Education of Our Children Is Moving Front & Center In Bedford-Stuyvesant And Beyond
Due to the pioneering efforts of such scholars as Dr. Andrea Taylor (left), interest in the fields of technology and science by young women is picking up steam. DivaSteam, that is. Dr. Taylor is the volunteer director of the divaSTEAM robotics program located at the Magnolia Tree Earth Center of Bedford-Stuyvesant. A lifelong life-long resident of Bed-Stuy, Dr. Taylor is the daughter of Mary and Herbert Von King. Seen in the photo above are: Lydia Wells, Kira Minott, Angelina Minnott, Aliah Gilkes Richardson, Chloe Debanque and Tayon Regist.
The robotics team name is divaSTEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). “Our team may be the only community organization in Brooklyn competing in the First Lego League Competition. Schools usually have a robotics team. The team is working on a presentation to provide relief to underserved communities in the event of a natural disaster through robotics and their focus is Coney Island. We hosted an event at the Magnolia Tree Earth Center in conjunction with the Bed-Stuy Action Coalition in Remembrance of Hurricane Sandy. DivaSTEAM is also organizing a practice tournament on January 4th in Bedford-Stuyvesant to expose the greater community to the importance of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) in communities of color. Additionally, the team is practicing mindfulness and meditation in partnership with the Awake Youth Project, a project of the Brooklyn Zen Center and participated in a one-day youth retreat. They will be competing in the Brooklyn Qualifying Competition on January 11, 2014 at NYU Poly Tech in hopes of going on to the Jacob Javitz Competition.” Clarissa James, Executive Director and co-founder with Sha Sha Feng.
For more information, visit: divasforsocialojustice.org
Closure Of Interfaith Medical Center Is Imminent
Healthcare crisis in Brooklyn can no longer
wait even a single day
Elected officials are extremely concerned that mediation between the Interfaith Medical Center (IMC), the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) and the Department of Health (DOH) regarding a future plan for IMC, which was mandated on November 13, 2013 by Chief Bankruptcy Judge Carla E. Craig, has reached a standstill. They say that with the courts closed on both December 24th and 25th, the Center will permanently shut its doors to the public the day after Christmas unless action is taken by this Monday, December 23, 2013.
Assemblypersons Annette Robinson and Walter Mosley are among the federal, state, and city representatives now reaching out to Governor Andrew Cuomo, asking him to direct the Department of Health to issue a third postponement so that the mediation process can be completed and financial alternatives explored.
“As the upstate region benefits from Governor Cuomo’s generous tax breaks and funding awards, New York City, and more specifically Brooklyn, has been left to starve for the past three years. The current situation has become very simple: unless the Governor acts now, hundreds of thousands of marginalized Brooklynites will lose their primary source of healthcare, said Assemblyman Walter Mosley.
The officials are asking for a commitment of $2-3 million from the DOH for continued operations in the belief that Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center would have time to determine a more financially feasible Campus Plan for the acquisition of IMC – preserving nearly 750 jobs.
Unusual Select Bus Stop Raises Questions Of Accessibility And Safety
By Mary Alice Miller
After years of planning and construction, central Brooklyn transit riders have begun to access new select bus service replacing limited stops along the B44 route complete with “bus bulb” sidewalk extensions. Most bus bulbs are flush with the sidewalk, but at the Nostrand Avenue/ Empire Boulevard stop the bulb is 4 inches above the sidewalk along its entire rim.
The entire bulb with 4 inches above sidewalk level is an obvious impediment to wheelchair-bound riders. One MTA worker who was directing passengers on how to pay for their ride was asked by a pedestrian how a wheelchair would access the bulb. The pedestrian was told that wheelchair riders could board the local bus.
Ironically, even though the bulb rim is inaccessible to wheelchairs, even an ambulatory person could easily trip and fall on the rise, creating a liability.
The only wheelchair access is at the corner of Nostrand Ave. and Sterling Street, where a ramp leads from the sidewalk into the street. From the street a wheelchair can access the bulb, but the ramps are so close together a wheelchair would have difficulty navigating the sharp 90-degree turn. A wheelchair would be required to enter further into the street to access the bulb, risking exposure to congested Nostrand Avenue traffic in order to navigate the turn.
When asked about safe accessibility for wheelchairs from the street onto the bulb, an MTA staffer said the traffic lane closest to the bulb is for buses only. Apparently, a wheelchair-bound person would have to trust that drivers obey traffic rules and avoid that lane at all times.
MTA spokesperson Kevin Ortiz did state that MTA buses themselves are completely accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Our Time Press contacted the NYC Department of Transportation, the Straphangers Campaign and the Office of the President of the MTA Bus Department and provided pictures. None were able to respond by press deadline.
Celebrating Weeksville Through The Eyes Of The Future
By: Akirah Harris, Desiree Henderson, Janiyah Hughes, Ailec Lasalle, Chasity Patrick, Jayla Shuler, Janae Singleton, Amya Torres, Ranasia White, Maurice Williams, Students Deborah Alexander and Jean Derico, Supervising Teachers
Students, faculty and administrators from The Weeksville School/P.S. 243 joined Weeksville Heritage Center Board members, supporters, friends, community leaders and Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz at the recent groundbreaking for the complex to open this Spring. The students, with the help of their teachers, also developed and wrote the article on this page describing the historic occasion.
