| Job Opportunities Assistant Program Manager, Quality Assurance Program Manager, Dumont Green Supervisor I, CAMBA iCare ALL JOBS |
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CAMBA is a non-profit agency that provides services that connect people with opportunities to enhance their
quality of life. |
|  save the date: Thurs., Nov. 5, 6-10 pm |
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| On Thursday, July 16, we'll be back at MCU Park in Coney Island for our annual Night at the Ballpark with the Brooklyn Cyclones (this year, against their rival Staten Island Yankees!). Join us for this evening of baseball, warm ocean breezes, cross-bay rivalry and the good feeling of helping New Yorkers in need. WHEN: Thursday, July 16, 2015, 7 pm
WHERE: MCU Park, 1904 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224
TICKETS: Field Box Seat: $30, includes Cyclones cap; Luxury Suite: $175: Enjoy our catered luxury suite. SPECIAL: Buy 3 Field Box Seats, Get 1 Free ($90)
 SPONSORSHIP: Sponsor CAMBA's Night at the Ballpark to promote your business and support CAMBA's services to New Yorkers in need. Sponsorship is available at $500 and $1,000.
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Parents participate in a Community School forum at Brownsville Academy High School. Photo by Anthony Collins Photography
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It can take a village to raise a child, but sometimes a community is needed to get a high-schooler to graduation.
With that in mind, CAMBA and Brownsville Academy High School are partnering in a "Community School," part of a mayoral initiative, with funding and support from the United Way of New York City, which pairs nonprofits and schools in high-need, low-income neighborhoods to take a holistic, community-wide approach to fostering student success.
On May 2, CAMBA and Brownsville Academy officially launched their Community School with a parent forum and health and wellness fair.
The health and wellness fair, held in Lincoln Terrace Park, included resource tables from local organizations, activities for kids and a barbecue. State Assemblywoman Latrice Walker helped celebrate the program's official launch.
In the parent forum, program staff opened the floor to students' families -- an important part of the Community Schools model.
"We told the parents about the program and we asked them, 'what do you want to see in our Community School?'" said Alison Haberly, CAMBA Vice President for Education and Youth Development.
Since the program's start this year, staff have been engaging parents and families in school events and activities, coordinating local resources and linking students and family members to needed social services and health and mental health care.
"We want our scholars to know that, in order to reach our full potential, it is important to have a healthy mind, body and soul," said Ineisha Williford, Director of the program, in an article in The Brooklyn Reader. "We will have on-site teen counseling, yoga, and a state-of-the art kitchen ... we're trying to bring in chefs to cook healthy foods and partner up with organizations that will build a culinary program for those scholars who want to continue down that track."
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Gabriella, a resident at Flagstone Family Shelter, makes a difficult prom dress decision.
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Prom night -- the adolescent rite of passage into young adulthood -- can be heartbreaking for homeless teen girls, with no money to splurge on that special gown.
Designers Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and the PVH Foundation have stepped up to give New York City homeless teenagers a memorable and all-expenses-paid prom shopping trip, including a fleet of "personal shoppers" to help them choose a gown, heels, purses and jewelry.
This year, three girls from CAMBA's Flagstone Family Center in Brownsville joined the designers' "shopping spree" on a recent May evening.
Tamarya, a senior aiming for college and a medical career, first tried on a peach ball gown with acres of flounces. In the end, she chose a sophisticated black gown because "I like it, and it screams 'me.'" She says, "This is the first time I've experienced something like this. It was fun, and I liked trying on dresses."
Gabriella thumbed through racks of dresses and tried on several before going with a black and white dress that she feels will be good for her middle school prom and the after-party night out. She says, "It was fun seeing everyone in their dresses. Everyone was very helpful in picking out the dresses with us."
Sherona is a middle school student who will head to an arts-oriented high school next year. She aspires to be a photographer and is saving up for a professional camera -- with no cash to spare for a prom gown. So she was thrilled to pick out a black dress with a full skirt because "I like the color, it's simple and I can dance in it."
Sherona adds, "I've never experienced anything like this before. Everyone was really helpful."
Gloria Rodriguez, a Flagstone staff member who accompanied the girls, was almost as thrilled as her young charges. "I am so glad to be a part of this evening," she says. "I loved seeing the girls in their dresses and the smiles on their faces."
According to PVH Foundation President Guy Vickers, the prom gown event is sponsored annually by the foundation, in collaboration with New York City's Department of Homeless Services and the Department of Education's Students in Temporary Housing unit.
The foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of
PVH Corp., one of the world's largest apparel companies.
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| Thank you to our runners, walkers, staff, volunteers and especially our 2015 Healthy Way 5k & 10k sponsors! We couldn't have had such an amazing race day without you. Enjoy photos from the races here, and be sure to join us in 2016! |
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| CAMBA's Adult Literacy Center held its second annual Recognition Ceremony this month, to honor the strides made by the program's adult learners over the past year. More than 100 family members, friends, CAMBA staff and fellow students gathered in the Flatbush Reform Church to celebrate the Center's Adult Basic Education and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students, and its recent High School Equivalency Diploma recipients. Teachers took to the stage throughout the afternoon, recognizing all of their students and handing out special honors to those who have stood out among their peers - for accomplishments and performance in class, often in the face of adversity outside of the classroom. "It's not easy to say that you need help," said Jude Pierre, CAMBA Program Manager, to the students sitting before him. "I thank you for trusting us to help you when you need it." Student Kimberly Peters offered perspective on what the classes provide for her and her classmates, many of whom are recent immigrants. "We don't only get prepared for a high school diploma. We also get used to life in the U.S." Peters continued, "CAMBA provides an atmosphere that motivates us to be successful -- I'm really thankful for the opportunity to further my education." This year's ceremony also included lunch, a raffle for prizes at local businesses and a line-up of diverse music and dance performance by Center students. CAMBA's Adult Literacy Center serves almost 1,000 adults each year in the Flatbush and East Flatbush communities. Beyond English and literacy, the Center's classes include math, civics, U.S. history and computer-assisted technology training. All classes are free and taught by professional instructors. Learn more at Literacycamba.org. |
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Photo courtesy of Kenneth Alsbrooks
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| On May 17, a team of CAMBA staff and clients joined 30,000 people in the annual AIDS Walk NY in Central Park. Several CAMBA programs were represented. The event raised more than $4.8 million for HIV/AIDS service organizations throughout the tri-state area and remains the country's largest single-day advocacy event for HIV/AIDS. |
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