BED STUY NEEDS ONE OF THESE...

Work station

The Sign Language Tree, done in conjunction with a local grade school.

Bahiyyah at the "Flubber" station

Last Sunday, we took Bahiyyah to a place I found while strolling through lower Manhattan. The Children's Museum of the Arts, 182 Lafayette Street, is a great place for kids to go and burn creative calories. It reminds me of the Brooklyn Children's Museum but only for creative arts. She had a ball, mingled and for parents, bring a book and cool off waiting for your kid(s) to finish in the lounge at the front. If you haven't been already, check it out. Highly recommended. Or, for Bed Stuy, what do we need to do to get one started? If there is one already, let me know.

Pilot Project.

Everyone's familiar with MAARUF's focus on leadership development for young people. We're about to begin a new phase of the effort. We've taken on a project which, we hope, will encourage an at risk youth to change tracks. We were approached by his mother after his second arrest for a minor offense. We've established contact with his probation officer and will design a series of leadership activities designed to expose him to local level civics. The general approach to a community service sentence is a mop and broom, an approach that does not build the character we need in our young people. We hope that through this effort we can have a new alternative to offer at risk youth.

Bahiyyah's quote of the day...

"This is the life!"  (@  yamashiro on myrtle / washington with a piece of salmon roll in her hand.  Did I mention she doesn't have a job?)

PRODUCT REVIEW

It's official. SHE CAN REEEEAD!!!! She read a book full of sight word sentences today without any help from me. Scholastic makes a series of phonics based beginner's readers that can be bought at Barnes & Noble. Another method I bought, "Your Baby Can Read" does work, if you favor the whole word approach to reading. It uses the whole word and recognition of it using pictures and sound. I preferred the "Click N Kids" model because it's phonics based. By using phonics, I feel, the child is better equipped to read because they learn word structure - something the whole word approach doesn't address.

Bed Stuy's own, "Dazzle Divaz"!!!

I met Bernice Foster Malone in Stuyvesant Park a few weeks back and couldn't wait to post this one. She's owner and founder of Dazzle Divaz. This is more than her business, it's her passion. It shows what can happen when we extend our concerns beyond our own kids - we just might end up with something to benefit all of them. Having a daughter myself, ideas like this, where little girls can engage and have clean fun, are more than welcome. We must support Bernice and bring out other ideas to enhance kid life in Bed Stuy. Thank you Bernice!

Leadership Development in Focus

The Bridge Street Development Corporation and Project for Public Spaces have partnered with MAARUF in a new project, planning a new Malcolm X - Fulton Street plaza. The first phase will consist of survey taking. In the photo above, (left to right) Jamera Mcneil, Dante Davis, Aurash Khawarzad and Karen Levy are doing pedestrian surveys aimed at getting community opinion on what it would like to see in a newly designed space. For MAARUF, this is our way of getting our young people involved in meaningful neighborhood change - being in on the decisions that will impact how we all live and share space.

Bahiyyah's first piano performance.

Just thought I'd share this. The program, "Upbeat Bed Stuy" teaches once a week in her daycare center. They're currently reaching out for volunteers to teach with them. They're excellent.

Tech Review

In this new category, I'll be reviewing technology for kids that I've used or purchased.

Bahiyyah is 4 and recognizes letter sounds. I've been looking for an online resource to get her reading to the next level. I googled the category and several resources came up. I went into "Click N Kids" and what I found was remarkable.

The user friendliness of the program is outstanding. Your child can operate the mouse controlled commands themselves and they're taught to identify letters corresponding to their sound on the keyboard. In the setup, you create a desktop icon for easy access to the program.

The graphics are great and effective at communicating the lessons.

Price makes it even more attractive. You have the option to make three $20.00 payments or pay all at once.

The lessons are based on your child's skill level. Because of her familiarity with letters and their sounds, she started at lesson 10 out of a total of 100 lessons.

She's taken to it, is doing great with it and building confidence. I recommend it.

Leadership Development In Focus

We're pleased to announce our first official leadership trainee, Jamera McNeil, sophomore at Brooklyn College Academy. As part of her community service requirement for credits, MAARUF Strategies Inc has agreed to allow her to serve as our youth liaison between MAARUF and local civic groups. In her role, she and her parent will be attending meetings, such as Community Board #3's Bed Stuy Safety Task Force (above). The purpose is to introduce her to the network of local decision makers so that she will be an informed adult, ready to make informed decisions about her own life and her community's. This is just one of our continuing initiatives aimed at addressing the leadership deficit among our young people.

