On top of all the new PortSide programs launched in 2018, there's more. I am thrilled to announce a new educational endeavor with the Red Hook K-5 elementary school PS 676.
Such is PortSide's growth this year -- continuous. Such is our future, and how we are helping to better the lives of students, our neighborhood, and beyond.
Please make a year-end donation now to support this growth. It's a snap via our webpage DONATE.
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| PS 676 1st graders visiting the MARY A. WHALEN for the 1st time on Friday. |
PortSide's love story with PS 676
The "Red Hook Neighborhood School"
PortSide has begun a close working relationship with PS 676, introduced by Councilman Carlos Menchaca, who secured "Cultural After School Adventures" (CASA) funding to support this from the Department of Cultural Affairs.
PortSide is using those CASA programs to grow a fuller relationship with PS 676, and we are developing programs for school hours. Those have begun! Our goal is to create PortSide experiences for all grades of PS 676 which is on the rebound after eight difficult years. We are working closely with their dynamic new principal Priscilla Figuero and her passionate new staff on all this.
Most of the students live in Red Hook public housing, and working with them is like watching flowers grow. The students' excitement at being on our ship MARY A. WHALEN and on the waterfront is electric. There are only 125 students in the school. At that size, I feel that PortSide can really make an impact. Please support our endeavors with this school and
DONATE.
Making an end-of-year donation will also help grow other programs PortSide launched in our powerhouse 2018. More on these in our next emails this month.
Plans for space expansion
And super auspicious for our future, we have done tremendous work on a business plan to expand
into the warehouse next to the MARY A. WHALEN!
This will finally give us proper program and office space. We make our final presentation of the business plan to the NYC EDC on January 8.
You can help us get this space by sending a letter of support by 1/6/19 saying why you like PortSide NewYork and want to see us grow. Email us at chiclet@portsidenewyork.org if you have questions about the business plan.
Our ship MARY A. WHALEN is sporting holiday decorations; come over and take a look!
You can also join us Christmas caroling today in Red Hook at 6:30pm starting at the Miccio Center at 110 W 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11231. We have so much joy to share this year!
