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The Women’s League of Science and Medicine Awards 27 Scholars

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The Women’s League of Science and Medicine Awards 27 Scholars

For nearly 60 years, Brooklyn’s own, The Women’s League of Science and Medicine, has been flying under the radar in comparison to many of the borough’s larger nonprofits, but its grassroots strength in awarding scholarships to students continues to grow.

And on Saturday, the organization gave out 27 scholarships to young students at its 58th Annual Luncheon held at Glen Terrace, 5313 Avenue N in Flatlands. Established in 1960, the organization has grown in size, as evidenced by the packed luncheon, and continues to encourage the next generation of thinkers.

“The Women’s League of Science and Medicine over the past close to six decades has shown us there is no limitation of what people can do if they put their mind to it, and the importance of strengthening science, mathematics and engineering,” said Keynote Speaker Assemblyman Walter Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights).

Assemblyman Walter T. Mosley at the 58th Women’s League of Science and Medicine Scholarship Awards Ceremony. (Photograph by Tsubasa Berg)

“All these genres and scopes of practice need to be embraced because they transcend the bigotry and opportunity because they’re universal. Any time you allow someone to train in a universal practice the sky is the limit in terms of their ability to succeed in life, whether here in New York City or anywhere else in the world,” he added.

For the past 57 years, the nonprofit, nonsectarian organization has awarded more than 802 scholarships and citations to aspiring students. This includes high school, premed and college students.

In addition, the “League” established an annual scholarship fund in the Department of Education at Midwood High School’s Science Institute at Brooklyn College. The League has also donated to the United Negro College Fund and has further expanded their scholarships to students in the fields of law, education, social science, communication and the arts.

“I learned of the scholarship through my parents,” said Kayah Hodge of Bedford-Stuyvesant and one of Saturday’s recipients.

Kayah Hodge of Bedford-Stuyvesant, one of Saturday’s recipients. (Photograph by Tsubasa Berg)

Hodge attended Uncommon Collegiate Charter High School on the Bed-Stuy/Crown Heights border and is in her second year at Hamilton College in upstate New York where she is majoring in mathematics and economics. “I want to be an accountant,” she said.

Beverly Jones-Lawrence, the organization’s current president, said she knows the founders of the organization, the late Reva M. Anthony and the late Sarah Parsons Blow, would have been very impressed with the Women’s League continued outpouring of support.

“It is my goal as president to award our target group of top students in high school, college and grad school,” she said.

“The mission is not an impossible one since our motto continues to be, ‘Dollars equal Scholars!’”

 

Organization of Adult and Career Education (OACE): Death or Rebirth?

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Organization of Adult and Career Education (OACE): Death or Rebirth?

Six educators in varying stages of retirement: retired, just retired or still a few years gathered at two locations in May and June to discuss the state of adult education in New York City. They longed for yesterday, agonized about current affairs and offered suggestions for making the Organization of Adult and Career Education (OACE) true to its mission. Four of the teachers preferred to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution.

OACE provides free courses to adults 21 and older lacking a high school diploma. While taking courses for a diploma, students can also learn a skill. According to a flyer, the Adult Learning Center, located at 475 Nostrand Avenue between Macon and Halsey Streets, offers Computer Literacy, Digital Technology, Microsoft Office A+ Certification, Network+, ESL.

Yesterday

Looking back, teacher Stephanie Mnere found a thriving program in 1976–a student-centered school culture, respectful of teachers whose recommendations for materials and interventions were welcomed. “There was a time when the needs of the adult students were foremost not the needs of the program. Now we use the students to help our program,” says another teacher.

All agreed with one educator who arrived to OACE fourteen years ago. She found administrators recognized the difference between adult education and K-12 education, conducted workshops addressing the adult learner and purchased reading materials respectful of the adult learner.

Today

”Teachers need an objective 3rd
party observing lessons,” says
retiring OACE teacher Kim Walker.