UPCOMING EVENT!!!!

2nd Annual SummerFest celebrating students, summer, and community!
Saturday, June 20th, 2009 from Noon to 3:00pm
The Urban Assembly Academy of Arts & Letters, 225 Adelphi St, Brooklyn, NY 11205 (between Dekalb and Willoughby in Fort Greene)  G train to Clinton-Washington; C train to Lafayette; R, N, D, Q trains to Dekalb.
Free and open to the public, SummerFest invites all to this outdoor festival featuring an exhibition of student artwork, student performances, face painting, and games for all ages, including a dunk tank!  Enjoy our "Taste of Fort Greene/Clinton Hill Food Fest" with food from: Bacchus, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, Chez Lola & Chez Oscar, Graziella's, Habana Outpost, iCi, Island Pride Restaurant, Kif, Kum Kau, La Villa Pizzeria & Restaurant, Mont Blanc Dessert, Olea Mediterranean Taverna, Red Bamboo, Roosters Chicken Rotisserie, Ruthie's Restaurant of Brooklyn, and Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies.  Raffle items include a Park Slope YMCA family membership, a Giants football jacket signed by Carl Banks, 2 i-Pod nano's, and a digital camera!  Join us!  Questions?: (718) 222-1605 x3042 or view www.uaaal.org.

The Park..By Bahiyyah

I really enjoyed this one. It's Bahiyyah's version of "The Park". It's watercolor on white paper. I really like the glitter in the tree on the left. On the right is the slide. At top is the moon in purple alongside the sun.

UPCOMING EVENT: BENEFIT CONCERT FOR BROOKLYN BROWNSTONE SCHOOL.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE.

By Any Means Necessary...Kids Art In Focus

Ray McGrath must be commended for the smash success of "By Any Means Necessary", the exhibit at Broklynite Gallery which brought together local talent with global vision. Children's art was the subject of the exhibit with sales proceeds going to benefit non profits - one of which seeks to expand library access in Ethiopia.
We must encourage, celebrate and in our quiet moments, study what kids art really means for human potential. Left undisturbed, kids art is raw expression, every bit as breathtaking as any Basquiat, Pollock, Dali or Rothko.
The exhibit was significant not just for the art but for what it said to Bed Stuy. It takes as much courage as it does vision to open an art gallery in a zone few would dare to. Malcolm X Blvd is the subject of intense police focus, bloodshed and gang centered activity. The corridor has a special patrol for the unsually dangerous dismissal of Boys @ Girls High. Today's event was a declaration that the public space will be taken back by those who know what to do with it.
It was also proof to parents that your children's esteem can be enhanced by channeling positive expression through the proper environment.
There is certainly no shortage of children looking to express themselves through art. What they lack are infrastructure and facilities; those who have them must step up and help build a way out for those of our young people who would otherwise suffocate for lack of free space.Enjoy!

First, Bed Stuy...

...And From Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Young achievers

Cameron Davis of PS 335 (center, my nephew!!!) wins awards for District 16's 2nd grade spelling bee and for logging the most hours read on "Tickettoread.com".

UPCOMING!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqDUExSP92A


Hello friends,

I wanted to let you know about the next art exhibition we are producing here at Brooklynite Gallery---featuring art work by kids!

Announcing, "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY" - A KIDS ART EXHIBITION

We are planning a day of painting and education on Saturday, MAY 9

Then on MAY 16 from 11AM - 5PM We will have an Opening Day for children and adults to see the work that was created. We will have live music in front of the gallery ( a local youth band). The children whose work sells at the opening will get most of the money and a small portion will go to two local youth programs (TBA).

Our submissions are open to kids from all over the world and we will have sections designated to particular countries-- one especially for ETHIOPA (with the proceeds going to building libraries in Ethiopia through h2 Empower.org)

Please give us some feedback. This is a huge undertaking and a challenge we are ready to take on! We will donate a portion of the proceeds to a few charities and the Stuyvesant Heights Montessori school towards an art room.

We will need some parent volunteers and if you have contacts @ our local schools to let them know, please contact me.
______________________________________________

HERE IS MORE INFORMATION:

ARTS AND CRAFTS DAY: MAY 9, 12 noon - 5PM

OPENING DAY RECEPTION - MAY 16 11AM - 5PM

GUIDELINES:
. . . . . . . . . . .

