Kenny's Quilt

Kenny, Jake and Clara Berg are a family Sinergia has worked with to open a supervised, live-in residence for their son (we first introduced them to you in this April 2011 blog post). They attended the Art of Social Change workshop in Savannah, Georgia organized by Beth Mount, Tom Kohler, Connie and John O'Brien, Jack Pierpoint and Linda Kahn, among others who advocate very strongly for integrated communities.

Participants from many different states attended the opening of the story quilts made by Beth at the Jepson Center (Telfair Museum), and among them was a quilt she made for Kenny telling the story of his work at the farm and his new domicile. Many other activities such as art display, photographs and open farm market took place over the weekend, sharing with all of us the relationship between advocates and their proteges. 

Click here to watch the video

Sinergia’s Healthy Families Collaborative: A Team Approach to Service Delivery

“IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD”

Sinergia’s Healthy Families Collaborative has been moving towards a comprehensive team approach to assist parents with developmental disabilities, which involves bringing together many experts from a wide variety of areas. There is the Intake specialist, nurses, Family Support staff, Medicaid Service Coordination, home visitation by special educator and infant teacher, Program Coordinator and administrative staff. Parents with developmental disabilities need much support if they are to become the parents they hope to be and secure the myriad of services that will help them reach their goals. In this approach the nurses make an assessment of the medical needs, the educator and family support staff make home visits, and the entire team works in a person-centered manner to find individual solutions and services to help the consumer to become a more effective, nurturing parent as well as to meet their own individual needs. It really does take a village in the form of a very committed team to help parents with developmental disabilities to develop a circle of support and find the services they need.

Case in point is that of a 15 year old female with developmental disabilities and her infant. They reside with her mother, who found herself as their sole support system. As a result of the pregnancy, she dropped out of a special education high school. After various meetings and home visits, team members were able to convince her that it was important for her to return to the last school placement although she wished to attend a “regular” school.  Today is her first day of school and we are now helping her in the process of registering the infant in a NYC/DOE day care program in the neighborhood where they live. This will allow the grandmother to return to work or receive training to prepare her for alternative job opportunities. The team’s commitment and caring fostered a trusting relationship between its members and the family. This allowed for the development of a circle of services and supports that includes family members, the principal, the teacher, and the health and day care services in the neighborhood in which she lives. Without the trust, hard work and belief that this young mother could succeed, she would remain home without an education or the prospects of a better future for her and her daughter.  Her mother would be overwhelmed and frustrated without the time or outlets for her own betterment.

The team will continue to offer parent training and visits to the home to assist and monitor the infant’s and the mother’s progress as well as connect them to needed services. A beautiful handmade quilt made by parents hangs in one of Sinergia’s offices and on it is embroidered, “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child”.  This particular case is a living example of that axiom.

Spotlight on Sinergia's Up-Living Program

The UpLiving program is a subset of Sinergia's Day Habilitation program (DayHab). Technically it is called Supplemental Habilitation because it takes place mostly in the afternoon, in the hours after DayHab stops providing services. For admission to this program we canvassed 12 individuals with disabilities who were not enrolled in any type of day program, were not working a job and who had rarely ventured out into the community. We asked them what their interests were and how we might assist them in becoming more positively involved in those activities. We received responses such as getting a GED, becoming more involved in their church, enjoying more of the activities that NYC had to offer, becoming more computer literate, and getting healthier through exercise and diet. This program has had great success and we have seen individuals who rarely ventured out into the community increase their visibility tremendously and really increase their involvement in their stated interest.

Bonnie Gardner (above left, with Wilson in Governor's Island) is an UpLiving direct support professional who has been with the program since its inception in 2009. She has been part of the reason that we have seen so much success. Below she describes some of the participants she has worked with.

"Rowan Cahill (above) loves being in the Up-Living Program. His primary area of concentration is studying for his GED. He works very hard on this goal and it shows as he is improving at an impressive rate, particularly in the areas of reading and comprehension. Rowan is also becoming more adept at handling his finances online, learning the ins and outs of Facebook and navigating other forms of electronic communication. Rowan loves trains and collects them as a hobby. His breadth of knowledge in this area is rather impressive. Whether he is in the library learning about trains or visiting places like the Transit Museum, it is all very inspiring to Rowan. It is also Rowan's wish to start creating his own trains as a hobby in order to exhibit and sell in future Sinergia art shows. Rowan is also making terrific strides in the area of socialization and communication, showing more faith in many areas of his life."

"Frank (above) on the other hand, enjoys creating art on the computer and will work diligently on a piece for hours. He is a prolific artist and has created an impressive body of work. In addition, Frank sold many of his art pieces and is hoping to expand to t-shirt and coffee mug design. Frank also loves learning about other artists -- from urban street artists to old masters like Leonardo DaVinci, which he is adept at interpreting. Frank is flourishing in the area of socialization and communication as well. He thoroughly enjoys his forays out in the community, particularly if they are art related."

"Life is full of beginnings and endings" my mother once said. So it is with some sadness that Wilson Sanchez (above) has left the Up-Living Program. However, he successfully acheived one of his goals and has found employment. Congratulations Wilson, well done!"

"A special nod goes out to Anton McIntyre (above). Still relatively new to the Up-Living program, he is flourishing and doing great!"

See more photos in our Facebook Photo Album.

Job Opportunities for Teens in the New York Area

Are you (or someone you know) looking for something productive for your teenager to do this summer? If you need ideas to fill up their free time and keep them busy, here are a few places that are offering internships and/or training for young adults this summer:

The Bronx: YAIP (Young Adult Internship Program) a paid internship for three months that includes work readiness and support services to young adults 16-24.  For More Info Visit www.bronxworks.org

Brooklyn: OBT (Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow) Provides on-the-job training/apprenticeship for urban youth in two locations in Brooklyn.  For More Info Visit www.obtjobs.org

Manhattan: Year Up provides 6 months of training and a corporate apprenticeship for 18-24 with their High School/GED.  For More Info Visit: www.yearup.org

Queens: Elmcor Youth & Adults Activities, Inc. provides various vocational and educational services to young people.  For More Info Visit: www.elmcor.org or www.eec.sunyeoc.org

Staten Island/Manhattan: The Way to Work, Inc. provides extensive trainings, internships, and job placement services to young people 17-21.  For More Info Visit: www.thewaytoworknyc.org

For New York City-Wide (DYCD's) Programs that connect Urban Youth click on the links below:

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
A seven-week summer employment initiative open to young people between the ages of 14 and 24. Participants work up to 25 hours a week while earning $7.25 per hour in assignments that include government agencies, hospitals, summer camps, nonprofits, small businesses, and retailers. The application process begins April.