Declining Enrollment. About three years ago, they noted an abrupt shift in how business in the program citywide is run. According to one teacher an assistant principal told staff, students “only need one gain per term, so we hold them back in order to keep them longer.” The longer students are in the program, the more funding. However, this practice resulted in the opposite effect. More ambitious students left OACE for other high school equivalency (HSE) programs which did delay them from taking exams. In addition, new immigration policies have also contributed to declining enrollment,” noted Kim. “I know my students well, including which ones are undocumented.”

Lack of Adult Education Expertise. Now, according to Kim Walker, with over twenty years’ experience, adult education as a discipline is not recognized nor is the expertise of the experienced adult education teacher. She maintains that supervisors with no adult education experience have evaluated her lessons.

Of all the adult education programs in the state, New York City serves the largest number of students with Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens leading the pack.

Overemphasis on Testing. Since adult education is funded based on a student’s signs of progress as measured by the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE), these teachers assert getting funding has become the priority at the expense of educating the whole student as they had been trained to do for decades and professional respect for the knowledge and skills veteran teachers has diminished. “The new name of our school should be the TABE factory,” says Mnere. Walker maintains while she was waiting for a student to return to finish a test, a score for that student was posted. “How could she have a score if she never completed the test?”

Tomorrow?

If Mayor de Blasio is searching for how to improve adult education, these teachers say he does not have to look far. They recommend he:

  • Create a collaborative environment respective of staff and students.
  • Hire administrators with at least 5 years of experience teaching adult learners.
  • Allow teachers to invite an objective 3rd party into the observation process. (No one should rate a teacher if their livelihood depends on issuing U-ratings.)
  • Include teacher-collected data in the data-based decision-making, not just testing data.
  • Reduce the emphasis on testing and increase emphasis on student.

These teachers fear they are witnessing another example of the death of public education. Enrollment levels have declined. At least one charter school has swallowed up most of the classrooms at a Manhattan site. “This is a system-wide problem,” says one staff member.

Dining outdoors and conversing amongst themselves, above the noise of car horns, EMT sirens, children playing, one group of teachers wished they could make their voices heard by the DOE as clearly as they heard each other that Monday evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Movement to Erect More Statues of Women in NYC

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A Movement to Erect More Statues of Women in NYC

The First Would Be Funded by the End of the Year

SHE BUILT NYC! is the significant first step in creating a public art collection that more fully represents the diverse history of New York City, beginning with commemorations of visionary and inspiring women.

Through August 1st, New York City residents are invited to submit nominations for women or events in women’s history that should be considered for future public commemorations. We ask that individuals limit their nominations to no more than three.

Criteria for Nominations are: The event, person or group must have a significant connection to NYC. If an event, it must have happened at least 20 years ago; if a person of significance, that person must no longer be living and must be known for an event, movement or action that took place at least 20 years ago. Groups or categories of women, not bound by time, will be taken into consideration (e.g., single mothers, immigrant women, domestic workers, etc.).

To submit your nomination, visit women.nyc. the website has a number of resources for women navigating life in New York City.

Tumble in the Bronx

Eddie Castro
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Tumble in the Bronx

The New York Yankees have started out the second half in an inauspicious way. The team lost the first of three games to the cross-river rival New York Mets, escaped a victory in the second game. The third game was rained out and the team headed to Florida to battle division rival Tampa Bay Rays, in which they had dropped the first game. In last week’s article, one of the needs I expressed that the Yankees must address is their starting pitching. As we go to press, the Yankees are currently 6 games behind of the Boston Red Sox for first place in the American League East Division, and lately, the Red Sox simply don’t lose so every Yankee lost looms critical. So, what can the Yankees do to improve their pitching in hopes to compete with the Red Sox and other powerhouse teams in the AL come October?

