April 2023 Newsletter

A Message from Our CEO

Fifty years ago, RiseBoro Community Partnership (then known as the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council) opened out of a single senior center on Bushwick’s Stanhope Street. From those roots serving the needs of older adults, we grew into a holistic community-based organization serving New Yorkers at every stage of life and expanded our services into neighborhoods throughout NYC. Now, fifty years on, we are one of the largest and most comprehensive anti-poverty organizations in the city.  

After half a century of working to unleash the potential of communities to thrive, no matter the odds, we are still just getting started. Thank you to our dedicated staff, volunteers, partners, supporters, and community members for all you have done to help us achieve this milestone. I look forward to celebrating with you all in the year ahead.  

In partnership,  
Scott Short, CEO 

Simplifying Foreign Degree Validation for College-Educated Immigrants 

When Jenniffer Sanchez emigrated from the Dominican Republic to New York City, she was wrongly told that her college degree was not valid here. Now she’s leading a program that validates foreign-earned college degrees for free and helping college-educated immigrants advance, rather than restart, their careers.

Click here to read more about this exciting new program!

Speaker Adams Tours RB Youth Center 

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams met with RiseBoro senior leaders for a tour of the RiseBoro Youth Center and a conversation on the need for additional funding to support youth afterschool programs. The visit concluded with Speaker Adams stating that she wished she had an RB Youth Center in her district and that it should serve as a model for youth educational and recreational services citywide.   

If you’re at risk of losing your home or being evicted, you can get help from RiseBoro’s Homebase services.

Homebase services provide emergency rental housing to New Yorkers who are at risk of losing their homes or are homeless. If a household is under the 50% AMI (Average Median Income), and at risk of eviction, they may qualify for Homebase services through the Community Roots program.

Under certain conditions, there are also limited spots available for families that earn between 50-60% AMI through our Family Safety Net program.

To find out eligibility, contact our Prevention Hotline at 718-210-2767!

Advocating for Community Needs at Our Second Annual Legislative Breakfast 

RiseBoro’s senior leadership team joined with local elected officials, including Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, to discuss our legislative priorities for the upcoming 2023 legislative session at our second annual Legislative Breakfast, held at the RiseBoro Youth Center on Friday, March 3. After familiarizing officials with our work and sharing client testimonials, senior leaders shared concerns expressed by our communities and asked city leaders to seek long-term and immediate solutions. For a full list of our 2023 legislative priorities, see below.  

RiseBoro Community Partnership 2023 Legislative Priorities 

Adult Education: Restore funding for adult literacy programs at the city and state level so that New Yorkers, many of whom are immigrants, can continue their pursuit of higher education, English-language acquisition, and career advancement. 

Food Insecurity: Advocate for prolonged Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency funds and support efforts at the State Office for the Aging to increase home-delivered meals for older adults.  

Increase Affordable Housing Supply: Eliminate restrictive zoning practices, mandate growth targets, and ensure that all neighborhoods throughout the state contribute to supply. 

Eviction Prevention Support/Subsidy Expansion: Expand CityFHEPS subsidy to undocumented households, eliminate the 90-day rule for CityFHEPS eligibility, continue the Right to Counsel Program, and support prevention programs that help tenants and landlords address rental arrears. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Connect with our community of supporters by becoming a volunteer. Below is a list of our current needs. If you don’t see something that interests you, reach out to us for additional opportunities. 

PPE Packing: Assemble personal protective equipment

Mask Delivery: Deliver non-surgical gowns to local schools.

Greeting: Welcome the older adults at one of our senior centers.

Caretaking: Help beautify our senior centers.

Get additional information here!

Or contact Jasmine Montalvo, Service & Volunteer Manager: [email protected].

Building Intergenerational Bonds Through RiseBoro’s Friendly Visitor Program

Longtime Bed-Stuy residents Winston Blakely and Mars Dixon met and became friends through RiseBoro’s Friendly Visitor Program, which connects isolated older adults with local volunteers who commit to meeting with them weekly and provide social and emotional support. Blakely and Dixon share their motivations for registering with the program, what a Friendly Visitor relationship can look like, and how they became close friends.

Read the full interview here.

To learn more about RiseBoro’s Friendly Visitor Program or to become a volunteer, email the program coordinator Biviana Coyomani at [email protected].