NYC Ladders for Leaders
An innovative program that offers high school and college students the opportunity to participate in summer internships with some of the most dynamic corporations and businesses in New York City.

Young Adult Internship Program
As part of Mayor Bloomberg's Commission for Economic Opportunity, DYCD is providing the most job-ready disconnected youth with short-term paid internships, job placements, and follow-up services.

In-School Youth (ISY) Program
Provides occupational skills, employment services, and educational opportunities to low-income high school juniors and seniors.

Out-of-School Youth (OSY) Program
Provides extensive job training and employment services to 16-21 year-olds who are not enrolled in school.

Day Hab Celebrates Women's History Month

To celebrate Women’s History Month, Sinergia's Day Hab Artists created a timeline of women through the ages that was installed along the hallway on the 3^rd floor.  It started with the year 1840, when women were denied the right to participate at an anti-slavery convention in England, and continued all the way to the present with a summary of this year’s White House report, “Women in America.”  The report found that while more women than men are getting college degrees, they still make only 75% of what their male counterparts earn. 

Each Day Hab participant had the opportunity to go on a guided tour of the timeline and discuss various key events.  Hot topics of discussion were the fight for women’s suffrage, which was finally granted in 1920 with the 19^th Amendment, and the struggle for women to be respected in their various fields, like Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to graduate from an American medical school with a physician’s license.  (She also opened the first medical college for women!)  The Art Appreciation group also had the chance to take a virtual tour of Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party, a tribute to various influential women, both real and mythical, throughout world history.  The Dinner Party is a permanent installation at the Brooklyn Museum.  Learn more about the exhibit at www.brooklynmuseum.org.

How do Homeless Families survive without the Advantage Program?

The Advantage Program is a housing subsidy program for homeless families which began in 2007 and is operated by the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS).  Families who go through the shelter system receive a voucher which pays a substantial part of their new rent, making it affordable for people to move to permanent housing (providing a home to house a family is less costly than utilizing the shelter system for the homeless).  This arrangement lasted for two years, during which families were expected to become stabilized, find work and begin paying their own full rent.

Unfortunately, after the two year period, about 51% of the families were unable to pay their unsubsidized rent and subsequently returned to the City’s shelter system.  Because of its high recidivism rate, the Advantage Program has come under attack and the State has proposed eliminating the program completely.  The City responded by ceasing the signing of leases for current shelter families effective March 14, 2011 and will stop rent payments to landlords effective April 1, 2011 (more info on elimination of services).  The termination of the Advantage program will affect New York City families and, in turn, some of the families with disabled children served by the Tier II program and Housing Assistance Program at Sinergia.  We are already feeling the effects, and this is only the tip of the iceberg.

One of our consumers, a mother, along with her non-verbal son with intellectual and developmental disabilities, were living in severely overcrowded conditions. The young boy's behavior in school was affected by this, as was his relationship with everyone in the household. While living under these conditions he regressed substantially and became withdrawn and depressed. The family moved into one of Sinergia’s Tier II apartment, which is meant to be transitional housing until families find permanent, affordable housing. Nevertheless, it provided space for the son to move freely, and he did not have to wait in line to use the bathroom and was able to sleep in his own bed.  His teacher noted his behavior and functional progress had improved remarkably. Once her son was stable, Sinergia helped the Mom to secure a job. She then met the requirements for the Advantage voucher, and she identified an affordable apartment that accepted it. Now this dream is on hold.

Another couple with three children, one with developmental disabilities, came to Sinergia’s Housing offices this week with a letter from DHS informing them that beginning April 1, 2011 they would no longer subsidize their $1,600 rent. The couple is devastated.  A year and a half ago they entered the shelter system and with the help of Sinergia were able to get an Advantage voucher and rent a three bedroom apartment.  The husband works, but doesn’t earn enough to pay the total rent.  They are concerned about returning to the shelter system; they remembered how much their kids suffered because of the conditions and instability of being homeless.

Both families are in limbo, overwhelmed by the lack of affordable housing in the city and what the impact of facing an unknown future will have on their children. We hope the City and the State will find alternatives to the Advantage program because low income families have few options for securing affordable housing in the marketplace. Otherwise we will see the return of families living on the streets or forced into inhumane homeless shelters. Children, especially those with disabilities, will suffer the most from the instability of a family adrift without a home.

UPDATE (3/31/11) - Legal Aid believes these terminations are unlawful and filed a lawsuit on behalf of tenants whose benefits were terminated.  As a result of this filing, the City was ordered to pay Advantage rents for current Advantage tenants for the month of April pending a hearing later this month. (We don’t know if the lawsuit will resolve anything, but we’re hopeful.)


Related resources:
Legal Aid’s flyers with additional information in English and Spanish, from the New Destiny Housing website. 
NYC: 15,000 Ex-homeless Families Losing Rent Help (WSJ)
Updates from the Coalition For the Homeless

New Workshop For Parents of Deaf-Blind Children

Sinergia's Metropolitan Parent Center (MPC) has entered into collaboration with the New York Deaf-Blind Collaborative (NYDBC) to provide a training space and information on education advocacy for a group of parents of children with Deaf-Blindness. The NYDBC is a federally funded project which provides technical assistance to improve services for children and youth who are deaf-blind (ages 0-21.) The NYDBC has a program called Parent Leadership Training that will teach parent skills to prepare them to be advocates for their children, learn about their rights and how to access/obtain services and resources in their own communities. The MPC has provided the Nivia Zavala Conference Center to the NYDBC so that they can conduct their Parent Leadership Program. The first session took place the weekend of January 22 & 23. Nine parents participated, including three married couples. There will be other weekend sessions taking place in March (for Spanish-speaking parents) and in April. In addition to providing a training space, the MPC will be offering presentations on education advocacy for parents which focus on how parents can be effective advocates for their children and for other families and become empowered in the process.