 

One of the rumors that have circulated the past few weeks is a cross-river trade that would send Mets ace pitcher Jacob deGrom to the Bronx. It will be quite the challenge for the Yankees to acquire deGrom simply because the Mets’ “asking price” for their top ace pitcher is rumored to be a high one as far as what they would want back in return. DeGrom has had an amazing season (statistically) despite not having a high win total due to the Mets being unable to score runs in his starts. According to a source, the Mets would want a trade with the Yankees that would involve their top phenom player Gleyber Torres. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman has already gone on record saying that Torres, 21, is completely “untouchable” in any trade talks. Other pitching names linked to the Yanks have been Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ (lefty) and Texas Rangers lefty Cole Hamels. Both pitchers have had solid baseball careers but would not be considered a significant upgrade.

 

Although the Yankees have gone through a rough patch, they do have an explosive offense that is the pivotal reason to their success so far this season led by sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Also, let’s not ignore the amazing performances by Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar. Their offense will be great, however, aside from their ace pitcher Luis Severino, the Yankees do not really have a complimentary No. 2 pitcher. Masahiro Tanaka can have a few good outings followed by a few bad outings. Veteran pitcher C.C. Sabathia has pitched quite well, however, his past knee issues will be an ongoing concern moving forward and Sonny Gray is not the pitcher the team hoped they were getting when they acquired him in a mid-season trade last year from Oakland. Whatever the Yankees try to do, they will do with caution as they will try to upgrade the pitching rotation or bullpen as much as they can. The question is, “Would they be willing to part ways with their top-tier minor league pitchers to do so?” Stay tuned.

 

Sports Notes: (Baseball) BREAKING NEWS! As we go to press, the Yankees made a move that should improve their bullpen by coming to terms to acquire Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton. Britton will join a bullpen that already includes household names such as Dellin Betances, David Robertson and Aroldis Chapman. New York’s bullpen currently leads the Major Leagues with a 2.75 ERA (earned run average) and 448 strikeouts. (Boxing) Boxing returns to Brooklyn as two of the top fighters in the world clash as Danny “Swift” Garcia takes on Shawn Porter on September 8 for a vacant Welterweight world title.

 

Community Calendar

Editor, Our Time Press
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Community Calendar

Saturday, July 28th

Hattie Carthan Community Farmers Market on Saturdays thru Nov 17th @ Clifton Place at Marcy Ave., 9AM-3PM. Shop for fresh, locally grown fruits and veggies, herbs, cage-free eggs and specialty farm products. Enjoy youth cooking demos, communal dinners in the marketplace, the smoothie blender-bike and more. WIC/Senior Market Coupons and EBT cards accepted. Get free Health Bucks coupons!

700 Hancock Street Art Exhibit and Sale on Hancock Street bet. Ralph and Patchen Aves., 1PM, FREE. The annual show and sale features artists, filmmakers, authors, fashion designers and jewelry makers in and around Bedford-Stuyvesant. The goal is to strengthen the threads of community through arts, culture and fellowship. All work is by the artists, with the exception of gallery owners and artist representatives displaying with permission. To participate in the show, contact zeen90@yahoo.com.

Sunday, July 29th

Hattie Carthan Community Farmers Market #2 on Sundays thru Nov. 18th @ 49 Van Buren St., bet. Tompkins & Throop, 1PM-6PM. Shop for fresh, locally grown fruits and veggies, herbs, cage-free eggs and specialty farm products. Enjoy youth cooking demos, communal dinners in the marketplace, the smoothie blender-bike and more. WIC/Senior Market Coupons and EBT cards accepted. Get free Health Bucks coupons!

Monday, July 30th

Free Roller-Skating at Brooklyn Bridge Park @ Brooklyn Bridge Park Rink, Pier 2, 150 Furman St., 3:30 -6PM, Skate rental $6 (if needed). Bring your family and friends every Monday and Friday for skating to Top 40 hits while enjoying the best views in NYC.

Meditation Mondays at MetroTech Commons (across from Luciano’s) @ Flatbush and Myrtle Aves., 12:30-1:00PM, FREE. Enjoy a lunchtime moment of Zen at the Vajradhara Meditation Center.

