Free Training Program In Film/TV/Video

Brooklyn Workforce Innovations (BWI) –a nonprofit organization– and The New York City Mayor's office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting is now accepting applications for the fourteenth cycle of The "Made in NY" Production Assistant Training Program. This FREE skills training and job placement program aims to promote diversity in NYC’s production industry and create new career opportunities for young adults who are unemployed or low-income. For more information about this free program visit our website http://www.bwiny.org/pages/patraining.html The next cycle of the "Made in NY" PA Training Program is planned to begin in early April 2009! We offer: · 4 weeks of full-time hands-on skills training, taught by industry professionals · Two years of job placement assistance in entry-level commercial, music video, TV and film production jobs (e.g. 'production assistant' jobs) · Career counseling and support as you work your way up · Certification as a "Made in NY" Production Assistant through a partnership with the New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. Learn more about the work of a Production Assistant http://www.bwiny.org/pages/programs/patraininga.html "Made in NY" PAs are now working throughout NYC's production sector, on everything from feature films to commercials to reality TV, episodic TV, music videos, film festivals, and more. Our participants come from every borough; most had never worked on set before joining the program.

Peter Young Facility

CB8 full board meeting
Thursday Feb. 12 7:00 pm at the Brooklyn Children's Museum
145 Brooklyn Ave. near St. Marks

On Monday evening CB 8's housing committee voted 9 to 1 to recommend the approval by the full board of the change of use of the Peter Young facility on Pacific St. (across from the Bed/Atlantic Armory.) The Peter Young facility is the homeless men's shelter that DHS is closing in conjunction with their plan to add an intake center to the assessment center at the Bed/Atlantic armory. The proposal the housing committee voted for is to now make the Peter Young facility a 28 day residential drug rehab. CB8 has a moratorium on new residential facilities. However, they approved this when the Peter Young group said that 90% of the people they will serve will be residents of this community. The full board will be voting on this on 2/12/09

Foreclosure Prevention

Attend a free foreclosure prevention workshop.
Learn what steps you can take to avoid losing your home.
February 25, 6-8pm
CAMBA: 884 Flatbush Avenue, 2nd FloorBrooklyn, NY.
For more information, please call 718-282-2500 or email keneshaw@camba.org

Free Tax Preparation

Free Tax Preparation Sites in Your Area Please check

http://www.citizensnyc.org/projects/cash_back.html to find free tax preparation sites in your area. Tax preparers at IRS' Free File only offer to file federal tax returns for free. State returns will cost extra for most NY residents.
CashBack will soon have a link so you can prepare your own federal and state returns for free if you meet some income guidelines.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please call Pinky Vincent at Citizens Committee for New York City at 212-822-9578.

Beautify Your Block

Mayor Bloomberg and Citizens Committee for New York City invite volunteer-led neighborhood groups to apply for a $1,000 award to transform the public spaces on their block.

Twelve groups from across the five boroughs will be selected as finalists, and each finalist will receive a $1,000 grant to beautify their block. The group that demonstrates the most impressive transformation will win an additional $3,000 to be used towards future block improvements.

Groups will also be supported by services from multiple city agencies, including the Mayor’s Office and its Community Affairs Unit, and the Departments of Transportation, Sanitation, and Parks.

Download an application online: http://www.citizensnyc.org/projects/love_your_nyc_block_contest.html
For more information, contact Arif Ullah at aullah@citizensnyc.org or call 212.822.9580.

Mrs Lincoln's Dressmaker

CHCA member: Lynda Jones has a new book out

The book was released last week and is now available on amazon.com (click to order) and at your local bookstores. Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker is a dual biography that chronicles the rise and fall of two very ambitious women--First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and her dressmaker and confidante, Elizabeth Keckley, who was born into slavery. The book is published by National Geographic and is for kids ages 9-12. Reading & Signing Events: Thursday, February 5, 7-8pm Bristen's Eatery, 751 Franklin Avenue (between St. Johns Place & Sterling Place) Saturday, February 7th @ 12pm Nairobi's Knapsack 744 Franklin Avenue Price: Free, space is limited, Please RSVP 347.295.2011

HOME MAINTENANCE & REPAIR COURSE
Winter/Spring 2009 SessionSponsored by
Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush
A not for profit organization serving the community since 1982.

Don’t rely on contractors.
Built it!Fix it!Do it yourself!
The Open House: Thursday Feb. 5th, 6:30pm
The ten-week course starts
Monday Feb. 9th & Wednesday Feb. 11th, 6pm-9pm.
For more info., please call: (718) 469-4679

Inauguration 2009

For more information call Mike: (347) 452-0044

Shop Brooklyn

Greetings everyone! Shop Brooklyn officially launched yesterday!!! Here is NY1's coverage! Many of our Franklin Avenue merchants are participating!!!

Re-Entry Resource Fair

Council Member Letitia James, Crown Heights Mediation Center, along with churches, and residents of Crown Heights invite you to a Re-Entry Resource Fair, for formerly incarcerated individuals and their families Saturday, Nov. 22nd, from 1 pm – 3 pm The goal of the Re-Entry Resource Fair is to assist formerly incarcerated people with rehabilitation for successful integration into society, the community, and the workforce Re-adjusting within the community for formerly incarcerated individuals is often a difficult experience. It has been argued that incarcerated persons do not receive adequate resources during their time in prison to equip them upon their release. Within the employment environment, the formerly incarcerated face limited opportunities, as well as discrimination from potential employers. The U.S. Department of Justice states that, in 2007, 30% of people released from prison are rearrested in the first six months following release, 44% in the first year, and 67.5% in the first three years. This can partly be explained by inappropriate planning at the end of an inmate’s jail or prison term as well as a lack of employment opportunities and affordable housing upon release. The Independent Committee on Reentry and Employment reports that up to 60% of formerly incarcerated individuals are unemployed, as are 89% of those who violate parole or probation. Yet, if an individual has a job at the start and end of a supervised release from jail or prison, federal court statistics show that the success rate is 85%. Finding housing for formerly incarcerated individuals is also a difficulty. Private property owners typically inquire into the background of individuals and often deny housing to anyone with a criminal background. Before1988, public housing was a solution to this issue. Ex-offenders were placed on a list like all other public housing applicants and considered based on a number of factors, including age, marital and parental status. However, Congress removed this through an amendment to the public housing statute, adopting a one-strike eviction policy for tenants in federal public housing who engage in certain types of criminal behavior. It has become virtually impossible for formerly incarcerated individuals to find stable and suitable housing. The Re Entry Resource Fair is an opportunity for formerly incarcerated individuals, and their families, to gain professional and unbiased information on many issues that affect their everyday lives. The fair will contain information on Housing, Legal Advocacy, Counseling, Family Services, Education, Employment and Career Development, Medical Services, Substance Abuse Treatment, and Spiritual Resources. What: Re-Entry Resource Fair for formerly incarcerated individuals and their families Who: The Formerly Incarcerated, Churches and Residents When: Saturday, November 22nd, from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm Where: Calvary Community Church, 1575 St Johns Place (at the corner of Buffalo Avenue), Brooklyn For information about the CROWN HEIGHTS COMMUNITY MEDIATION CENTER REENTRY RESOURCE DIRECTORY 2008-2009, please contact CHCMC at: 718-773-6886, fax: 718-774-5349, www.crownheights.org, 256 Kingston Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11213