attendance, the picnics featured delicious food, lively music, dancing, and plenty of opportunities for our seniors to socialize and have a great time. Along with Council Member Justin Brannan, we were also  able to host our first Senior Picnic in the Coney Island community. Beautiful weather allowed for each picnic to be hosted outdoors, with seniors able to enjoy the sunshine and quality time connecting with their peers. Special thanks to our corporate sponsors from MetroPlus Health and Maimonides for their support.

NIA CRAFT FAIR

This fall, we hosted our inaugural NIA Craft Fair! At NIA, we believe in fostering creativity and exploring new ideas. The Craft Fair was a wonderful opportunity for our students to express this ethos by sharing their unique creations. The students were able to gain inspiration from their peers at this collaborative multi-site event where their friends and family could also enjoy their works of art. A special thanks to PS 186 for hosting the event and to Corinne Colosimo, Director of Education, and Sophia Carlin, Education Assistant, for helping to coordinate this artsy-filled evening for our students and their families.

UPCOMING CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGS

Join us for our annual FREE Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies in partnership with Councilman Justin Brannan, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Senator Iwen Chu. Spread holiday cheer with us as we come together to light Christmas Trees in our communities. This year, we are excited to announce new locations and traditions for our festivities. Enjoy Santa, music, and light refreshments at John Paul Jones Park and Dyker Park with feature performances from The Guild for Exceptional Children, Xaverian Choir and Band, Narrows Community Theater, and NIA Carolers. Our two new locations will be held in Kaiser Park and at the NIA Carey Gardens Cornerstone. Kaiser Park will also offer Santa, music, and light refreshments, while the NIA Carey Gardens Cornerstone will be hosting a Holiday Celebration that includes a Christmas Tree Lighting, Menorah Lighting, and Kinara Lighting ceremonies. Thank you to Dyker Beach Golf Course and Gargulio’s for their contributions to all of these events. Find the dates and times for each event here: https://www.niabklyn.org/events

COMMUNITY HARVEST AT NIA CAREY GARDENS CORNERSTONE

On November 25th, the NIA Carey Gardens Cornerstone, with support from Councilman Justin Brannan, organized a Community Harvest Day that brought together members of the community in a heartwarming display of generosity and gratitude. The event, which provided free canned goods, turkeys, and other Thanksgiving staples to those in attendance, was a wonderful way for us to kick off the holiday season by giving back to those in need. Thanks to the generous support of our community, we were able to distribute over 200 turkeys, more than 300 cans of goods, and 100 batches of fresh produce. Everyone also had the chance to enjoy delicious apple cider and homemade pumpkin pie as they picked up their goodies. It was a joyous occasion filled with warmth, camaraderie, and a sense of unity. The success of the event was a testament to the power of coming together as a community to make a positive impact on the lives of others. It is our hope that those in attendance will continue to carry the spirit of Community Harvest Day with them, remembering the importance of giving back and supporting one another. Special thanks to Alfadila Community Services for organizing a food drive on our behalf that added to the offerings, Pastor Tony from Coney Island Lighthouse Mission, Pastor Joel of Holding Hands Ministries, Gargulio’s Restaurant, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Key Food, LoneStar Gourmet, Red Hook Gospel, Halal Food Connection, Chances for Children Food Pantry for their generous contributions. The NIA Carey Gardens Cornerstone Center is supported by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

JHS 227 Potluck

JHS 227 hosted their annual Potluck before Thanksgiving break and everyone had a blast! They have been hosting this event for over 15 years and it is always a highlight for the students as their families attend and bring their favorite dishes from their different cultures for everyone to enjoy. This year there were 14 entrees to choose from, games, and music!

PS 104 Read-a-thon

What a fantastic time was had at PS 104’s Read-A-Thon event! NIA participants and parents/guardians had a blast during the read-aloud session, with fellow students taking turns as readers. Afterward, everyone let their creativity shine by crafting their own stories. Each participant also had the opportunity to choose a free book to read and take home!

Bingo Night at NIA Carey Gardens Cornerstone

Bingo night at NIA Carey Gardens in Coney Island was a blast! Great fun, awesome company, and some lucky winners. Can't wait for the next one!

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NIA SOCIAL SERVICES ASSISTANCE

NIA provides FREE services.

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

• Child Support Services

• Heap

• Medicare Savings Plan

• SCHE

• SCRIE

• Referral Assistance

• Access-A-Ride

• IDNYC

• NYCHA Housing Authority

• Passport Appointments

• WIC

• Counseling Services

• EBT Skimming

• 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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NEW HIRES & PROMOTIONS

Brenda Chapnick
PS 889 Program Coordinator

Brenda Chapnick is a dedicated educator with a passion for creating a positive learning environment for students. She served as the Program Director at PS 889 for many years and now, Brenda is returning to PS 889 as the Coordinator, ready to bring her years of experience and expertise. With her leadership and determination, Brenda is sure to make a lasting impact on the students and staff at PS 889 and we could not be happier to have her join this team.

Jeremy Mendez
PS 627 Program Coordinator

Jeremy Isiah Mendez has worked in NIA programs for five years and actually attended NIA as a child at IS 227, with Vera Ekht as his director at the time and Erik Paz as his basketball coach. In 2019, Erik recruited Jeremy to be a group leader at PS/IS 121 and from there he rose through the ranks and is now the Program Coordinator for PS 627 BCCS. During his free time, he enjoys going to the gym and plans to become a personal trainer to help people with their fitness and health. He enjoys watching anime and TV shows like Game of Thrones and Dragon Ball. We are so thrilled to have him as part of the team and welcome him as our newest Program Coordinator!