WHAT: "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY" - KIDS SHOW
WHEN: MAY 16, OPENING RECEPTION 11am Eastern, LIVE COVERAGE ON BROOKLYNITE TV.
WHERE: BROOKLYNITE GALLERY, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
AGE RESTRICTION: 1-15

Any questions: hope@BrooklyniteGallery.com

***Brooklynite Gallery is located on Malcolm X Boulevard in
Brooklyn, New York. "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY" - was Malcolm X's
famous quote when calling for racial equality. His birthday is
May 19th.***

We reserve the right to not accept any submission we deem to
be offensive or made solely by an adult-- which is actually
the same thing!


Hope McGrath
Brooklynite Gallery
334 Malcolm X Blvd.
Brooklyn, NY 11233
phone: 347-405-5976
hope@brooklynitegallery.com
www.brooklynitegallery.com

INTRODUCING MAARUF POETS

We are pleased to introduce our poets. They hail from IS 308 in Bed Stuy. Below, I've chosen those that stood out immediately. All typos are intentional to respect free expression and the original energy of their thoughts. Enjoy.


Untitled
Amber Cherry
IS 308 7th Grader

There's no way out
Red & blue what are the colors for.
Loking out my window and their standing there
Looking at each other like way (i think she meant "why") you over here
Fighting each other because one's blood and one's crip
I don't see a reason to fight because of that
But all I know is I don't want to be sitting in front of that gap.



Gang Violence
by Rhonda Grier
IS 308 7th Grader

Gang violence

I see groups
get to gather
and another groups
then they started
to fight

Gang violence

kill, shoting over
Drugs girls friends
Family and it
don't even matter

Gang violence

Grips and Bloods
is that necessary
"no" this is gang
violence that's not
cool

Hurt
by Alize Lewis
IS 308 7th Grader

Hurt
Feelin down pain in my
vains
Sitting here, really don't got nothin to say
I see you hurt so I cry
Hopin I don't kill this man
But I want him to die.
Lookin at his face
and he's happy he's doin it
There's blood on your face so
push him away
See you on the floor,
man dis nigga needs to be out the door


Guns and Weapons and Violence
by Lundon Trotman
IS 308 7th Grader

Why do guns run this world
They shoot each other for diamonds and pearls
For money or turf
Every gun hurts
Pistols, shotguns, AK47's
They kill all children even the ones that's eleven
Guns are terrible
They don't have minds of their own
They take your life even for a phone
Guns don't have a brain
But you do
Guns will kill ya best friend
Then think its cool
But ima end dthis rap with a goodbye
Remember with guns anybody can die

"Spring reading" combines kids, non profits and local business.

MAARUF has planned its first Spring Reading event for May 8, 2009 @ Brownstone Books.
The event is designed to address three issues at once: increased
childhood literacy, local small business stimulus and a non profit's
vision for community development. The first school to be involved is PS 308. All our program participants are issued cards through our "Local Savings" initiative.
Brownstone Books is the first business that has agreed to honor each
card for discounts. At MAARUF, we believe that local business houses the true spirit of
community life and the promise of renewal. This means that despite
this economy, we can't afford to lose our local shops. So we design
activities for our youngsters that seek to tie them into our local
cultural assets. Brownstone Books has played an anchor role in Bed Stuy's renewal and
must be supported at all costs. Bed Stuy needs all creative
approaches to ensure that our renewal continues on pace. This is just
one of MAARUF's contributions with more coming.
(Read Tyler Brulè's "Retail Therapy" in Monocle magazine's current issue.)

Full cast of "Rumple Who?" @ the Thirteenth Street Repertory Company".

I'm not a real theater-goer and don't pretend to be a sophisticate. The only reason I go at all is my kid. All I requie of a play is that the set be colorful and cute, the cast to be energetic enough to carry the story forward in a fun way. Having said that, I've had a ball recently. Yesterday, Bahiyyah and I saw "Rumple Who?", a musical adaptation of Rumplestiltskin. For anyone who's been, the 13th Street Repertory is as off-off-off broadway as you can get. I love the cozy appeal of the townhouse-turned-theater and the proximity of the cast to the audience that allows the audience, in this case, kids, to get involved. (I love the $10.00 ticket price too.)

Before this we saw "Wiseacre Farm" at the same location. A community of farm animals team up to stop the fox from stealing the cake from the pig's birthday party. (I like these one line synopses too.)

