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Bed-Stuy Gifted & Talented Students Forced to Travel Outside Community to G & T Schools

Stephen Witt
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Bay Ridge has 10 programs, Bed-Stuy has none

By Stephen Witt

Bedford-Stuyvesant has many brilliant young children, but if they pass the test to get into one of the city’s Gifted and Talented public programs, they can expect a long commute in getting there.

That’s because there are no Gifted and Talented public school programs for kids in the community and there hasn’t been any for some time.

“We are one of the few districts citywide that don’t have a Gifted and Talented public school program. Right now, students from the district that are gifted and talented are bussed to other districts,” said Community Education Council District 16 President Felicia Alexander.

Gifted and Talented programs are open to all kindergarten to fourth-graders that are deemed extremely intelligent through verbal and nonverbal assessment tests and score above the 90th percentile.

This year, there are 34 Gifted and Talented programs at schools in every Brooklyn district except District 16, which is made up mainly of Bed-Stuy.  District 20 schools, which is mainly made up of Bay Ridge, has 10 or slightly less than a third of the borough’s Gifted and Talented programs.

Department of Education (DOE) spokesperson Harry Hartfield said the reason Bed-Stuy didn’t have any Gifted and Talented programs was because they lacked the students that could pass the test.

“G&T programs are sited within districts based on the number of students who
qualify for seats within that district. Because G&T programs are distinct programs within school buildings and occupy their own classrooms, we require a minimum number of students within a district to qualify in order to make the creation of a section practical,” said Hartfield in an e-mail. “If that can’t happen in a particular district, the DOE offers eligible applicants priority to one or more program options in neighboring districts.”

But Alexander said the DOE has done little outreach to get community kids and their parents to even know about the test. She was at the community board meeting this week to urge that people spread the word about the upcoming tests in January.

The fact that there are no Gifted and Talented programs in Bed-Stuy comes after reports this year about a huge racial disparity in the elite academic public high schools such as Stuyvesant High School – all of which requires an entrance exam.

City Councilman-elect Robert Cornegy said he will make getting a Gifted and Talented program in Bed-Stuy a priority once he gets in office.

“This is a much-heralded program and it is very important to have one in the community,” said Cornegy. Cornegy, adding there used to be one at PS 308, and in fact his wife was in it.

One of Cornegy’s six children is in a Gifted and Talented program and is bussed to Queens for it.

Cornegy said he will also work to get a “special needs” school program in the community. Currently, the only such program in Bed-Stuy is for students with behavior problems.

After the Jewish community, our community has one of the highest needs for a special education program, he said, adding that one of his children is in that program and is bussed to Bay Ridge.

“No one is talking about the needs of special education children. How can there be one criterion for District 13 and 16, and another for District 21?” said Cornegy.  “We have two needs on opposite ends of the spectrum. We are being disproportionately affected by not having either a special needs program or a Gifted and Talented program.”

To find out more about the Gifted and Talented program and test dates and locations call 718-935-2009 or visit www.nyc.gov/schools/gt.

K-3 Gifted & Talented Admissions for the 2014-15 School Year

To access the Request for Testing (RFT) form and for answers to frequently asked questions about the G&T assessment, visit:  http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/GiftedandTalented/Calendar/default.htm

Alert! The deadline to submit your RFT form is TOMORROW, November 8, 2013.

 

New Yorkers Vote For New Progressive Era

Mary Alice Miller
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By Mary Alice Miller

In the end, it was a bigger blowout than the 40% poll projections predicted: Bill de Blasio was elected the next Mayor of New York City with 73% of the combined Democratic/Working Families vote, 50 points above Joe Lhota’s 23.9%. “My fellow New Yorkers: today, you spoke out loudly and clearly for a new direction in our city, united by a belief that our city should leave no New Yorker behind,” said Mayor-elect de Blasio. He warned that tackling inequality, for decades in the making, won’t be easy. “But make no mistake: the people of this city have chosen a progressive path, and tonight we set forth on it, together, as one city,” he said.

As Public Advocate, de Blasio made his mark with on-the-ground advocacy by supporting Occupy Wall Street and getting arrested while protesting the closure of LICH. He has campaigned on addressing income inequality and requesting the wealthy pay a small tax increase to pay for universal pre-K.

Letitia James became the first African-American woman elected to citywide office, winning the Public Advocate race with 83.5% of the combined Democratic and Working Families Party vote (832,677 total).

Robert Cornegy’s team, supporters, family and friends, gather around the newly-elected councilman and his wife, pictured center at the Milk River entertainment complex on Atlantic Avenue.
Photo: Nathaniel Adams

“I ran for Public Advocate to ensure that government safeguards access to opportunity. We won this election because New Yorkers want a strong, activist Public Advocate who has the vision and the guts and the values to stand up for working-class and middle-class New Yorkers and make sure our city works for everyone, not just the wealthy and the well-connected,” said James. “I pledge to you today that that’s the kind of Public Advocate I will be.”