2010 in Review - Sinergia's Department & Program Highlights

Metropolitan Parent Center (MPC)
Families and parents make our work possible, and as we look back at 2010 we would like to say thank you to the many families who contacted the MPC for information or assistance - your child is our first priority. To the 1,739 parents and professionals who attended our 48 workshops and trainings, we trust that your time was well spent and we provided you with valuable information, tools and strategies along with opportunities to connect and network. To the 35,978 individual parent and professional contacts through calls, letters, e-mails and meetings, we strived to work hard on your behalf. To the parents that attended the 26 parent support group sessions throughout the year, we are so thankful that through the generosity of the Brick Presbyterian Church and skills of William Bird Forteza our facilitator, you were able to share and learn from one another. Thank you to everyone who visited our website in 2010. We hope you will visit our re-designed webpage to be completed in January and which will be made easier for you to find information, and is a one-stop venue for special education and general education information and resources. For the 8,067 parents and professionals who received our newsletter, we thank you for staying informed monthly. To the parent volunteers, your assistance was invaluable and we appreciate the giving of your valuable time. To the 989 infants, children and youth with the full range of disabilities we served in 2010, we will continue to support you as needed. To those families and professionals who find their way to us in 2011, we look forward to providing you with quality service as a Center of Excellence For Latino Family Engagement.

Autism Initiative
Sinergia’s Autism Initiative Program has continued to grow in 2010 and is currently serving almost 300 families of children with autism spectrum disorders, the majority of which are Latino and Spanish-speaking families. The Autism Initiative Program has also developed collaborations with a number of organizations and individuals that have provided our families and parents with productive and effective tools in the areas of resources and workshops. These individuals and organizations include scientists and researchers, art educators, school administrators, therapists and a chef/nutritionist. There were nine workshops conducted in 2010 that offered information on areas including sensory integration therapy, dietary interventions and alternatives, siblings of children with autism issues and transforming everyday activities into learning activities. The Autism Initiative Program also featured monthly events called “Breakfast Encounters” where parents share their stories, challenges and successes regarding raising children with autism spectrum disorders.

Medicaid Service Coordination (MSC)
During the past year the MSC program experienced a major restructuring due to the financial crisis. Nevertheless during this time the program provided 2841 units  of service to 327 individuals with intellectual disabilities in the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. The ten MSC staff members helped individuals to meet their goals and desires, to find and keep a home, we linked them to search for jobs, participate in recreational activities, build a circle of friends and to gain access to medical, clinical, and entitlement programs such as Social Security, food stamps. We also assisted families in the guardianship process and in securing other needed services. The MSC staff attended numerous mandated trainings provided through OPWDD and Sinergia, to ensure that disabled individuals as well as their families were able to secure the services and supports they needed. Through these efforts a staff member was able to find a work program for a consumer who had stayed at home the previous six years without engaging in daily activities. Also the program arranged for summer camps for some individuals who had never had a camp experience. Despite having to adapt to new regulations, larger case loads, restructuring (which allows for less time to visit), accompanying and advocating for individuals, the MSC Department continues to engage with and assist individuals with intellectual disabilities to make progress that will lead to more enriched, independent lives.

Residential Services
From January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010 the Residential Services Program provided over 60 individuals with developmental disabilities with residential services in 38 residential opportunities. These ranged from supervised and supported certified individualized residential alternatives to less restrictive individualized support services in the community. In addition to the residences, Sinergia provided 78,097 hours of direct service to help individuals enhance their daily living skills, ensure their health and safety , oversaw their nutritional needs, budgeting, medication administration, and promoted their independence and integration into the community. Pursuant to our goals of promoting greater independence and increasing the quality of life of individuals, several relocations were made during the year which provided for persons to have their own bedrooms and to move to better, newly built residences. The staff of approximately 65 employees in this department constantly attends development sessions so that they can meet regulatory demands and most importantly so they can meet the individual needs of the residents and enhance their quality of life in community settings.

Day Habilitation Services
In Sinergia’s Day Habilitation Program, consistency is an important foundation for progress. While changes in scheduling can be disruptive to the program, the participants demonstrated how well they could adapt to a very big change in February 2010. On Monday, February 1st, Day Habilitation began its program at 2082 Lexington Avenue, on 126th street. After much anticipation and fanfare, Sinergia’s brand new building was ready. That day and the several weeks since then, the members have shown that they don’t adapt to new surroundings by trial and error, but by trial and victory! They quickly learned new transportation routes and braved new bus rides home. When the new elevator was being repaired, they climbed the stairs or took the alternate elevator. It’s as though every participant was determined to make 2082 Lexington a new home. While the neighborhood in Harlem is very different than it was at 29th Street, the participants have embraced change and used it as a springboard for adventure. Day Hab. Groups have volunteered at the Carver Garden on East 124th St., growing fresh vegetables and learning how to prepare them. They’ve visited the library, shopped at the Brand New Mall on 116th St. with Manhattan’s first Target, walked to Yankee Stadium, gone swimming at the local public pools, and played basketball and football games at the park on 130th St. The new location hasn’t been an impediment to continuing past activities like Encore Meals on Wheels or exercising at the YMCA and Riverside Park. Life at Lexington Ave. has continued as usual with fun activities and adventurous new excursions. Some participants volunteered at the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition Shelter, walking homeless dogs and caring for lonely cats. In July, some participants went “Walking with the Dinosaurs” at Madison Square Garden. They visited exciting places like Rye Play land, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and Coney Island, also had fun closer to home, barbecuing in a local park and picnicking in the garden. The new spacious conference room on the fourth floor was the perfect place for the first Volunteer Award Ceremony and Spring Art Exhibit, as well as the annual Thanksgiving Lunch on November 24th. Day Hab also observed Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month with informational celebrations, premiered their first Photography Exhibit, and had a costume party for Halloween. The participants are now looking forward to holiday celebrations in December and the Dinner Dance in January. With the coming of the New Year, Day Hab will continue taking on new challenges and adventures in stride. It’s what they do!

