Diving Deep in the Zone
You Have To Be In It, To Win It!
by Anthony Lopez, Executive Director

Resident leaders at Zone 126's Affinity Group meeting on October 11, hosted by the Variety Boys & Girls Club Astoria exclaimed the importance of in school and after school student attendance. Families in the Zone must do whatever it takes to make sure that students are in school, on time and ready to learn. During the meeting, Ms. Claudia Coger, President - Astoria Houses Resident Association stated that "Parents need to know how important they are in a child's life." Making sure that children are in-school and after-school programs is one way of demonstrating that importance. The group discussed a few strategies to consider. Here are a few:

  • Educate resident leaders about the connection between chronic absence and student learning;
  • Sponsor Family Events at Community Centers at public housing on Saturdays to attract working families
  • Implement a club model for teens at DYCD Community Centers
  • Conduct a door-to-door canvassing awareness campaign on School and Program Attendance
News from the Zone
Zone 126 develops its partners by organizing them into affinity groups to identify gaps in programs, capacity needs, and approaches to improving quality of "service" delivery.
Summer Advantage @ PS 112Q
"I feel grateful and happy to have hosted the Summer Advantage program at PS 112Q. Summer Advantage fulfilled a real need within the community for a fun summer program to help prevent the summer slide in our children. I noticed an increase in student attendance, and the parents were happy to have been given the opportunity to support their kids' academic progress." - Principal Rafael Campos-Gatjens PS 112Q
Family Engangment @ CS 111Q
We thank everyone who responded to and attended the public hearing on September 28 in support of CS 111Q.
Mimi Lee PTA Volunteer, CS 111Q (left)
Claudia Esteva Community School Director CS 111Q, Zone 126 (right)
Tips for your Giving Tuesday
  1. Select a committed Leader

  2. Bring on the Board

  3. Empower the staff

  4. Recruit ambassadors                                               
October Program Highlights
Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP)
For the second year in a row, the Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) was launched on October 3 in Astoria, Queensbridge, and Ravenwoods Housing Development.
PCHP is a two-year home visiting program designed to promote positive interaction between parent and children. The program prepares the parent and child for Pre-K by building numeracy and literacy skills.  
Jenny Romero Early Learning Specialist, PCHP
CS 111Q Parents and City Harvest staff
City Harvest
Each Thursday, over the course of eight weeks, parents at Community School 111Q gather together to participate in the City Harvest Cooking Matters nutrition education class. During the class, parents are learning how to prepare healthy and flavorful meals, and time saving cooking tips for proper nutrition for the entire family. At the end of each class, parents and City Harvest staff share a healthy meal.
Rock The Street, Wall Street
Fifteen young women at the William Cullen Bryant High School are participating in the opportunity to gain financial literacy skills. The program offers four week session that aims to inspire, educate and empower them as they learn how to budget, read the stock market report, and gain real world applications to business and the economy.
Staff Retreat @ CS 111Q
 
"... CS11Q team came together for a Community Building Retreat..." 

Check out our IG post  @zone126queens   
Coming Back Home...
 by Lila Acosta, College & Career Success Coordinator, Zone 126

Looking back at one’s past can sometimes be associated with a negative connotation. Popular quotes such as, “Don’t look back, you’re not going that way” imply that the past is done and should be moved away from. However, looking back and going back to where I came from, is something I am now enjoying.

Read the rest of Lila's article on the Zone 126 blog.
Neighborhood Champion of the Month
Anissa Lopez is currently a Senior at Long Island City High School who recently participated in the Sadie Nash Leadership Program, a gender based program that teaches young women to take active roles in their communities and teach them about emerging social issues. In addition to participating in the SNLP, she also participated with one of Zone 126’s partner, Let’s Get Ready!, a low cost SAT prep and college access program.
"I think there are so many problems in this world that are not being fixed...I think social media plays a role in a good way. Telling peopler we have a voice, we should use it."

What We Are Reading

  • "Talking to Strangers, Mixtures of Citizenship since Brown v. Board of Education", Danielle S. Allen
  • "Building a Latino Civil Rights Movement: Puerto Ricans, African Americans, and the Pursuit of Racial Justice in New York City", Sonia Song-Ha Lee
  • "The Future of Us All: Race and Neighborhood Politics in New York City", Roger Sanjek

Links

  • NYC libraries to offer free hotspots for low-income students, families - Click Here
  • Family-centered pre-kindergarten provides a strong foundation for children’s mental health and school success.  Click Here

Funding Opportunities

  • Application for Learning and Leadership Grants. Click Here

Know any CUNY college students who have work study? We are looking for interns! Contact us @ careers@zone126.org
We would like to thank all of our funders for all their help: Thomas & Jeanne Elmezzi Foundation, New York City Department of Education, Altman Foundation, and Pinkerton Foundation.