Real Journalism written by people
Brooklyn Sewcial founder Alexa Ward discovered her love for sewing at the age of 12 because of her grandmother. As a result, she attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and graduated in 2006 with a fashion design degree Ward began working in Pins & Needles, a small Upper East Side sewing shop. There she taught the craft and was inspired […]
Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, welcomes the Year of the Pig starting tonight, Feb. 4, and going until February 19th, the Lantern Festival Since 2016, New York City public school students have had the day off, probably because the Chinese population in New York City has grown 35% from 2000 to 2013, to about 350,000. […]
P.S. 15 students were invited to celebrate the New Year with Mayor Bill de Blasio as he publicly announced the enactment of a Styrofoam ban. NYC manufacturers and stores can no longer sell or offer cups or plates made from the crunchy white synthetic material. There will be a six-month grace period from the ban’s Jan. 1 start date before […]
The community has welcomed The Great Room, a haven for caregivers and children alike, warmly since it opened in the Columbia Street Water District in June 2018. The prenatal and parenting wellness space, co-owned by local mothers Susannah Gersten and Jessica Rich, is meant for kids and adults to explore, find solace and share joy. “We’re both therapists, and we […]
On December 15, New Brown Memorial Baptist Church at Clinton Street and Center Street held its annual Christmas concert, performed by the Sister Helen Lee Keyboard Ensemble and Drum Corps. The concert showcased youth talent honed in the church’s music program, led by the internationally acclaimed author James McBride and fellow instructor Damon Due White. Founded in 1954 by McBride’s […]
On Thursday, December 20, PS 676 held their second annual gift giving and holiday celebration. This year’s event was a big success. Every student received at least one toy, got to meet Santa Claus (Councilman Carlos Menchaca) and had milk and cookies. There was also a holiday performance by the kids. Principal Priscilla Figueroa, who is in her first full […]
Charles Escalante is the basketball coach at Red Hook’s PAVE Charter School, which educates kids through the 8th grade. He is in his second year at PAVE Academy Charter School. “I used to coach, with the principal here, in prep school in New England,” Escalante said. “We were in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) and a lot of […]
From her birthplace in Michoacán, Mexico to her current home in Brooklyn, artist Maria de Los Angeles brings a fascinating life story – and with it, a mural for Carroll Gardens families. In December, the Carroll Gardens Library unveiled De Los Angeles’ new mural: a colorful composite of drawings by local kids who were inspired by books like Charlotte’s Web, […]
There has never been more uncertainty about the future of our federal government in my lifetime, than right now. In 1980 Ronald Reagan gave an inaugural address that included the phrase, “government is not the solution, it is the problem.” That same speech also included a very powerful, upbeat message, as follows: “I believe we, the Americans of today, are […]
When Tshawn attended PS 27 elementary school, his mother Tiffiney Davis was concerned about his future. She lacked financial resources and lived in a Red Hook neighborhood full of pitfalls for young African-American men, she recalls. Moreover, Tshawn seemed to have trouble communicating with people. When school volunteer Deirdre Swords approached her with the harebrained idea of teaching art to […]
The third season of the kid’s variety show Little Laffs came to an epic, hilarious, adorable conclusion at Jalopy Theater on June 5, and they are getting ready to start up again. From ventriloquism to handkerchief tricks to sweet sing-alongs, Little Laffs, produced by Red Hook’s own Twisted Balloon Company, had everyone cracking up – adults included! On the first […]