Family Care
    Family Care is a program in which individuals, including children with developmental disabilities are placed in the care of families in homes within the community. The services are supplemented by a team composed of a Family Care coordinator, Family Care Provider(s), Medicaid Service Coordinators and a nursing team which provides medical care and intervention to consumers in the program. The program currently serves 10 children and adults. Currently there are two prospective consumers that are in the process of being admitted into the program. Out of the ten consumers in the program, only five of them have parents, relatives or legal guardians who are very involved in their care and well being. These family members have expressed great satisfaction with the care that their family members are receiving from the family care providers. Family care providers are unsung heroes; some have opened their homes to individuals since their infancy and have amassed 20 years as providers. The dedication of these families is extraordinary and Sinergia gratefully acknowledges their contribution to the lives of individuals in the Family Care Program. Our annual Family Care luncheon on July 29, 2010 was a testament and expression of gratitude to the five providers and two respite providers for all the care and nurturance they provide throughout the year in their homes and community.

Family Support (FS)
The Family Support Case Management programs “Direction Services and East Harlem Service Coordination” served 139 families and provided over 3556 hours of case management in 2010. Medicaid isn’t required for FS programs, therefore we are able to serve families that do not have Medicaid and would otherwise remain unserved. During this year we were able to obtain medical, clinical, entitlements, special education, recreational and OPWDD services for the individuals served by the program. One family in desperate straits with a physically handicapped mother who had suffered an amputation with a severely disabled child was able to receive emergency services, respite and OPWDD housing after they were evicted from their home. Another family was assisted with funds to pay rent arrears in order to forestall an eviction.  We also referred families for reimbursement for clothing, furniture and other necessities. Most recently we assisted families that don’t qualify for Medicaid because of their income with the Medicaid Waiver enrollment. This enables the family to get prescriptions and medical services not covered by their health insurance as well as OPWDD waiver services. After more than 25 years this program still remains a lifeline for families with children or family members with developmental disabilities. Family Support Services are indispensable for families that need help and struggle to maintain their children and adult family members with disabilities in their own homes.

Family Reimbursement
Sinergia’s Family reimbursement Program is a Family Support Service funded by the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and serves families in the Bronx and Brooklyn who have a person with developmental disabilities living at home. The program offers reimbursement funds for the purchase of goods, services and necessities to help the member with disabilities to stay living in the home. In 2010 Sinergia awarded a total of $27,000 in reimbursement funds to 69 families which covered respite care, camp and recreational opportunities, medication, equipment, needed furniture, music therapy. This is a fund of last resort and due to limitations in funding, priority is given to emergencies and to families with very restrictive incomes.

Educational Advocacy
The family support educational advocacy is a program funded by the New York State Office of People with Developmental Disabilities for families living in Manhattan who have children with developmental disabilities. In 2010 we were tremendously satisfied to have been able to help 25 families and provided over 600 hours of intense advocacy to help parents of children with disabilities obtain a great deal of information and guidance so that their children could receive appropriate educational services. Sinergia’s educational advocate was able to assist parents with issues related to school transfers, behavior problems, busing issues, obtaining paraprofessionals, related services such as occupational, physical, and speech therapies, transition, placement, evaluations and other problems that parents resented. During 2010 we worked closely with parents to determine the suitability of their children’s educational programs. The main goal of this program is to ensure that services provided by the NYC Department of Education to children with disabilities are developed in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and are individualized and reflective of their academic, social and vocational growth. We believe that all children can learn and we promote parental involvement, which is crucial to the progress and achievement of their children with disabilities. We thank those families who contacted Sinergia and became part of our family in 2010 and who allowed us to assist them.

We Are Parents Too
This unique program serves parents with developmental disabilities. It offered 34 workshops throughout the year which covered a range of topics from nutrition, domestic violence, infant development, discipline vs. punishment, child custody issues, etc. The total units of service provided for the year totaled 1,397 to 92 parents. Seventeen parents participated in the recently formed parent support group. This program works to sustain families that are headed by parents with developmental disabilities. We also collaborate with the courts, ACS and legal aid lawyers in helping families with reunification of their children. A recent highlight was our collaboration with the Healthy Families Program of the University Settlement Society of NY.

Home Care
We are so pleased that Home Care Services were once again restored this year. This program has helped 9 families within the past several months and 4 more will start to receive home care services in January that will help them to care for their disabled family member.

Community Habilitation
The At Home Residential Habilitation program (AHRH) was renamed in November of 2010 by OPWDD and is now known as Community Habilitation. Community Habilitation is designed to offer service intervention to people with disabilities either in their homes or out in the community. The program assists consumers with everything from budgeting to healthy meal preparation to guidance with keeping a clean home. The program also underwent some regulatory changes that will make it easier to implement, and the services can now also start in the community as well as the home. This will be helpful on those occasions in which the consumer needs to partake in an activity like shopping or would like to attend a recreational event. At the beginning of the year there were only three consumers who were enrolled in AHRH and they were receiving about 44 hours per week of services. During the year four more persons with disabilities have begun receiving this service and Community Habilitation now provides nearly 95 hours a week of service. We anticipate further growth since this service helps consumers remain in their own homes and in their communities.

Housing Assistance Programs
During 2010 the Housing Department served over 200 families who were facing impending evictions, inadequate and overcrowded housing conditions, needed home repairs and access to available housing opportunities, including information about housing lotteries and low income housing. In addition to our housing assistance services the department held nine housing related workshops through the funding from Department of Housing and Community Renewal. The speakers included personnel from NYC Housing Authority, Human Resources Administration, Housing Preservation and Development, the Downstate Office of Housing Initiatives of OPWDD. Speakers helped empower individuals and families as to their rights and possible entitlements they may be eligible to receive. We are very grateful to OPWD and DHCR for their continued funding of this program, especially in this economic downturn when individuals and families are trying to maintain housing and avoid homelessness.

Overnight Respite Program
Sinergia’s Respite Program has served 22 individuals with developmental disabilities with overnight respite services from January 1-December 21, 2010. We provided 2,464 hours of service to 15 males and 7 females ranging in age from 14-42. The length of stay ranged from overnight to 12 days duration. All the guests enjoyed their stay at the respite apartment and their parents expressed their interest in future stays throughout the year. It is an important service for parents who need to take a break from caring for their children. We have received their phone calls expressing appreciation for the care of their loved ones, especially in cases of dire emergencies or hospitalization of parents. Our Respite Program is equipped with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms ensuring privacy and personal space for our guests. During the spring and summer they enjoyed trips to the pool, they attended street fairs, block parties, movie theaters and picnics in the park accompanied by our staff. In colder weather they enjoyed daily walks in the neighborhood, playing board games, coloring with the staff or watching T.V.

