SCO News
CFL’s “Life Lines” Visual Arts Troupe “Capturing Memories” in New Mural
August 27, 2014 / Independent Youth News
Center for Family Life's “Life Lines” Visual Arts Troupe had the opportunity to present a piece of artwork at the Dedalus Foundation Gallery in Sunset Park’s Industry City on August 14th. High school students worked collaboratively to research ideas, draft images and ultimately create the 8' x 4' canvas mural, which depicts a family looking out over Sunset from the vantage point of the park. The mural, titled “Capturing Memories,” depicts students, their families and images along the horizon, representing the Sunset Park community. “The park symbolizes family, togetherness and memories,” said Stephanie Yu, one of the students. “Sunset Park is a tight-knit community and the mural was created to represent that closeness.”
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 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 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 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 MoreTwo teens served by SCO earn top honors at 16th Annual Awards for Youth in Foster Care
June 9, 2014 / Independent Youth News
Christopher Sanchez and Domonique Wheeler, two teens in foster care living in SCO group homes, were among the 15 young people honored at the 16th Annual essay Awards for Youth in Foster Care, presented by Youth Communication and Represent: The Voice of Youth in Care magazine. Christopher Sanchez, 19, was the Grand Prize winner and won a $1,000 scholarship for his essay titled “Turning My Life Around.” Domonique Wheeler, 20, earned Special First Prize honors and a $700 scholarship check for her essay, “For His Own Good.”
Read MoreGoogle it!
June 1, 2014 / Independent Youth News
In a specially arranged visit to Google’s NYC headquarters, Madonna Heights students had the chance to learn about branding, technology and innovation. The young women participated in interactive workshops with Google staffers and ate lunch with Google executives and engineers. Next stop, Silicon Valley!
Read MoreSCO Family of Services awards 2014 Pat Brown Scholarship to Lataysha Moore
May 16, 2014 / Independent Youth News
In her last year of high school, Bushwick senior Lataysha Moore excelled, despite having to cope with a lot more than the usual hurdles involved in graduating and getting into college. In recognition of her achievements, Lataysha was awarded the Pat Brown Scholarship at SCO’s Fashion Show benefit on May 7th. The annual scholarship is given to a young person in an SCO program who has overcome obstacles to achieve academic success.
Read MoreCFL’s “Life Lines” Community Arts Project presents DREAMS
May 14, 2014 / Independent Youth News
“Life Lines” Community Arts Project was proud to present this year's original production, "DREAMS" during the week of May 12 – May 16, 2014, with six performances at Sunset Park High School. Our cast of 150+ participants includes students from Sunset Park High School, MS 821, MS 136, as well as from other Brooklyn middle and high schools. “DREAMS” provides a glimpse into the lives of 16 teenagers and parents as they follow their hearts and explore their innermost hopes, despite the obstacles standing in their way.
Read More2014 Family Dynamics Art Auction A Great Success
May 2, 2014 / Independent Youth News
The 4th Annual SCO Family Dynamics Art Auction was a huge success! Thanks to our wonderful supporters and all the artists who donated their work, last night's benefit raised a record amount and will help us to expand after-school arts programming in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick and Brownsville. Thanks, everyone!
Read MoreWSJ Donor of the Day: Alexandra Alger Boosts Arts in Family Dynamics Program
April 28, 2014 / Independent Youth News
The Wall Street Journal By MELANIE GRAYCE WEST April 27, 2014 9:31 p.m. ET Everything good about an arts education for children—fueling personal expression, improving cognitive development and having fun—is what Alexandra Alger wanted for her own children. Turns out, she also wanted it for children living just a few miles from her in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. About six years ago, a friend encouraged Ms. Alger to check out the after-school programming provided by Family Dynamics, an initiative of the SCO Family of Services, a Brooklyn-based organization that provides a variety of social and occupational services to help some of Brooklyn's neediest people.
Read MoreSCO Family of Services Celebrates National Volunteer Week
April 11, 2014 / Independent Youth News
SCO Family of Services, one of New York City and Long Island’s leading nonprofit human service agencies, is celebrating National Volunteer Week (April 6 to April 12, 2014) by recognizing our outstanding volunteers.
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