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.