Tier II Program
During 2010 Sinergia served five families in our Tier II Program funded through the NYC Department of Homeless Services. As of July 1, 2010 three families with five children moved into our newly renovated and relocated Shelter apartments. Sinergia’s Tier II Program provides temporary shelter, while the families are required to secure permanent housing with the assistance of the Coordinator of the Tier II Program. The homeless housing system is stressful and requires that the head of the household search for adequate and affordable housing. The staff of Sinergia lends support, links families to services and provides relief to the parents so that they can care for their children with special needs as well as meet the mandates of the shelter system. The families have expressed gratitude for Sinergia’s assistance and are all looking forward to moving into their own permanent homes in the near future. Our Tier II Program attempts the utmost to help families who are homeless and have children with disabilities to regain stability and secure affordable and safe housing and support services.

Technology
In the past year much has been going on in Sinergia’s digital world.  It takes quite a bit of resources to keep our computers, phones, copiers, fax machines, televisions, projectors, laptops, simultaneous interpretation equipment etc., running smoothly and the following acquisitions and services helped Sinergia keep pace with the Technology:

1. New Front Line Firewall
2. 10 new computers for use in Day Hab and other programs.
3. New printers
4. Top of the line software (Norton Antivirus, Microsoft Office 2010, Norton Ghost)
5. Over 1000 submitted IT requests
6. 2 new flip video recorders
7. Started to replace computers that are 5 to 6 years old.
8. We also purchased new transmitters and microphone headsets which are part of the simultaneous interpretation equipment used for workshops and other events that need translation.

Advances in Information Technology, both positive and negative, occur daily, and keeping pace with them is a job that requires much attention. A single malevolent virus can spell disaster for the agency and it takes a lot of vigilant work to keep such things at bay. Sinergia has more than 80 workstations between the main office and out in the community and close to 100 people who use these stations for research, communication, data collection, entertainment, investigating community events and the like. Additionally, the maintenance of the machines and other elements that manage the display, printing, copying, scanning and electronic storage of documents and data concerning the hundreds of people that we serve is also very intensive and requires daily monitoring.

A very special note of appreciation to all the staff at Sinergia that worked tirelessly through 2010. Your dedication and hard work made all these achievements possible. Your service to several thousand individuals with disabilities and families helped them to survive with dignity and resilience and for some to even thrive in these difficult economic times.

Sinergia: A Look Back at 2010's Accomplishments

2010 was a year full of change for Sinergia, and before we fully embark into the New Year and start tackling all the challenges it is sure to bring, we’d like to pause for a moment and take stock of some of our accomplishments in the last 12 months. January started out with a flutter of activity because, after much planning and preparation, in early February we finally carried out a major relocation to East Harlem, taking over two floors at 2082 Lexington Avenue. Our sparkling new offices are situated in the heart of a community that is very near and dear to us, and one that is home to a large number of the individuals with disabilities and families we serve. Our new location in El Barrio affords us with better opportunities to connect children and adults with disabilities and their families to community supports. Here we are also well poised to contribute to the capacity building that is bringing many organizations back to East Harlem, including the Hunter College School of Social Work of the City University of New York, the Manhattan Neighborhood Network, the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute and the Aprendes Foundation, which is planning on opening a Charter High School in the area. We have active collaborations with all of them and expect to expand that in the future.

In April we hosted a ribbon cutting event which opened our offices to the public and included a ceremony acknowledging the contributions of five pioneer Latino women leaders. Later on, during the summer, we immersed ourselves in the Promise Neighborhood movement to bring wraparound services to at risk children with the aim of reducing the achievement gap of students and which calls for solutions to strengthen the East Harlem community that they call home. More than a dozen organizations collaborated with us in this major effort. Unfortunately Sinergia’s was not one of the winning submissions, but our hope is to leverage the connections we initiated to help lift educational barriers in El Barrio. A follow-up community educational forum was held in November to engage parents, educators and key stakeholders in finding solutions to the problems that are besetting Latino youth, who are at the bottom of education and employment indicators. We hope this will be the first of further ongoing discussions.

Sadly with July came news of the sudden passing of our wonderful leader, Dr. Sally Romero (left), who was President of the Board of Directors for the past five years. Her experience and knowledge in the fields of education and social services were a true asset. We will remember Sally with a great deal of affection and extend our gratitude to her family for sharing her with us. Dr. Len Torres took over the helm of the governance structure of Sinergia upon her untimely death, and in September at our annual meeting, three very accomplished new members were added to the board of directors. We presently have fourteen members on our board and are extremely thankful for all they do to advance our mission.

Our collaborations with the PACER Center’s National Family Advocacy Support and Training Program led Sinergia to pilot four of the program curriculums for parents and translate them into Spanish. The sessions were conducted bilingually at the height of one of the worst snow storms of the year in February and despite that were extremely well attended. This past month we also partnered with the Healthy Families University Settlement Society of NY on a proposed project to help improve the outcomes for parents with intellectual disabilities and their infants, toddlers and young children. We are especially pleased about our relationship building with the Association to Benefit Children.

On the technology front, Sinergia was selected as one of eight Parent Training and Education Centers and Community Parent and Resource Centers to be part of the Technology Leadership Initiative funded by the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education (OSEP). This initiative will increase our technology building capacity to serve people with disabilities and their families. We are also making full use of the social networks by disseminating valuable information through an active Facebook page and a blog as well as a monthly eNewsletter which is also translated into Spanish and reproduced in hard copy for those families without computers. And through the generosity of IBM and the PACER Center, Sinergia received 10 Young Explorer Computers (pictured) and software which were distributed to seven early childhood centers in the area.

Our new space has been graced with two beautiful art exhibitions this year: one by noted Puerto Rican artist, Samuel Lind, and the current one by East Harlem artist Clemente Flores (right). We are very grateful to these two accomplished painters for their generosity and willingness to share their visions of Island and El Barrio life with us.

