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jhouston

Free books for young people at these NYCHA locations starting July 8.

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I’m delighted to join the New York Public Library’s 2020 Summer Reading program in offering age-appropriate books for young people, from toddlers through high school in English or Spanish at a total of ten different NYCHA locations over five days, this week and next. Books will come in a free tote bag and include a summer reading guide, stickers, and a reading tracker.   Here are the times and places: Wednesday, … Read more

We need at least one social worker in every public school!

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Therapists will tell you that children who experience trauma often have difficulty identifying, expressing, and managing emotions; they will internalize or externalize stress reactions, resulting in depression, anxiety, or anger. Social Workers are mental health professionals who are trained to address those issues— and they can help relieve the pressures on already overworked educators and staff.  I have been calling for every school to have at least one social worker… Read more

WATCH: Summer Youth Employment Program Zoom conference

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I hosted a virtual Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Town Hall on Aprill 22, 2020. You can watch the hour-long panel on the importance of SYEP and efforts to save it, featuring these panelists:
  • Children’s Aid Society’s Sandino Sanchez,
  • Catholic Charities’ Alianza Dominicana Division’s Eddie Silverio,
  • The Boys and Girls Club of Harlem’s Dominique Jones,
  • The Chinese-American Planning Council’s Wayne Ho, and
  • The United Neighborhood Houses’ J.T. Falcone.
Watch it… Read more

Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board appointees announced

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I appoint members to the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB), the borough’s leading environmental body, to advise us on increasing recycling, reducing solid waste, and advancing sustainability. Similar to Community Boards, members are appointed to two-year terms and have the ability to make a big impact in reducing our carbon footprint. I’m pleased to announce these 38 appointees to the Manhattan SWAB for the 2020-2022 term. They live or… Read more

Education town hall on meeting student needs during COVID-19 a success!

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Last night, I moderated a “virtual” Town Hall with Columbia University’s Teachers College (and cosponsored by the NYC Dept of Education and Community Baord 9) on “Meeting Student Needs during COVID-19” for Manhattan parents, students and teachers. Panelists Dr. Detra Price-Dennis and Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang from Teachers College, Marisol Rosales from the NYC Department of Education discussed best practices for K-12 remote learning during the pandemic. Click here to … Read more

City Hall’s master list of resources (updated 3/25)

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City Hall is sending this out each night and I will post the most current version here.
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(3/25/2020)
Dear New Yorker, Estimado Neoyorquino, 親愛的紐約市民, As you are aware, the City is currently responding to the novel coronavirus, and we want to make sure that you are provided with the most up-to-date information. Cómo ya sabe, la Ciudad de Nueva York está respondiendo al brote del coronavirus, y queremos asegurarnos
… Read more

Fresh Direct steps up, donates 20,000 lbs of food daily in a “Five Borough Food Drive”

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I’m proud to join my fellow Borough Presidents of The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island in partnering with hometown grocery powerhouse Fresh Direct to launch the “Five Borough Food Drive” as the COVID-19 pandemic– and its economic ripple effects– hits New York City. Thousands of 10-lb grocery boxes will be delivered each weekday to assist New York families in need; most of the items in the box are shelf… Read more