James promised to lead with consensus building and cooperation. “But make no mistake about it,” she said, “if working people are getting a raw deal, I will not capitulate, I will not hold back, and I will not go along to get along. I will be the fierce champion of working-class New Yorkers that you have elected me to be.”

As progressive as de Blasio is, Public Advocate-elect Letitia James is even more to the Left on public policy. And Scott Stringer, who won the Comptroller’s race with 80.5% of the Democratic/Working Families vote (782,703), is a clubhouse Democrat and the most conservative of the three.

Together, they received a mandate to make this city of opportunity more accessible to all.

For the second time in as many months, Ken Thompson defeated 24-year incumbent Charles Hynes, the first defeat of a sitting District Attorney in 55 years. After the 11-point primary upset, Hynes conceded then changed his mind, arguing among other things that he wanted all Brooklyn voters – not just those who voted in the Democratic Primary – to decide. The voters spoke, electing Thompson as Brooklyn’s next District Attorney and the first African-American to take the office. Thompson won with 74.8% of the vote (222,348) to Hynes’ 25.2% (74,943).

“As part of Brooklyn’s great future, we must ensure that no man or woman ever is convicted wrongly… and we must also make sure that we free all the people who have been wrongfully convicted,” said District Attorney-elect Thompson during his victory remarks. In memory of several fallen police officers Thompson said, “We must do all we can to get illegal guns off the streets.” He added, “We must do all we can to end senseless gun violence that is killing our children.”

Speaking of growing up in the projects as a little boy whom very few people thought would “amount to anything in life,” Thompson credited the sacrifice and love of his mother, one of the first female beat cops in the city. Thompson added, “For every boy and girl who may be seeing this in public housing, you can do great things in your life. You must work hard, you must believe you can do it and you must never give up. I am an example of that.”

With 90.8% of the vote, Eric Adams was elected the first African-American Borough President for Brooklyn. “The challenge in front of us is clear, and our mandate simple,” said Borough President-elect Adams, “to raise up all Brooklynites with a safer, more prosperous, more affordable borough.”

Robert Cornegy (36th Council District), Laurie Cumbo (35th) and Inez Barron (40th) became the newest local members of the City Council. Darlene Mealy, Jumaane Williams and Mathieu Eugene were reelected.

New York State voters elected to change the state constitution by allowing up to seven new casinos in New York, with a lion’s share of the mandate coming from downstate counties, although there will be no opportunity for a casino in NYC for seven years. Voters supported additional civil service credit for veterans with disabilities certified post-appointment, but turned down the proposal to allow certain judges to serve until age 80.

African-Americans Break New Barriers

Mary Alice Miller
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Letitia James elected Public Advocate,
Eric Adams elected Borough President,
Ken Thompson elected District Attorney

By Stephen Witt

In a landslide victory with enough coattails to keep a Democratic fabric manufacturer in business another four years, Bill de Blasio was elected as the city’s 109th Mayor and will officially take office in January.

The victory, by nearly 50 percentage points, was also a win for progressive politics as de Blasio is a liberal Democrat and the first from the party to run City Hall after 20 years of Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg.

Photo: Nathaniel Adams

“My fellow New Yorkers, today you spoke out loudly and clearly for a new direction for our city,” de Blasio, 52, told supporters at his Park Slope Armory victory party. “Make no mistake: The people of this city have chosen a progressive path, and tonight we set forth on it, together.”

The election also highlighted Brooklyn’s growing clout in the city and particularly Central Brooklyn replacing Harlem as the city’s most powerful political center for African-American politics.

Among those candidates from Central Brooklyn that also swept to landslide victories were Fort Greene City Councilwoman Letitia James, who in being elected Public Advocate, became the city’s first black  woman ever elected to a citywide public  office.

“Yes, this is indeed historic, because our government must be representative of all New Yorkers,” she told supporters in her victory speech. “What I’m really proud of is the fact that we ran a campaign centered on progressive ideas. I will not hold back. I refused to go along to get along. I will raise my voice loudly as you know I can do.”

James, also an accomplished attorney, said she will use the office to fight for those with little voices.

“I would love to have an army of attorneys making sure that people have access to programs, looking at social justice cases and impact cases, and pattern and practice cases, and really making sure that government is transparent,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ken Thompson, 47, trounced 23-year incumbent Charles Hynes with nearly 75% of the vote to become the borough’s first black District Attorney. Thompson’s win comes two months after he defeated Hynes in the Democratic Primary, and after Hynes decided to run as a Republican in a race that turned ugly with accusations.