Myrta Cuadra-Lash, Sinergia’s executive director, has been asked to speak on several occasions, including at a forum on culturally competent programs sponsored by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at Fordham University, and at the NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities - Women of Excellence event. In addition she was interviewed in July by the Harlem World radio program on Sinergia’s Promise Neighborhood submission.

This year we bid a fond farewell to OPWDD Commissioner Diana Ritter Jones, Assoc. Comm. Kathy Broderick and Dr. Hugh Tarpley, Director of Metro DDSO, and our own Rocio Mendez, an Intake Specialist who is pursuing her acting career with the NJ Shakespeare Theatre. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.


Last but not least, our recap of 2010 wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some of our fun activities, and our annual summer family picnic in Central Park was a lively example of that, with over 250 children and parents attending. Then in December Sinergia held its annual Christmas celebration at Lincoln Center’s Julliard School -- now in its 25th year! The Department of Sanitation of the City of NY (Unit M7, below right) has been our ongoing sponsor, and they helped make this the best one yet. The large space was filled to capacity and overflowing with the joy of children playing, singing and anticipating Santa’s arrival. All the happiness and laughter in the room rejuvenated our commitment to our mission: that of helping children, adults and families to realize meaningful, fully inclusive lives. Sinergia wishes to thank all our funders, particularly the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Ed Programs (OSEP) as well as all our friends, families and staff for their unwavering support.

Spotlight on the We Are Parents Too Program

Parents with developmental disabilities are frequently considered unable to provide adequately for their children, and as a result the youngsters then end up being placed in the foster care system. According to Through the Looking Glass (TLG), a disability nonprofit agency in Berkeley, California, the out-of-home placement rate in foster care for children of parents with intellectual disabilities is 25 to 60%.

In the 1980’s Sinergia pioneered a parent training and education program for parents with developmental disabilities.  It was prompted by our experiences providing community housing and supports for families headed by persons with developmental disabilities who lived with their infants and young children.  The premise was that intensive services, supports and parent training were needed in order to help the mothers and fathers become effective parents and keep their families together. This was the beginning of the “We Are Parents Too” program.   We are very appreciative that through these many years the NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities has supported and funded this program which has helped countless families that traditionally have been invisible and underserved.

The program continues to train and help parents to preserve their families by offering a 10 week series of workshops which focus on appropriate discipline, custody issues, nutrition, domestic violence and housing topics (the pictures in this article were taken during a graduation ceremony for this course). In addition to the informational workshops, the program coordinator also conducts supervised visits with the parent and child, and assists in the reunification process. The parent coaching we offer is unique to Sinergia.

The “We Are Parents Too” has also formalized a parent support group for parents with developmental disabilities. This support group is especially important for the participants who have lost custody of their children, since the separation can often be traumatic, confusing and distressing. The support group helps parents to become self-advocates, gain insight into their own behavior and establish a network. Studies report that 90% of parents with disabilities are socially isolated.  Through the support group parents have an opportunity to meet others that are going through similar experiences.  Parents with developmental disabilities, especially those from low socio economic groups, often feel discriminated and judged when assumptions are made about their parenting abilities. A specially designed peer support group brings hope, increases socialization skills and the sharing of information, resources and advocacy strategies.

Isabel Malavet (pictured left in the background), the coordinator of the program, is a tireless advocate on behalf of participating parents and works with the Agency for Children’s Services, Family Court, the Community Partnership Program in East Harlem and the Parent Advocates for the Child Welfare Organizing Project. For more information contact 212-643-2840.

Sinergia's Quilting Tradition Continues

 
Sinergia has developed a tradition of quilt making by parents who have participated in various programs throughout the years.  The first quilt, pictured above, was made in 1997 by parent groups that assisted in the formation of advocacy groups of parents with children with disabilities in the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. A parent, Cynthia Wallace, took the lead in the design and sewing of the quilt. There are 48 patches surrounding a large square denoting the theme, “It Takes A Village”. The parents embroidered poems, messages in Spanish and English, paintings of flowers, the sun, shooting stars, houses, names of their children and parent groups. A poet, Jean Wood, also inscribed one of her poems, From A Sermon, which reflects on the importance of each one of us and how we are interwoven and inextricably linked with each other. Each patch in this original quilt became a shared message of love for one’s children, home and family and the enveloping circle of community. The quilt is displayed  at the Christine Cuadra Conference Room on the 4th floor of Sinergia.

The second quilt (immediately above and below) was started a decade after and was created by  fifteen parents with developmental disabilities who participated in the “We Are Parents Too” program, as well as others attending the Day Habilitation and Residential Programs. Under the guidance of Maria Torres Bird, a staff member who is a quilter, the parents created a colorful quilt that focused on parenthood. The project gave parents an artistic and creative expression, allowing them to relive loving memories with stories and pictures, regardless of whether they have custody of their child(ren) or not.  This has been especially important for those parents who have lost custody since it is an acknowledgment of their parenthood and their hopes of one day achieving reunification. After completion the participating parents will decide where it will be displayed.

We hope that the quilting tradition at Sinergia will continue for many decades to come since it is a visual representation of stories of families, love and community.

You might also want to read our post last year: "We Are Parents Too" quilt project.

Day Hab Program Participates in Pet Support

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Day Hab Volunteers for Pet Support

Over the summer, art specialist Erin McSorley along with some of our Day Hab participants (pictured above: Maritza C., Terri B., and Edith C.) volunteered to care for animals at the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC Shelter). We had a lot of fun walking the dogs and meeting the cats who are all waiting for loving homes. They even have a chicken! Volunteering at BARC was a great opportunity for us to learn how to care for, socialize with and give affection to animals, since many program participants do not have pets in their own homes. Though it was sad to leave them, we will not forget the new friends we made. BARC is a 501c3 not-for-profit, no-kill, privately run animal shelter located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. To get more information about donating, volunteering, or adopting a pet visit www.barcshelter.org.

