Greetings!
This is a special edition. It's about some terrific people who have improved the lives of many Staten Islanders over the last forty years. We hope you'll take a minute to read about them.
And, our Headlines this month will thrill our evaluators as they do us. They are filled with wonderful student outcomes -- year-end performances, awards, and recognition.
- Editor
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Planting Seeds that Define the Future
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Board members bring with them the seeds that grow into new
programs, strong vision, and the values that define the future of an
organization. In this issue, we honor eleven people who contributed their time and
talents to shape not only who we are, but who we are becoming.
Our Wise Men
First, our founding members, Sam Panepinto, Ralph DeMayo,
and Bill Orlando. We call them our three wise men. In 1968, they were part of a
small group of people who responded to a call from Bishop Sabatini. Too many
young people were lost, drifting into drugs, lacking direction. They needed a
safe place and they needed adults they could talk with. The Rap Center
opened on New Dorp Lane
and from that time, until 2007, these three wise men provided guidance, opened
doors, and gave of themselves.
 From Sam Panepinto, we have learned determination. He has
taught us that with determination we can overcome all obstacles. With
determination, every challenge becomes an opportunity.
 From Ralph DeMayo, we learned to be joyful; to listen to the
music in the universe, and bring forth the music in our souls. Whether it's our
after school program, a staff meeting, or a fundraising event, we remember Ralph's charm and find the
music and the joy.
 From Bill Orlando we have learned generosity and
respect. His even hand and quiet support
have been a mainstay for us throughout our history. His broad ranging interests,
career as a corporate finance guy, and wicked sense of humor always lend
perspective and relief when times get tense.
The Lawyers
When the NY Center initiated Staten Island's CDRC in 1982, mediation
was a dirty word among many of the lawyers on the Island.
We would not have survived, let alone flourished without the guidance and
support from our lawyer-board members.
 Barbara Panepinto, at her father-in-law's urging, became a
board member long before anyone saw a judgeship in her future. Her sage advice
over the years helped us gage when and how to introduce new mediation services
and how to assure the legal community of our partnership.
 Tony Giacobbe, Junior, supported the growth of our CDRC,
first from his position in the DA's office and later, as a board member,
despite long hours spent building his corporate practice. Even when he couldn't
make a board meeting, he reviewed every document and called with his questions
and comments.
Through their guidance, over 3500 people each year have the
opportunity to resolve their disputes themselves, outside of the courtroom.
They find resolutions that serve their needs far better than a judge's dictates while saving the court system hundreds of thousands of dollars in time and
energy.
The Mediators
Three people came to us first as community mediators, Elaine Gregorio, Diane
DiResta, and Loulou Saleem. And, while they each contributed hours of service
in our Community Dispute Resolution
Center, they also helped
us envision ways to bring the principles and spirit of mediation into other
spheres.
 Elaine Gregorio helped us forge our relationship with the NY
City Department of Education. Her advice and counsel has served us well as we
learned the politics and pitfalls of working within the school system, and her
calm "guidance counselor" demeanor always helped the board navigate through the
rough spots as we grew.
Today, thanks to Elaine and current board member, Verna
Lauria, the DOE is one of our strongest partners. Together we provide
alternative schooling that incorporates youth development and work readiness for over 400 high-risk students. And, the parents of over a
thousand Staten Island children know their
kids are safe in our creative after-school programs.
 Diane DiResta has been instrumental in helping us build our
Training Institute. As a successful trainer, author, and business owner, she
has patiently guided us as we have slowly but steadily learned how to market
our training and build a source of revenue that complements our mission. Today,
our Training Institute is well positioned to extend our professional
development services in mediation, youth development, and conflict resolution to
other businesses and organizations.
 And, Loulou Saleem brought us entrée into the rich cultural
diversity of our community. Whether mediating or fundraising, she helped us raise
our consciousness around cultural issues, which led to the Mosaic Coalition and
Celebrate Diversity! Today, we celebrate diversity throughout the year in all
of our programs as our children teach each other their traditions, music and
stories that make each of us unique.
 Larry Beslow trained as a mediator, too, but it was the
Community Change for Youth Development project in Stapleton and Park Hill and his
role as chair of the CCYD advisory committee that planted the seeds for our
success working with high-risk adolescents. Through that project, under Larry's
leadership, we learned to integrate the critical components of successful youth
development into our staff training and programs. Those principles are the
foundation for all of our work with children and youth today.
The Fixer
 Every organization needs that board member who can work
behind the scenes to maneuver through the quagmire of politics and government.
Dr. Khalid has often been that board member for us. Today our close
relationship with the Probation Department and DA's office is in part due to
proximity - we share conference rooms and office space at 130 Stuyvesant
because of a few of those well timed calls.
Tapping Our Passion
 And, from Kathy Feola we have learned passion. Kathy has
taught us that passion is what moves us from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
She brings her passion to everything she does, and for us she has been an
extraordinary fundraiser and board member. She has asked the hard questions that
board members have to ask, challenged us to be the best, and set our standards
high.