The first two events we did on the kids play circuit were "Pinkalicious" and "If you give a pig a party", both based on children's books with the same titles.

So now, I pretty much look for kids books hoping for a stage adaptation. See you soon.

It may not be Bed Stuy but it's genius - young people showing green leadership.

At 226 Bristol Street in Brownsville, Teacher's Prep School is creating a community gardening initiative involving its students and the surrounding neighborhood. Read the blurbs from their blog below.

We are organizing a community meeting that will introduce Brownsville residents who are interested in Eats to the project. After the meeting, we will invite the community to help plant at one of our farm spaces!
http://communityeats.ning.com/profiles/profile/show?id=Ashley
PLEASE MARK ON YOUR CALENDER THE EATS FIRST COMMUNITY MEETING: MAY 6, 2009 TIME : 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM LOCATION: TEACHER'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL 226 BRISTOL BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, 11212. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.

Jeff King plays Coltrane's "Naima"

Trust me, this brother plays Coltrane like no one since Coltrane.

Face painting @ kids corner.

Standing room only @ Workforce development workshop.

Not only was there standing room only, everyone was focused with serious questions about their futures.

Young people @ Youth Workforce Development Workshop

Councilman Al Vann is at the door greeting young attendees of the Youth Workforce Development workshop. The panel has representatives from Bed Stuy Restoration Corp., Vanguard, Brooklyn Workforce Innovations, Brooklyn Adult Learning Center and Brooklyn Job Corps. Here, topics ranged from attitude and dress to where the resources are.

Jeff King Band @ the "Expo"

On scene @ ...

I'm currently on scene @ Community Bd 3's Third Annual "Discover Your Neighborhood Resource Expo". After the bloody summer of '08, the Bed Stuy Community Safety Task Force went into an extra gear to try and prevent a repeat this summer. So, young people were exhorted to come out and engage the panelists in attendance to get resources for everything from job training to health screening. There's also a food court and community based vendors. More to follow.

On scene @ ...

On scene @ Community Bd 3's Third Annual "Discover Your Neighborhood Resource Expo".  More to follow.

From Crystal @ Brownstone Books

MUSIC FOR AARDVARKS & OTHER MAMMALS

w/ AudraRox Inc.

SPRING 2009

$235 for 10 classes + a CD

($35 for siblings 6 months & older)

(financial aid available upon request)

REGISTER @ http://www.audrarox.com

BED STUY

@ Brownstone Books

409 Lewis Ave. @ Decatur

TUESDAYS w/ Karen 9:30 & 10:30 am

exact dates April 21, 28 May 5, 12, 19, 26 June 2, 9, 16, 23

Come join in the fun at Music for Aardvarks classes - a musical experience

for families with children ages 3 months to 5 years. We will explore music

through song & gesture, dance & movement, rhythm training, and instrument

play; using original music that celebrates the lives of children growing up

in an urban environment. Written by David Weinstone, songs like Taxi, City

Kid, and Subway provide children with a positive image of their world and

help them relate to their surroundings.

THE TEACHER

Karen Kalafatas

Karen is a mom, singer and musical theater professional who has recently morphed into a full-time music teacher and mom. She moved to NYC too many years ago to count and performed in a boatload of regional and Off-Broadway shows before relocating to Boston where she worked as a non-profit fundraiser for organizations like City Year and Harvard University (pronounced Hah-vahd). An official Brooklynite for over a year now, Karen brings to her classes boundless energy, immense joy and her personal philosophy of making all things FUN. She lives in Carroll Gardens with her husband John and toddling daughter Becca, where they are proud but closeted Red Sox fans.

Hope to see you in class!!!

Audra Tsanos

AudraRox Inc.

32 Woodhull Street #1

Bklyn, NY 11231

http://www.audrarox.com

Welcome again...

My wife and I would love to be able to attend kids' plays, puppet shows and craft fairs right here in the Stuy but, let's face it, the threat of random gunfire and gang proliferation kind of get in the way. Throw in those of us too tired to get off the couch and do anything with our own kids and you have what we have right now - a place not suited for kids to have free, constructive expession. Well, I'm determined to have these things here and I'll join the conversation until we have them! In the meantime, let's have some fun right here. How about a weekly focus on your kid's creations. Send me pics and we can get started. The email address is in the heading at the top of the blog.

The crowd @ Brownstone Books's Storytime today

Itsy Bitsy Spider in sign language. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE CRYSTAL!!!!

Bahiyyah painting monday...getting over her cold.