Spotlight on Sinergia's Day Hab Program

Sinergia's Day Habilitation Program is a five-day-a-week program that develops social, recreational and vocational skills of adults with developmental disabilities. While the program is headquartered out of Sinergia's new main office at 2082 Lexington Ave., many of our activities take place off site in the community. The 40+ individuals in the program range in age from 21 to 64, and we tailor the activities to suit their needs and desires. Monday through Friday you will find participants volunteering for "Meals on Wheels", gardening and harvesting vegetables at a local "pocket garden", bowling, visiting museums, photography, working on job skills, writing resumes, engaging in internships, working on computer skills, working out in our gym, visiting amusement parks, partaking in group discussions about current events, learning how to become better self-advocates, creating artwork and needlepoint, learning how to traverse the New York City public transit system and much more.  Some individuals take part in groups that work on job related skills that have helped them acquire and maintain actual jobs.

Twice a week in the mornings, the Day Habilitation participants offer light breakfast refreshments and coffee in the ever-popular "Café-Café" program. They walk through our offices taking orders and delivering breakfast sandwiches, fruit, juice and, of course, hot coffee. This provides an opportunity for them to increase their social skills and create friendships that go beyond the program itself.

Recently, one of the participants held a weekend party to celebrate his 25th birthday and many of his Day Hab friends attended. They arranged their own travel and purchased presents all by themselves. The family of the young man celebrating his birthday was very touched that so many of his peers could arrange to come on their own on a Saturday to join in the celebration.

For further information on Sinergia's Day Hab Program call Lore Barcelona at 212-643-2840 ext. 318.

Sinergia Delivers 10 Computers to Local Preschools

The IBM KidSmart Program is a joint initiative between the PACER Center and IBM that awards Young Explorer computers to preschools. As a partner, Sinergia identified 10 schools in New York City and delivered the kid-friendly PCs with all the software to the sites this past week.

"We received the unit, unpacked it, set it up and started using it the next day. The kids love it!" --Rita Brito, Child Center of New York

The following preschools received the Young Explorer computers:

• Association to Benefit Children, 419 E. 86th St., NY, NY 10028
• Echo Park Early Childhood Center, 1841 Park Ave. NY, NY 10035
• Bilingual Head Start, 440 East 116th Street NY, NY 10029
• The Child Center of NY, 60-02 Queens Blvd. Woodside NY 11377
• Escalera Head Start, 169 West 87th Street NY, NY 10024
• Falu Foundation, 333 East 118th Street NY, NY 10035
• LSA Family Health Services, 333 E. 115th Street NY, NY 10029
• Union Settlement Head Start Assn. 237 E. 104th St. NY, NY 10029
• Sinergia, Inc., 2082 Lexington Ave, 4th Floor NY, NY 10035

Sinergia's Young Explorer (pictured above) will be used by children whose parents attend the educational workshops or await their case managers, or for other staff. The only problem is keeping the big adults away from them since they are so cute!

Promise Neighborhood Grant Update

We are sad to report that Sinergia was not selected as a recipient of the Promise Neighborhood Grant. Our proposal was to develop a one year planning program that would create solutions that would close the achievement gap of all the children in the East Harlem community, including children with disabilities and English Language Learners. Nevertheless, we wish to express our deepest appreciation to all the organizations that worked together and formed an enthusiastic partnership during the preparation of this important initiative.

Thanks go to the Global Neighborhood Secondary School, Esperanza Preparatory Academy, and Renaissance Charter High School who were our school partners.  I cannot adequately express my admiration for these creative and dedicated principals of these schools who are true leaders.  The other institutions who continuously serve the community and who responded to our call to work together for the children and community were  Mount Sinai Hospital and Medical Center, Boriken Neighborhood Health Center, Union Settlement Assoc., Hunter College, Hostos Community College, Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, Association to Benefit Children and the Committee for Hispanic Children.  

It was a great collaborative effort that has solidified relationships that will work together in the future to help children in East Harlem make educational progress that will enable them to achieve successful outcomes into adulthood and strengthen the community.  Thanks to all, especially the writers of the Sinergia proposal who worked long and hard in the preparation of this grant and all others for their valuable contributions.

We congratulate the recipient of the grant in the New York area, the Abyssinian Development Corp. as well as the other recipients throughout the U.S. We wish them much success and as their plans unfold we hope for a future full of promise for all children.

“There is only one child in the world and the child’s name is All Children.”
--Carl Sandburg

Spotlight on Sinergia's Metropolitan Parent Center

Sinergia's Metropolitan Parent Center (MPC) is a federally funded Parent Training Information Center (PTIC) whose mission is to empower parents of children with disabilities by providing them with knowledge and skills. Our aim is to provide them with information and training and connect them with specific educational services and opportunities that will enhance their child's quality of life.

In February we relocated to a new facility at 2082 Lexington Avenue, near 125th Street, which is at the crossroads of the communities we serve: East Harlem, Central Harlem and the Bronx. In this new location we provide one-on-one assistance and advocacy to parents experiencing difficulties with their child's education. Our staff is bilingual (English/Spanish) which is important because a large percentage of our consumers have limited or no English language skills.

We help families in low-income areas who are traditionally under-served or unserved. They are often the most disenfranchised and face many barriers to service. With our help they are able to receive information, navigate the system and secure the most appropriate services for their children.

We cover the full range of disabilities from moderately to severely disabled, from birth to 26 years of age. Read about a recent success story we had in getting the best care for one of our consumers.

The MPC Team

Co-Director                        Co-Director
Godfrey Rivera                    Cassandra Archie

Educational Advocates
Lizabeth Pardo                     Yesenia Estrella

Facilitator of Parent Support Group
William Bird Forteza

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Meet the Education Advocates

Yesenia Estrella
"Helping others has brought a great deal of satisfaction to my life.Three and a half years ago when I started working at Sinergia as a Service Coordinator, I discovered a world that was completely unfamiliar to me, the world of children with special needs and their families. I quickly decided that I wanted to learn more about special education and started taking training workshops that were offered through our agency. During these trainings I got to know parents by listening to their stories.  I quickly noticed that most of them shared similar challenges and feelings of frustration by having to struggle to constantly obtain adequate services for their children.  My first thought was 'I have to do something to help.'

I tried to learn as much as possible about disabilities and about the skills needed to effectively advocate on behalf of parents and their children.

