Watch our Parenting Tips Town Hall Thursday

Thanks to all of you–healthcare professionals fighting to save lives, essential workers keeping our city moving, teachers, business owners, volunteers, parents, and more–we continue to see hope and unity all around us. Today, I want to spotlight a few of the wonderful expressions of community support in our neighborhoods:

Alez Saez, Jr., Queensbridge Houses resident, making home-cooked meals for his neighbors
The Youth Department of the Center of Hope International expresses their gratitude to essential workers
P.S. 84 Steinway shares videos of appreciation and thanks for Teacher Appreciation Week on their #SteinwaySWAG TV YouTube Channel
Bel-Aire Diner hosts a socially distanced, drive-in movie night
A P.S. 92 paraprofessional gives out free meals, and a P.S. 92 teacher delivers pizza for his students
The Street Vendor Project is providing hundreds of Halal meals during this holy month to the Muslim community

Please share other acts of community support with us at [email protected] and we may feature them in our next newsletter.

Continue reading below for the latest resources from NYC Kids RISE as we confront this turbulent time as a community. You will find information about our upcoming Spanish-language Community Town Hall about parenting during COVID-19, a list of financial resources featured on our last Town Hall, links to more information about free food and financial assistance available across our community and city, and more.

With best wishes to you and your family,

Debra-Ellen and the NYC Kids RISE Team

Tune in Thursday at 6pm ET

The “Parenting During the Age of COVID-19” Town Hall this Thursday will be held in Spanish. If you missed our recent Town Hall about remote learning resources, you can watch it here in English and access the resources shared.

RSVP Here

It seems like overnight the world has turned upside down and we are all continuing to adjust. For many parents with young children this adjustment includes:

Maintaining calm and fostering a nurturing environment at home despite lots of uncertainties
Balancing work and financial obligations AND home schooling
Explaining to your children why they cannot physically see their friends and teachers right now

Join NYC Kids RISE to hear from moms who will share their tips for making this all work.

The featured speakers include:

Alexandra Bayas-Nakanishi, P.S. 148 alumna and early childhood education expert and teacher
Cristy Clavijo-Kish, Entrepreneur and Founder of “Los Tweens & Teens”
Jeannette Kaplun, author, journalist and founder of Hispana Global
Diana Limongi, bilingual blogger and host of the “Parenting & Politics” podcast

You can watch live and ask questions via the NYC Kids RISE Facebook page. You can also watch via our YouTube channel. This discussion will be held in Spanish and a recap of the event will be available in English, Spanish, and Bangla.

To catch the next town hall, like us on Facebook | Subscribe to NYC Kids RISE on YouTube

What have you learned about parenting young children during this time that you would want to share with other families? Tell us by emailing us at [email protected] or filling out this quick form. We will share your tips anonymously at Thursday’s event and on social media. Your tip or idea could greatly benefit another family and the broader Save for College Program Community.

In Case You Missed It

During our second community town hall, representatives from NYC’s Department of Social Services, New York Legal Assistance Group, and Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, along with Council Member Francisco Moya, shared information about accessing unemployment, food assistance, and stimulus payments. If you missed it, click below to watch the video and see the list of resources that the experts shared.

NYLAG launched the NY COVID-19 Legal Resource Hotline to help NYC residents impacted by COVID-19 to get answers to their legal questions. Resources include information about unemployment Insurance, stimulus payments, employment rights, housing, and more.

929-356-9582 | Monday- Friday, 10am-1pm, (leave a message)
www.nylag.org/hotline

Access information and frequently asked questions about the Stimulus check.

See more information below about SNAP (Food Assistance).

For help accessing SNAP benefits by phone, contact the following hotlines.

Food Bank SNAP Support Hotline: 212-894-8060 | Monday – Friday, 9am – 4:30pm
Legal Services NYC SNAP Support Hotline: 917-661-4500 | Monday – Thursday, 10am – 4pm

Learn more about Emergency Cash Assistance.

For a list food pantries, you can call 311 or contact City Harvest at 646-412-0721.

For additional food resources and websites to locate a food pantry, visit:

https://nyckidsrise.org/2020/03/30/covid-19-resources/#food-assistance

NYC Kids RISE Resources

Need support with setting up your child’s remote learning or information about resources in your neighborhood? Our team can help. Call (833) 543-7473 or Email [email protected]

Emergency Cash Support – NYC Kids RISE is distributing $150 cash disaster relief gift cards to 2,566 families in the Save for College Program. Look out for an email, call, or text from the NYC Kids RISE team if you were selected for the opportunity to receive a card. Click here to learn more.
Your child’s accounts – We continue to be available by phone and email to support you with your family’s scholarship and savings accounts. Please contact us for support with completing the 3 Building Blocks or other support with your accounts. We are invested for the long term in your child’s college and career training future.

Important Resources Across the Community

These are just some of the resources available from schools, community-based organizations, the City and State government, and other local partners. We are keeping an updated list on our blog at nyckidsrise.org/covid-19.

Click on the need you have to see list of resources available.

– NYC Kids RISE Resources

– Remote Learning

– Food Assistance

– Financial Relief

– Utilities

– Small Businesses

– Immigration Rights

– Health and Mental Health

– Childcare

– Housing

– Elected Officials

Did you fill out the Census?

Every New Yorker Counts. Filling out the Census is important for getting money into our community for schools, jobs, hospitals, and more.

Fill it out now at: My2020Census.gov

There are NO questions about immigration or citizenship. Your information is confidential and cannot be shared with anyone–not law enforcement, not the government, not your landlord.

City and State Elected Officials

Click here to contact your city and state elected officials who represent the School District 30 community. Their offices are sharing important resources and updates, and they can connect you to other resources.

Save for College Program Flashback

During the March 2020 Parent Teacher Conferences, Save for College Program families activated their children’s NYC Scholarship Accounts to continue building assets for their college and career futures. Congratulations to all those who took this important step, and thank you to the principals, parent coordinators, and teachers who supported families that evening and continue to support families through this time of remote learning. We can’t wait to be back in schools with you all.

Flashback to 529 Day (May 29th), when schools across District 30 come together to celebrate our shared work to build assets for every student’s college and career future. Pictured here are students, families and school staff during P.S. 69’s 529 Day activity in 2018. Stay tuned for this year’s virtual 529 Day activities from your school and via our social media.

In February 2018, at their annual Black History Month celebration, Reverend Corwin Mason and the Community Church of Astoria and Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor and the Center of Hope International Church hosted the Concert for College to raise money for the students in their neighborhoods. It was a true community celebration with nearly 1,000 attendees. The Concert raised $20,000+ for ~1,000 NYC Scholarship Accounts across eight schools. Check out this clip of the Concert featuring the Presidents of the Queensbridge, Woodside, and Ravenswood Houses Resident Associations.

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Watch our Parenting Tips Town Hall Thursday