SCO News
OPWDD Field Day/BBQ
August 21, 2014 / SCO News
It was Field Day in Jamaica, Queens yesterday for the residents and staff of our homes for adults with developmental disabilities in Brooklyn and Queens. Tug-of-war, relay races, water fights and even few pies in a few faces made for a fun, festive atmosphere on a picture-perfect day. “We wanted to get everyone together out in the community to enjoy themselves outside of their normal routines,” said Program Manager Michael Spivey, who helped organize this first ever event. “This is like our extended SCO family.”
Read MoreSCO Employee and Self-Advocate Shawn Nitz Honors NYS Assemblymember Harvey Weisenberg
August 18, 2014 / SCO News
The Alliance of Long Island Agencies, Interagency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies, Cerebral Palsy Associations of NYS and NYSARC hosted an event August 12, 2014 in Melville, NY, honoring NYS Assemblymember Harvey Weisenberg for his years of advocacy for people with developmental disabilities. Shawn Nitz – who is both an SCO employee and an individual who receives services from SCO, as well as a strong self-advocate – made the first presentation on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities. "Shawn did an outstanding job and presented like a pro!" said Susan Moran, Assistant Executive Director of Program Services for SCO. Here is his statement:
Read MoreSCO’s Center for Family Life Celebrates a Summer of Service
August 12, 2014 / SCO News
On August 7, the 64th Street Community Garden welcomed elementary school students from PS 503 and 506 to celebrate the conclusion of Center for Family Life’s 2014 DYCD Summer of Service program. For the past four years, the Summer of Service program has engaged youth and parents by creating opportunities for family members to get involved by harvesting crops and participating in learning activities that promote healthy nutrition and support a vibrant outdoor life.
Read MoreMadonna Heights Ladies Golf & Dinner Classic A Big Success!
August 12, 2014 / Independent Youth News
More than 100 supporters hit the greens this week for the 34th Annual Madonna Heights Ladies Golf & Dinner Classic at Huntington Crescent Country Club. The event, which honored Kathy Sullivan, former Director of Development at Madonna Heights, raises funds to support our Madonna Heights programs for teens, women, children…
Read MoreGovernor Cuomo Awards SCO Grant for After-School Programs
July 18, 2014 / Independent Youth News
We're thrilled to be among the organizations awarded funding by Governor Cuomo for after-school programming in the 2014/2015 school year. The grant will help SCO continue to provide quality after-school programming for youth as part of our community school programs in Brooklyn. Read the full press release from the Governor Cuomo's Office below:
Read MoreFun in the Sun at SCO — Summer 2014
July 14, 2014 / Independent Youth News
Summer is in full swing across SCO. Check out highlights from a few of our programs below. Children at the Jerome Hardeman Early Childhood Education Center in East Elmhurst, Queens ham it up for the camera while playing on the center's rooftop playground.
Read MoreSCO Family of Services Elects Four New Board Members
June 26, 2014 / SCO News
(June 26, 2014 - Brooklyn, NY) SCO Family of Services, one of the oldest and largest human service nonprofits in New York, elected four distinguished New York City business and civic leaders to the SCO Board of Directors at its June 24th meeting. The new Board members are: Timothy L. Fulton, President T&T Scrap, LLC Peter J. Madonia, Chief Operating Officer, The Rockefeller Foundation Maulin P. Shah, Portfolio Manager, Balyasny Asset Management Mitali V. Sohoni, Managing Director, Structured Credit, Citibank, N.A.
Read MoreCongrats 2014 SCO Grads!
June 24, 2014 / Independent Youth News
Each year, SCO's alternative, residential and special education schools educate 1,100 youth. This month, we are proud to celebrate our June 2014 graduates, the academic achievements of all of our students, and the dedicated staff who help them succeed. Congratulations to students and staff at our three transfer high schools (Bronx Arena High School, East Brooklyn Community High School and North Queens Community High School), Madonna Heights School, The Christopher School, Theresa Paplin School, Tyree Learning Center and Westbrook Preparatory School! Read highlights from each school below (or click the links above to jump to content).