“I ran for Brooklyn DA because I heard about a woman named Shirley Chisholm who ran for president as a black woman and who paved the way for future generations of elected officials of color here in Brooklyn,” Thompson said in his victory speech.

“There are a lot of serious issues in that office, and we have to get to them as soon as possible. Like, if there are any innocent people in prison for murders that they didn’t commit, we have an obligation to get them out as soon as possible,” he added.

Also cruising to victory was Flatbush State Senator and former New York City policeman Eric Adams, who will become the borough’s first black Borough President.

“I am so proud that our message of one Brooklyn – where all residents in all neighborhoods have a fair shot – is what carried us here,” said Adams. “The challenge in front of us is clear, and our mandate simple: to raise up all Brooklynites with a safer, more prosperous, more affordable borough. To use this pivotal moment in Brooklyn’s great history to help all who need it, and not just a privileged few.”
Central Brooklyn also elected several new City Council members including Laurie Cumbo in Fort Greene/Clinton Hill and Robert Cornegy in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Holistic Health Professionals Celebrate Dr. Mutulu Shakur

Editor, Our Time Press
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Basir Mchawi

On Sunday, November 10th in Brooklyn, New York and Toronto, Canada, holistic health professionals, along with family and friends of Dr. Mutulu Shakur, will celebrate the rich legacy of Dr. Shakur’s work in the field of community health care. Captured in 1986 and charged with a series of political crimes, Dr. Mutulu Shakur has been incarcerated for over twenty-five years.  Dr. Shakur, however, remains revered as a pioneer in the field of acupuncture and community health.

On Sunday, November 10th at Brooklyn Open Acupuncture, located at 88 South Portland Avenue from 11 am until 7 pm, health activists will gather to provide treatment for community members at affordable prices. Acupuncture, nutrition and massage therapy are some of the services that will be available for a sliding scale, tax-deductible donation.  For information call (646) 481-4228 or (718) 493-1836. Appointments can be made using Google at http:/bit.lyR3NVnF. Similar activities will be taking place simultaneously in Toronto. Proceeds will be used to support Dr. Shakur’s legal defense and to assist in projects promoting justice for African people locally, nationally and internationally.

The idea of using holistic health methods to treat chronic illness is part of the legacy of Dr. Mutulu Shakur. Already politically active, a young Mutulu Shakur worked at the legendary Lincoln Detox Center in the South Bronx during the 1970’s, battling heroin addiction using acupuncture. While first hired as an organizer and outreach worker, Shakur became fascinated with acupuncture techniques similar to those used to combat opium addiction after the Chinese Revolution. Shakur immersed himself in acupuncture practice and became certified as a Doctor of Acupuncture in 1976. Beginning in the late 1970’s and up to the time of his capture, Dr. Shakur combined political activism and holistic health practices to train young acupuncturists and build institutions designed to keep African people healthy and free.

 

Keeping Bed-Stuy Alive …

Editor, Our Time Press
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Allison Shillingford, Darius Clark — Macon Street Residents – win top BET Urbanworld Filmwriting Awards

At BET’s recent Urbanworld Film Awards ceremony in TriBeCa, Macon Street residents Allison (Bonner )Shillingford & Darius Clark Monroe received the top writing awards in this year’s Urbanworld Film Festival.

Darius Clark Monroe

Their scripts, “Mel & Missy” (Shillingford) and “Year of Our Lord” (Clark) won for Best Teleplay and Best Screenplay, respectively, in the writing categories sponsored by BET Networks.

“BET believes the Urbanworld Film Festival is an undeniable platform for emerging (artists),” said Loretha Jones, President of Original Programming at BET.  Urbanworld Executive Producer Gabrielle Glore said that Urbanworld strives “to keep shining a light on the diversity of stories that the world needs to see”.

Allison Bonner Shillingford

Bonner Shillingford’s winning teleplay introduces us to Mel, a fortyish Black woman who is trying to balance life after divorce, co-parenting and dealing with relationship issues, & Missy, a recently divorced white woman and concerned single mother starting a new life.  The two women now live together in gentrified Brooklyn after Missy rents an apartment from Mel.

Monroe’s winning script tells the story of a young Black couple living in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, grappling with the fact that their 7-year-old son is possibly the second coming of Christ.

In its 17th year, Urbanworld is one of the largest internationally competitive festivals dedicated to the exhibition of independent cinema by and about people of color.  BET continues its partnership with Urbanworld to find promising writers with original ideas for potential television series.  A highlight of this year’s festival includes the premiere of David E. Talbert’s “Baggage Claim” starring Paula Patton.

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