September 2020 Newsletter

On The Rise was originally planned to launch earlier this year, in March, the month when the world began rapidly changing. And in many ways, the world hasn’t stopped changing since— the COVID pandemic continues to cost lives and livelihoods and the Black Lives Matter movement continues to demand racial justice and equity. In the darkness we have also seen light, in people wearing masks to protect each other, in citizens getting into “good trouble” for justice, and in the form of the RiseBoro employees who have been and continue to provide essential services to our most vulnerable communities. These are Bright Spots— moments of positivity in challenging times and they give us the hope and fuel we need to continue our work.

So without further ado, welcome to On The Rise, the RiseBoro Newsletter, where we’ll keep you in the loop on all things RiseBoro. From Adult Education classes and the new Farmers Market season to significant relevant external events— On The Rise is for YOU— to Inform, Involve, and Inspire.

— Scott Short

Gala 2020 No Matter The Odds

We’re not just gala-vanting around…we’re raising funds for critical programs at our Virtual Gala on Tuesday, September 22, 5:30 PM. Join us and be a part of our important mission. We will be joined by industry experts and community leaders and are excited to present their ideas and insights, along with experiences demonstrating the positive impact of RiseBoro’s programs.

Adult Education Fall Classes Enrollment Open

Knowledge is power…

Enrollment is still open for RiseBoro’s Adult Education Fall Classes!

High School Equivalency (HSE) classes are designed to prepare students for the national high school equivalency exam, the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC).

Classes offered Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 12 PM.

For more info. call 718-381-9653 or email [email protected].

Farmers Market Fall Season

You can’t beet the quality of produce at RiseBoro’s Farmers Markets.

Join RiseBoro every Saturday & Sunday from May through November to enjoy fresh produce, local products, and experiences that celebrate Bushwick’s multicultural heritage and to celebrate the bounty that our local farmers bring us. We speak English and Spanish, accept cash and credit at all our markets, and encourage the use of SNAP, WIC and other nutrition benefits at our Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday markets. Cash, credit, SNAP and WIC accepted.

Learn more.

Virtual RB— Chair Yoga

There’s no place like Om…

Virtual RB presents Chair Yoga with Christina, a safe, accessible, FREE & FUN yoga class.
Wednesdays, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM on Instagram Live, @RiseBoroNYC.

Join the RiseBoro Giving Family and make a difference for the people who need you the most— right now— by offering your support of a monthly donation. Your support helps us plan for continuing services and programs, No Matter The Odds!

Thaddeus Canty New Yorker of the Week

Thaddeus Canty, RiseBoro Next STEPS Program Coordinator, is NY1’s New Yorker of the Week! Check out the full video to hear Thaddeus discuss his own struggles with incarceration & how he has made it his mission to empower youth.

Good Trouble

This issue we are inspired by the final words of late American Representative and Civil Rights leader, John Lewis as quoted in the New York Times:

“Like so many young people today, I was searching for a way out, or some might say a way in, and then I heard the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on an old radio. He was talking about the philosophy and discipline of nonviolence. He said we are all complicit when we tolerate injustice. He said it is not enough to say it will get better by and by. He said each of us has a moral obligation to stand up, speak up and speak out. When you see something that is not right, you must say something. You must do something. Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself.

Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble. Voting and participating in the democratic process are key. The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed. You can lose it.”

Read the full essay.

“You have stayed strong for soooo long. You have been brave, strong, and powerful. You have fought in big fightes (sic) and you have won. We are very grateful for you. And we thank you.”

A special student from I.S.77 Queens recently created and sent thank you cards to our RB Homecare Staff, who continue to work and provide services to our most vulnerable during the ongoing pandemic.

Thank you, RB Homecare Staff!

Bright Spots— moments of positivity in challenging times.

The new deadline for completing the 2020 Census is September 30! And with only about 5 out of 10 households counted, we have less than two months to make sure our communities get represented. Which is why staff email signatures are being updated to include Census language and link to complete the form online.

This past year, we have seen that the most marginalized and oppressed members of our communities are also the most vulnerable to COVID-19 and other social determinants of health. That’s why taking the 2020 Census is more important than ever. Over the next decade, lawmakers, business owners, and many others will use 2020 Census data to make critical decisions. The results will also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, block grants for community mental health services, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. And, the 2020 Census data will be used to determine our communities’ congressional representation.

New York is home to disproportionate shares of populations that are most frequently undercounted, including Black, LatinX, LGBTQ, and immigrants from all across the globe.
Let’s ensure the 2020 Census provides the most accurate representation possible of our communities.

Get Counted.

“Want to fight racism? Help homeless families. I think that Homebase is so successful because it operates within the community. We know the devastating effects of homelessness on children. Without Homebase, thousands more families would be living in shelters. But we do not solve all problems. If we truly want to have housing for everyone, we need more than this program provides. Homelessness is very intertwined with urban poverty, and for that we need more government policies.”

—Read the full YES! Magazine interview with RB Empowerment, Vice President, Mirtha Santana