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Strengthening Relationships, Building Community

October 2010

Greetings!

When Staten Island hits the news with yet another story about hate crimes or community bias, do you get upset? We do. After all, although we provide services in other boroughs, Staten Island is our home base. What can we do about it?

In this issue we share some of the thinking we've been doing and invite you to share your thoughts, too.

- Editor

In This Issue

Commissioner Mullgrav

I Am SI Campaign

How will we keep kids in school?

October 2010 Headlines

On My Mind - Dom's Wanderings

DYCD Commissioner Visits ACE

ACE participants and Cmr. Mullgrav

Read about Commissioner Mullgrav's visit to the NYCID ACE program here.

Have you joined the

I am SI Campaign?

Logo This summer, NYC Council Member Debi Rose initiated the "I Am Staten Island" campaign inspired by the spate of bias attacks that have taken place on Staten Island this year. The mission of "I Am Staten Island" is to promote the idea that residents of Staten Island must take responsibility for ensuring that the Island is a safe and welcoming borough for people of all backgrounds.

Community-based organizations, elected officials, the police department, faith-based organizations and concerned individuals are working on strategies to prevent more hate crimes from taking place on
the Island and to promote diversity and inclusion throughout the borough.

Several committees are focusing on specific areas of community life. The NY Center has hosted the Education Committee, which is working on ways to expand and improve anti-bias educational programs. You can "like" I am Staten Island" on Facebook to stay up to date with the news and offer your suggestions on the wall or directly on the IamSI.info website.

So, stand up and be counted. Become a member of the coalition. Volunteer some time and talent on a committee. Share your ideas. Make Staten Island a better place.

[On Facebook? Like the I am Staten Island page.]

How are we going to keep these kids in school?

Not James!

James missed more than 25 days of school last year and that fact is a good predictor that he'll drop out. Over half of the incoming freshman class at Port Richmond High School missed more than 25 days of school last year, some many more. Now is the time to intervene.

Thanks to funding from the United Way, James and about 109 other eligible freshmen have enrolled in Graduate, Prepare, and Succeed (GPS), NYCID's Attendance Improvement Dropout Prevention (A.I.D.P.) program.

How are we going to keep these kids in school? Read more here.

October 2010 Headlines

Mike O'Brien

Mike O'Brien joins the
NY Center Board

"Some people like to use the phrase "self made man." I don't. I did not achieve my goals by myself - I had numerous mentors, advisors, teachers, and supporters along the way. That's why I want to support NYCID - to help today's young adults achieve their goals." Read about Mike here.

Summer Camp!

Justin Sword's sister is jealous. His mother says Justin's sister, who attended a different summer camp, wants to spend next summer at the NYCID summer camp. Justin had just too much fun!

Over 50 kids spent a wonderful summer at our first summer camp incorporating programming built on The 7 Habits of Happy Kids. The camp took place at the Staten Island School of Civic Leadership (PS 861).

See some of the children here. Wouldn't you like to be a kid again and go to camp next summer with Justin and his sister?

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Mediation Settlement Day

October 7th kicks off Mediation Settlement Day throughout NYS. Read about it at NY Courts.gov

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Did you go to the Rap Center on
New Dorp Lane?

Okay, so you're not that old! How about your folks? We're looking for people to tell us their stories about hanging out at the Rap Center, which opened on New Dorp Lane in 1970. Contact Dom Brancato at 718-947-4020 or Amy Lavelle at 718-947-4121.

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Learn Divorce Mediation Skills

Training Scheduled - Nov. 3,4,5,8,9 Details here

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NYSDRA Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

NYS Dispute Resolution Association marks a quarter century of advancing the practice and profession of dispute resolution this year. NYCID staff will be participating in the celebration at NYSDRA's 25th Anniversary Conference: Rooted in Resolution from October 20-22, 2010.

This conference offers up to 4.5 CLE credits for workshops.
You can find the details on NYSDRA's website.

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Current NYCID Job Openings

Olympus Academy Leadership:
Program Director
Assistant Director

Find the details on Idealist.org

Please help us expand our circle of friends. Use the "Forward E-mail" 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.

Thank you for
helping to change lives

ON MY MIND

Dom's Wanderings

I've been hearing from you and other friends and colleagues around the country who have been reading about it. One of the staff received a message from a friend in London with a link to an article about Staten Island published there.

Everyone's talking about Staten Island, hotbed of hate crimes and community outrage. The press has covered Staten Islanders ranting at public meetings about immigrants, ethnic and religious groups, and gay couples ruining their neighborhoods. It's embarrassing.

More distressing than embarrassing, though, is the reality. Many Staten Islanders in targeted groups are afraid and know they are unwelcome, not by all, but by a vocal minority.

There have been more than 12 alleged hate crimes since April, most against Latinos. Community groups in South Beach have been verbally abusive in their opposition to projects sponsored by "damn Russians" and Muslims; they were successful in derailing the sale of a vacant convent to a Muslim group in June.

I commend Councilwoman Debi Rose and Council Speaker Christine Quinn for initiating the "I am Staten Island" Coalition and Campaign. NYCID joined the coalition and I encourage you to do the same.

Now, the Coalition and, here at NYCID, our staff and board are asking ourselves hard questions. We aren't looking for "feel good" solutions nor do we want band-aids. We're focusing on long term change.

We'd like you to be part of that conversation.

Some of the questions we're asking include:

How neutral can we be when our agency values include respect for all?
Does it mean we can't/shouldn't offer mediation for community disputes where bias is a factor?
Can respect for all include respect for people with bias?
What more can we do in our youth programs to encourage kids to think and talk about these issues?

These aren't new questions for us. And, we've tried a variety of strategies over the years. Nor do I believe that Staten Island is the only place struggling with these issues. But, the urgency has intensified. Community anger and polarization has been growing. It's time for us to move these questions to the forefront of agency thinking and planning.

I've set up a place for you to post your ideas and comments. I hope you'll take the time to have a conversation with me and the staff. We need all the help you can offer.