The Serrano Report, Vol. VIII, #16
On Capitol Hill
Congressman Serrano Welcomes Art Competition Winner
The annual Congressional Art Competition Opening Ceremony was held this week in Washington, DC. This year’s Congressional Art Winner for New York’s 16th Congressional District, Kelisha Carmichael, met with Representative Serrano in his Washington, D.C. office. Kelisha was joined by her mother, Verna Carmichael and art teacher Peter Kililea. Kelisha’s portrait, entitled “Intent and Purpose”, was featured among district winners from around the country. Kelisha is a rising junior at Bronx High School for Law and Community Service and plans on studying law and art in college.
Serrano with Congressional Art Competition Winner Kelisha Carmichael
Serrano Congratulates J.J. Barea on Championship
On Wednesday, Congressman Serrano sent a letter to J.J. Barea, the point guard for the World Champion Dallas Mavericks congratulating him on his role in that team’s championship victory. Barea averaged 19 minutes, 9 points and 3 assists per game for the Mavericks during the playoffs, which they capped by beating the Miami Heat for the Championship on June 12. Like Barea, Congressman Serrano is from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The town celebrated Barea's accomplishment with a parade on Thursday.
In the Bronx
Serrano Announces Major Bronx and Harlem River Restoration Initiative
Today, Congressman Serrano announced an unprecedented new program to support the restoration of the Bronx and Harlem River Watersheds through a new federal multi-agency initiative. Serrano has directed more than $30 million to the Bronx River restoration as well as assisting the Harlem River over the years. The new pilot program, as part of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, (UWFP) will build on those successes. The UWFP is, in part, modeled on the programs and partnerships that Serrano helped create over the years.
“I am pleased to announce that the Bronx and Harlem Rivers will be part of the new Urban Waters Federal Partnership and believe it is a testament to the work that we have done over the years, and a sign that greater successes are still to come for these urban waterways,” said Serrano. “The groups that the UWFP will fund and support are the ones that have sprung up to carry out the restoration, education and community-building activities with the funding I obtained and the passion, knowledge and hard work that they supplied.
“This new program is an acknowledgement of the message that we’ve all been creating through action over the years: environmental restoration restores communities and empowers people. We have found that, beyond the direct benefit of a clean and useable Bronx River, our neighborhoods have been enhanced through the renewed community activism and engagement. We know that our rivers have been a focal point for the renewal of the Bronx—and we are looking forward to further federal engagement.
“I also believe that other communities that will be part of the UWFP—like Washington DC with the Anacostia River—will become beneficiaries of the knowledge that we have accumulated in the Bronx. I look forward to sharing the lessons of our successes with communities around the country. We know that urban renewal is possible through environmental activism and are excited to see other communities experience what we have experienced.
“Our reinvigorated rivers are a symbol of the renewal of our community. The UWFP is going to enhance and support all the work we have done over the years, and provide a new energy and funding for the work that is still to be done.”
For more information about the UWFP please visit www.urbanwaters.gov.
Floating Pool Lady Re-Opens
WHAT: The Floating Pool Lady, a seven-lane, 82 foot swimming pool, returns to the Bronx for docking during for the Summer of 2011. In 2008, Congressman Serrano, along with a host of community based organizations, environmental activists, elected officials, and members of Community Board #2, campaigned to bring the pool to the South Bronx waterfront for children and families.
WHEN: Beginning June 29th. For the pool's operating hours and more general information about the pool please go to the New York Department of Parks and Recreation website.
WHERE: Barretto Point Park, at Tiffany St. and Viele Ave in the Bronx
Apply to Become a We Are The Bronx Fellow
Application Deadline: July 14, 2011
We Are The Bronx Fellowship is now accepting applications from mid to senior non-profit professionals to receive 9 months of hands-on leadership training, beginning October 2011 to June 2012. The training will include monthly meetings focused on grant-making, community organizing and professional development seminars addressing core non-profit skill sets.
We Are The Bronx Fellowship is a project of the Center for Bronx Non-Profits which receives consultation from Hostos Community College and CAUSE-NY, the intergroup relations division of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.
Click here to apply (word document)
Grants
Ethnic Community Self-Help Program
Deadline: June 30, 2011
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) invites ethnic community based organizations as well as faith-based ethnic organizations to submit competitive grant applications for funding under the Ethnic Community Self-Help Program to provide services to newly arrived refugees. The objective of this program is to strengthen organized ethnic communities comprised of refugee populations to ensure ongoing support and services for refugees within five years after initial resettlement. The populations targeted for services and benefits in the application must represent refugee communities which have arrived in the U.S. within the last five years. Applicants should view these resources as a temporary augmentation of funds to meet emerging organizational and other needs of the arriving populations and should plan to move toward non-ORR funding sources beyond the project period.
For more information about this grant please visit the Department of Health and Human Resources.
For information on other government grants, please visit grants.gov.