Bearing Fruit for the Community
These eleven people planted many seeds over the last 40
years that are now bearing fruit for the Staten Island
and greater NY community. We honor them and thank them, not just for the NY
Center, but also for the thousands of Staten Islanders who benefit today and in
the future from their contributions.
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| June Headlines |
 Thanks for a great evening --
Annual Helping Us Grow Dinner & Auction a great success
The committee did a terrific job; the bidders fattened our coffers. The food was great and enthusiasm ran high. Thank you all.
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Congratulations to the second graders in the NY Center PS 13 after-school program! They won honorable mention in the Estuary Explorers Contest sponsored by South Street Seaport Museum
this spring. The contest goals were to nurture curiosity about the
natural world; to instill environmental stewardship; and to provide
participants the tools to communicate their lessons learned to a wider
audience.
Under the leadership of our staff member, Linda Gomez, at PS 13, the second graders created an Ecology Quilt.
The After-School Book Club students discussed what to study, gathered
information, wrote stories, and drew pictures. These became the basis
for their winning entry -- a quilt! Well done, kids.
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NY Center's after school program at PS 30 has been in the spotlight. The Readers Theater children, grades 3-5, performed monologues from award winning author and poet, Shel Silverstein's book, Where the Sidewalk Ends and Falling Up. The Dance Center participants, also grades 3 to 5, performed several dances of their own choreography, applying the skills they learned. Both performances were under the direction of NY Center staff person, Dana Guariglia. See the slide shows here.
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In the News: NY 1 and the Staten Island Advance
highlighted students in our after school program at Curtis. Students
have been making blankets for children who are seriously ill,
traumatized or otherwise in need through Project Linus. Led by two
wonderful students, Khaleda Akter and Jillian Christy, they began in January and have
made hundreds of blankets for the children. What a wonderful project!
The Staten Island Advance was there to take pictures as well so look
for that story in the paper.
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SPOTLIGHT SERIES - June 23rd, 6-8 pm. Inside every teenager is a young person just needing to be heard. Mediators will focus on the skills. challenges, and rewards of Teen/Parent mediation. For additional information, please contact Gary Carsel.
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| Yes, the NY Center is Hiring
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Do you know someone who'd like to work for the NY Center?
Program Associates
- part-time positions open working in elementary after school programs.
Candidates must have some college and experience with elementary aged
children. Salary $8-$10 per hour. Send cover letter/resume to Robert Busan
Administrative Assistant- part-time position open at Olympus Academy
in Brooklyn. Candidates must have some college
and experience with at-risk high school students. Salary $10-13 per hour.
Send cover letter and resume to Erin Neubauer-Keyes.
If you know someone interested in one of these positions, have them email their resume to Candace Gonzalez.
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Please help us expand our circle of friends. Use the "Forward email" link below to send this newsletter to someone you think would be interested. Your friend's address is protected. We don't keep it and won't use or sell it. |
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| ON MY MIND
Dom's Wanderings |
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Last week we honored eleven former board members, in appreciation for the gifts that each of them have given our community.
Nonprofit board members are an interesting breed. Who would choose to work so many hours for no pay? What kind of person would willingly sit through meetings discussing finances, fundraising, and long term planning when their friends are sipping margaritas at the local watering hole?
There's a nonprofit consultant, Hildy Gottlieb,who argues quite strenuously that 501(c)3 organizations should abandon the descriptor "nonprofit" and replace it with "community-benefit" because that is our central purpose, and our board members' primary concern.
Maybe you saw our Curtis after school participants in the news a few weeks ago. They have made hundreds of blankets for Project Linus (see Headlines below).
One of our priorities in all our youth programs, not just Curtis, is engaging kids in service learning -- helping young people identify community projects that have meaning for them and value to the community.
They learn they can take action and that their projects can make a difference. The McKee Leadership Club cleaned up the park across the street because they want a cleaner neighborhood.
I think of service learning as planting the seeds that grow into a rich pool of future volunteers, staff, and board members for community benefit organizations.
So, we hope you'll read about our former board members and our future board members.
Dom
PS - I want to acknowledge Lisa Hicks who is retiring after fifteen years as executive director of NYSDRA and a long career in mediation. She has made a great contribution to the field.
Thank you, Lisa, for all you have done. We wish you well as you begin your travels.
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Help Us
Strengthen
Our Community |
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| Our Calendar |
ACT Classes Helping separating or divorcing parents understand how to help their children cope with the changes. Saturday, June 1310 am - 4:30 pm or Wednesday mornings, July 15 & 22
10am -1:00pm
or
Tuesday evenings
August 11 & 18
5:30-8:30 Spotlight on MediationFocus on Teen/Parent Mediation
June 23rd 6-8pm YABC Graduation
June 25th
11 am
Olympus Academy Graduation
June 25th
5 pm
Visit our calendar for additional events and details |
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