Local non-profits in East New York often find themselves competing with one another for limited funds from the federal government and local politicians such as Councilman Charles Barron. However, Rev. De Lafayette Awkward of the New Reformed Church of America and his East New York Enrichment Coalition (ENYEC) have sought a more peaceful and efficient route. ENYEC is a coalition of non-profit organizations that have a common goal: to revive the economically stricken East New York community. With a 19.2 percent unemployment rate and nearly 50 percent of its residents below the poverty line, the idea of a recession has been the reality in East New York for years. Rev. Awkward and his coalition continue to restructure their organization and collaborate with non-profits beyond its parameters to come to the aid of Brooklynites.
As published in the Brooklyn Downtown Star, June 11:
http://bit.ly/9ZTDLy
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Royal Pizza Could Be Losing its Crown
Royal Pizza has long been a hallmark in the East New York, Brooklyn community. Since 1986, Italian natives Carmine and Grace Provenza have been serving affordable and delectable pizza for East New Yorkers. But the recession has put a damper on an already slumping business. Now the Provenza are finding it increasingly harder to pay for their bills and staff, and still manage to bring a respectable amount of money home to finance their own household. After years of business in the pizza industry, Carmine is on his last leg and suspects that Royal will be his final investment.As published in the Brooklyn Downtown Star, July 16:
Towns to Seek 15th Term
Brooklyn community activists, Congress and Assembly members crowded Borough President Marty Markowitrz's steps at Borough Hall to support Congressman Ed Towns' running for reelection to the 10th Congressional District---for the 15th time. After nearly three decades of political success and a promotion to the Chairman of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in 2008, Towns, 76, will put his winning streak to the test against young hip hop activist and former MTV Real World contestant Kevin Powell. Powell has recently had financial problems and has been accused of neither reporting all of his income to the IRS, nor receiving adequate signatures to participate in the September Primaries. Congressman Jerrold Nadler expressed little doubt that Towns will face any significant road bumps at the polls. If he is reelected, Towns promised his impressive crowd of supporters that he will continue to seek programs that will create job placement assistance for unemployed Brooklynites.As published in the Brooklyn Downtown Star, July 13:
http://bit.ly/aOUxoc
Church Converted to Courthouse
St. Paul's Community Baptist Church joined forces with Brooklyn Law Enforcement and District Attorney Charles Hynes to transform the church into a makeshift courtroom. The pilot program, otherwise known as Project Safe Surrender, enabled East New York, Brooklyn residents to clear their summons and warrants in a less intimidating atmosphere than that of Downtown Brooklyn's courthouse. Hynes and Associate Rev. Lesley Shannon hoped that the sanctity of the church would encourage some of the 250,000 Brooklynites with C-summons or warrants (for minor violations such as jumping a subway turnstile) to clear their records and get back to job hunting with a clean slate. Hynes will run an evaluation of the pilot program before he considers expanding it beyond East New York.As published in the Brooklyn Downtown Star, July 2:
http://bit.ly/a14VUa
A Church Survives, Despite Recession
When we think of recessions, cut-backs and lay-offs are only but a few terms that immediately come to our mind. But St. Paul's Community Church (SPCBC) has added a positive word to the list: expansion. When the recession picked up, human services and jobs for East New York, Brooklyn residents became increasingly scarce. However, SPCBC directly responded by adding a "Financial Fitness Series" among a myriad of other community service programs. SPCBC has proven to be relatively recession-proof as it continues to minister to its 4,000 members (the second largest church congregation in East New York).
As published in the Brooklyn Downtown Star, July 6:
http://bit.ly/9edjnr
Bed-Stuy program more than summer school
A new summer program at the Academy of Business and Community Development (ABCD) allows young men to participate in a series of fun and educational activities. Unlike the traditional summer school structure, ABCD keeps their students engaged with trips to Broadway, interactive life-skills counselling, and mentoring from New York University volunteers. Located at the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant, the program aims to motivate and enlighten young men from the inner-city.
As Published in the Brooklyn Downtown Star, July 27:
http://bit.ly/aDPbOA
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