The Weeksville students, in the photo, are: kneeling on floor in pink- Jayla Shuler, 2-113; next to her with barrettes-Janae Singleton, 2-113; kneeling in blue looking up-Janiyah Hughes, 3-207.
On left- girl in white shirt-Desiree Henderson, 2-113, girl facing away from camera-Ailec Lasalle, behind Ailec is Akirah Harris, 2-113, next to her is Chasity Patrick, 2-115, then Ranasia White, 2-115. The boy is Maurice Williams-3-207.
Back row, from left: Principal Karen Hambright-Glover; child is Amya Torres, 3-207; Teacher- Deborah Alexander (behind Amya); Teacher- Jean Derico, and Weeksville founding Board member Dr. Marguerite Thompson, left of Mr. Markowitz
Amongst the friends and supporters in this photo are: Timothy Simons, Board Chair, back row, left; Board member Eleanor Rollins, to the right of Mr. Markowitz; former Board member Pauline Barfield, standing next to Ms. Rollins; and, far right, Judith Burgess, also a former Board member.
(Photo credit: Bernice Elizabeth Green)
On Wednesday, December 11, 2013, after invited 2nd and 3rd grade students returned to P.S. 243, The Weeksville School, they had to reflect on their visit to The Weeksville Heritage Center’s Ribbon Cutting.
When we were picked to go to the Weeksville Heritage Center Ribbon Cutting, we didn’t know what would happen. We thought we were going somewhere with a few people. We were excited, curious and nervous but we felt special to be picked. We knew that The Center is part of the Weeksville community just like our school. We now understand that this is important because it will be a place to teach us and everybody else a piece of our Black history.
Akirah Harris: When they made their speeches and said our school name, I was very excited. I would like to visit everyday so I can learn about my community. I will take my family and friends. Last year, we planted vegetables, made a fruit salad and saw the bee hives at Weeksville. This year, I see the vegetables are taller. I wonder if the bees are alive. I can’t wait for Spring!
Desiree Henderson: I felt delighted visiting the Weeksville Heritage Center. I listened to the speeches and they told me all about the Center. I can keep going back because I want to do everything there. I am glad I was one of the first children to see the inside of the building. It looks beautiful!
Janiyah Hughes: When the people made speeches, they were talking to us future kids. There were many different kinds of people there and many of them spoke to us. I liked the beginning when we watched the man who thanked everybody in the past and now who helped with the Center. He poured water in a bowl then after we said, “Ashe”. I felt glad.
Ailec Lasalle: My experience today at the Weeksville Heritage Center was really good. I was impressed by the amazing speeches and all of the changes to the Weeksville Garden. When I was at the Center, I felt happy, satisfied, excited and surprised with all of the adult attention and what I experienced. The Weeksville Center is a big deal now. When we grow up, we have to take care of it. Students should go on weekends so they can learn about the Weeksville history.
Chasity Patrick: I learned that when I grow up, I have to take care of the Weeksville Heritage Center. The purpose of the Center is so people can know about their community. James Weeks was the person to buy this community and I learned that James Weeks and other people made this community a good place to live. I will further my search to learn more about the Weeksville community by going to the Center.
Jayla Shuler: It was very joyful to be a part of the opening of the Weeksville Heritage Center. The speeches were a learning experience for me and I like learning new things. I learned that P.S. 243 is a very special connection to the Weeksville Heritage Center.
Janae Singleton: I felt happy about learning more about the Weeksville Heritage Center. Marty Markowitz talked about how much he loves Brooklyn and he was glad that the Center is in Brooklyn. I am very delighted that the Center is where I live in Brooklyn! Last year, I made cocoa butter lotion for my mom at the Center and gave it to her as a Christmas present. Since then, I told my family and friends about the Center and they want to go!
Amya Torres: I felt very satisfied with the event because the slideshows showed you how people looked and how the Weeksville garden looked a long time ago. It showed how Weeksville looked then and how it looks now. To participate in the Weeksville Heritage Center, we can go more often and bring whole classes like we did last year. We can let our neighbors know this learning Center is in their neighborhood.
Ranasia White: I felt they did a very good job speaking because everybody clapped a lot. For example, when Marty Markowitz spoke about us being the future, people clapped. I enjoyed taking all of the pictures with different people too.
Maurice Williams: I felt proud of myself for being one of the first ones to represent my school, P.S. 243 at the Center. Tim Simons told us, ‘You can be whatever you want to be. Just believe in yourself. Nobody can stop me. I am the future’. When he and other people were making speeches, I said in my head when I get older I am going to take care of this place. Right now, I’m going to tell all the students to go to visit the Weeksville Heritage Center. I want to go a lot because I would like to show them all around.
In conclusion, we are proud to have this very important job as junior reporters for Our Time Press about this important celebration. Thank you, Ms. Daria Hall, Weeksville Heritage Center Board Member, for inviting us. We are very grateful. Ashe!