Read MoreFirstStepNYC Leadership Institute hosts Early Education Career Panel Dinner
June 20, 2014 / SCO News
The Early Education Leadership Institute at SCO's FirstStepNYC held its first Career Panel Dinner on June 17th to engage and develop early childhood leaders citywide. Panelists included: Steven Antonelli, Center Director, BankStreet Early Headstart Gail Gordon, Adjunct Faculty at BankStreet and Hunter School of Social Work Sophia Pappas, Executive Director, DOE Division of Early Childhood Education Laura Ensler, Director, FirstStepNYC Leadership Institute Ina Solomon, Education Administrator, Instruction and Performance, DOE Division of Early Childhood Education Helen Frazier, Master Teacher, FirstStepNYC John Borrero, Director of Education and Disabilities, Administration for Children’s Services
Read MoreCongrats North Queens Community High School student Rumena Begum
June 16, 2014 / Independent Youth News
“I feel so accomplished. I made it. It’s a happy feeling,” says Rumena Begum, who will graduate from SCO’s North Queens Community High School upon passing her final two Regents exams. Rumena has earned the right to be happy. Not long ago, graduating seemed nearly impossible: After two years of high school, she had earned a grand total of just two credits. Forty-four are needed to graduate. At her old school, Rumena started cutting classes to spend time with her friends. Her attendance was poor. At the pace she was going, she risked not graduating. Then she came to North Queens.
Read MoreCongrats East Brooklyn Community High School grad Darren Scott
June 16, 2014 / Independent Youth News
On a recent visit to East Brooklyn Community High School where he graduated in December, Darren Scott, 19, was greeted with hugs and high fives from students and staff. He had become a real leader in the school since arriving in September 2012. In his former high school, Darren got into frequent trouble – fighting, cutting class, being disrespectful to teachers. One day, Darren’s SCO Family of Services foster care caseworker, Eric Turner, told him about East Brooklyn Community High School, a transfer school run by SCO and the NYC Department of Education. Eric described a school that gives kids like Darren a second chance - a smaller school with a caring staff that gives students who are struggling the opportunity to earn credits faster.
Read MoreJoan Kuo, Director of FirstStepNYC at Pre-K Day of Action kickoff
June 16, 2014 / SCO News
Joan Kuo, Director of SCO’s FirstStepNYC early childhood center in Brownsville, Brooklyn speaks at Mayor de Blasio’s Pre-K Day of Action kickoff at the Department of Education. For more, visit http://sco.org/pre-k.
Read MoreCongrats Bronx Arena High School grad Annette Hankins
June 16, 2014 / Independent Youth News
Bronx Arena High School student Annette Hankins will walk across the stage on June 26th to accept her diploma, an astonishing accomplishment. At age 20, Annette lives in an apartment in Soundview with her fiancé, Jason, son Tayvon (4), and daughter Neveah (2) - and she is pregnant with their third child, due in August. Completing high school while pregnant with two young children would be difficult for most people, impossible for some. But Annette turned her responsibilities into motivation. “It’s not about me, it’s about my kids,” she explained. “I wanted more for them. I wanted them to have what they needed. I knew education was the key.”
Read MoreWe have pre-K seats available in Brooklyn & Queens!
June 12, 2014 / SCO News
Four of SCO’s Community-Based Early Childhood Centers (CBECC) in Brooklyn and Queens have pre-kindergarten seats available! For more information on securing your child’s spot in one of our free full-day pre-K programs, parents can contact the individual centers directly using the contact phone numbers below. Parents are urged to apply by June 26th to find the best option for their child.
Read MoreCFL 9th Annual Sister Mary Geraldine Symposium
June 10, 2014 / SCO News
Center for Family Life's 9th Annual Mary Geraldine Symposium took place on June 10. The topic of this year's event was Building Community Alliances for Food Justice, focusing our discussion on issues related to equitable access to healthy food in low-income urban communities. The event began with an inspiring keynote address by Karen Washington, urban farmer and social justice activist, who has been a tireless advocate for food justice in her Bronx community. Later, a panel discussion featuring Patrick Curtin from Food Bank for NYC, Kady Ferguson from the Brooklyn Food Coalition, Anna Hammond, from the Sylvia Center, Paula Lukats from Just Food, and John Kixmiller, 64th Street Community Garden Coordinator and former CFL Beacon program director.
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