Wednesday, August 1st

Restoration Flow, 247 Herkimer at Restoration Plaza, 10-11AM, FREE. Join Yoga instructor Mecca Nelson for active and restorative yoga poses and meditation. The class, for beginning, intermediate & advanced practitioners, is held at RestorationArt’s new Community Art Space.

Thursday, August 2nd

Vivian Sessoms First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, 45 Eastern Pkwy. @ Rogers Ave., 6-8PM, FREE. (Concert is outside w/chairs provided.) Hailed by Rolling Stone and Billboard as an “exquisite” singer, Sessoms has worked w/Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye & other icons at venues worldwide. A range of genres define her music, including jazz, soul & R & B. Her new CD (LIFE) focuses on today’s racial and social issues and her love for jazz. She’s joined by keyboardist Anthony Wonsey, bassist Chris Parks and drummer Brandon Saunders. For further info call 917-685-3508.

Saturday, August 4th

3rd Annual Bed-Stuy Music Festival @ Herbert Von King Park, 670 Lafayette Ave., 7AM-7PM, FREE. 500 Men Making A Difference presents all-day activities and performances by Maino and others. Featuring a Family & Friends, a 5K Run/Walk Fitness Competition, Child-Friendly fun, Food, Games, Vendors and more. Bring a Friend!

caribBEING House @ Brooklyn Museum Plaza, Eastern Parkway near Washington Ave., 5-10PM, FREE. Mobile art center caribBEING amplifies Caribbean voices through art and activations. Experience cultural productions from across the Diaspora.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Sunday, August 5th

5th Annual International Day of Friendship @ Brooklyn Borough Hall and Columbia Park, 209 Joralemon St., 1-5PM, FREE. This cultural festival encourages Brooklyn residents from across the world to celebrate their countries and cultures of origin. Many were brought to the U.S. as children and haven’t experienced firsthand the colors, sounds, flavors, music, dance and dress of their native lands. BK Boro President Eric Adams brings it all downtown so they and Brooklynites of all backgrounds can enjoy. For info: 718-802-3798.

Wednesday, August 8th

The Wingate Concert Series @ 2018 Wingate Park, Brooklyn Ave. bet. Rutland Rd. & Winthrop St. Doors open at 6PM (line up early), show at 7PM, FREE. Performers to be announced. Opening night is an R&B Fest and Boro Pres Eric Adams will present a key to Brooklyn to a few living legends. Thursday, August 9 is Afro-Caribbean Bash, with global sounds of the Islands; Wednesday, August 15th is Gospel Fest; Thursday, August 16th is the Salute to Hip-Hop in honor of the 45th Anniversary of the genre. Big Daddy Kane hosts.

Saturday, August 11th

Description
Deutsch: Zeitgenössische Darstellung des Segelschiffs La Amistad nahe der Halbinsel Culloden Point im Osten von Long Island im US-Bundesstaat New York am 26. August 1839; links die USS Washington der US-Marine (Ölgemälde)
English: Contemporary painting of the sailing vessel La Amistad off Culloden Point, Long Island, New York, on 26 August 1839; on the left the USS Washington of the US Navy (oil painting)
Date 28 February 2011, 15:59 (UTC)
Source
La_Amistad_(ship).jpg
Author
La_Amistad_(ship).jpg: Unknown
derivative work: TheCuriousGnome (talk)

Board the Replica of Slave Mutiny Ship Amistad @ Pier 11, Atlantic Basin, next to NYC Ferry Red Hook stop at the foot of Pioneer & Conover Street, 10AM-1PM and 2PM-5PM, FREE. In 1839, Mende captives from Sierra Leone took control of the Amistad. Unable to navigate back to Africa, their ship was captured and towed into New London, Connecticut, where they faced slavery or execution. Some vocal residents adopted their cause and were taken and the courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, ruled in their favor. They were freed in 1841. For information call 917-414-0565.

 

 

 

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