The Metropolitan Parent Center has given me the opportunity to work with many parents that were having difficulties obtaining a free and appropriate public education (FAPE).

When looking for an educational advocate, parents should look for someone who is committed, knowledgeable and who has good negotiation and mediation skills."

Lizabeth Pardo
"Being an advocate allows me to work in the field of education, which I feel very strongly about.  I come from parents with little formal schooling but who placed a lot of importance on an education. As a law student, I studied about the right to an education; I took two independent classes because I believed that by having knowledge, issues of poverty could be overcome.

That was ten years ago, and my experience with my son in public school and my work at Sinergia have deepened my convictions. Although that is the background I bring, it is certainly not at the forefront of my mind when meeting with a family about their child's educational needs.  For people with disabilities, access to an education is a right that must often be fought for. I enjoy the many levels that my work involves when working with families individually, both within the New York City school system, and in collaboration with community organizations."

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The Ethics of Advocacy

At Sinergia we practice the role of advocacy with a focus on ethics that ensures the work we do with and on behalf of families and children with disabilities is being delivered with the highest standards. Our advocates must:

    * Ensure the limits of their role are clearly defined
    * Offer honest information and opinions
    * Point out weaknesses and strengths
    * Identify provisions of the law
    * Inform parents of their basic rights
    * Assist parents in obtaining consultation or services from a licensed attorney if necessary
    * Abide by the decision of the parent
    * Use his/her best effort to achieve the goal(s) of the parent
    * Conduct advocacy in a civil and professional manner
    * Maintain confidentiality
    * Work with the family until issues are resolved

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What Parents and Professionals Are Saying About the MPC

"From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your time and dedication, advice and work. May God always bless and protect you. With enormous affection..."

"(Sinergia's) work ethics are outstanding. I have never worked with an advocate agency so efficient and competent before, and believe me I have worked with quite a few".

"I always talk to my friends about Sinergia and I recommend it. A friend of mine is also receiving services now and I know she is very happy with the help she is getting."

"Special thanks to Yesenia Estrella. She always helps me. Any time.  She is a wonderful person. Thank you"

Choosing a Special Education Program for Children with Disabilities

When it comes to education for children with disabilities, there's no "one size fits all." Parents need to look along a continuum of programs provided by the New York City Department of Education to see which ones fit the individual needs of their child best. Once the appropriate program has been selected parents must monitor their child's progress so that if they need to they can transfer him or her to one that ensures educational benefit. That way their child is not locked in an inappropriate setting throughout their years in school.

Which program is right for your child is guided by the least restrictive environment mandate which requires that students be educated with typically developing peers to the maximum extent appropriate. This is important because, as our U.S. Congress discovered, education is more effective when the learning environment has higher expectations of its students. 

The programs below are described generally and may be different in your school. The continuum of services listed here are from less restrictive to more restrictive.

From Least to More Restrictive
General Education with SETTS: the student is generally enrolled in their zoned school and attends a general education class. A special education teacher or SETTS provider generally pulls out a student in a small group. The group can be as many as 8 students who share similar academic needs. SETTS services may also be given in the classroom as well. 

Collaborative Team Teaching (or Integrated Co-Teaching): is classroom taught by two classroom teachers, one special education and one general education. Students with IEPs are integrated into a classroom of non-disabled students and taught a curriculum that is at grade level. The number of students with IEPs should be less than half the classroom.

12:1 program in a community school: this is a small class, 12 students, in a community school, typically the students have a learning disability and are without disruptive behavior. There may be as many as many as three grade levels in a classroom. Many schools do not have this program and so accepting this program may mean a change of schools. Community schools should be located close to the family's home. This program is offered only in elementary and middle schools.

12:1:1 program in a community school: This class differs from the 12:1 program in that students require the additional supervision of a classroom paraprofessional. The disability of the students is more varied but academically the students must be functioning within 3 grade levels of one another.

15:1 program in a community school: This is a program similar to the 12:1 program but for high school students.

Specialized School or District 75 programs are city-wide programs that services students with disabilities whose needs cannot be met in a community school. Students may reside anywhere within the City but usually live within the same borough. The programs are 12:1:1, 8:1:1, 6:1:1 and 12:1:4, with smaller classroom servicing students with more educational needs. Most of the programs are for students with developmental disabilities, although there are also programs for students with difficult behavioral management needs. The 6:1:1 programs normally serve students with autism and the 12:1:4 serve students with multiple disabilities.

Programs considered more restrictive are approved non-public schools, day treatment programs, residential placements, and home or hospital instruction.

Here's more information about these and other special education services.


(photo: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/cienpies)

A New Beginning for Tania and her Son

As a precursor to the Puertorican Day Parade, the 116th Street Fair on Saturday, June 12, 2010 was a feast of food, music and very colorful characters. Sinergia participated in the fun and fanfare thanks to a booth donated by Mt. Sinai Hospital. Our staff members were on hand all day long to answer questions and distribute brochures. We offered free blood pressure screenings in the morning which had a huge response, and during the "afternoon shift," Michael Mitchell, Tiffany James, Carmina Perez, Mildred Ramos and Lizette Dunn-Barcelona greeted people walking by to give them information about Sinergia's many services.

A young woman by the name of Tania, her disabled 9 year old son and her cousin were among those that stopped by. The mother and son had just arrived from Puerto Rico within the last two weeks and were staying with their cousin in the Bronx. Tania's son had had several surgeries in Puerto Rico and she was now trying to get special care for him in New York City. She was in need of medical and educational services for her son, and a place to live.

The following Monday Sinergia began working with Tania and within two weeks she and her son were living in one of Sinergia's Tier ll shelters funded by the Department of Homeless Services. She also began receiving case management services through our Family Support Program. Their case manager will ensure that her son's Medicaid services are in place, that all his evaluations are current and that he is enrolled in a district 75 school in time to begin classes this fall.

Both Tania and her son are doing well and are adjusting to life in NYC. Once her son is settled in school Tania hopes to begin looking for work in order to find permanent housing. She is grateful to Sinergia and looks forward to a long rewarding relationship with us.

Our Very Own Secret Garden

Cindy F., Christine V., Mildred R. and Michael C. put their green thumbs to work.

This summer, some of Sinergia's Day Habilitation participants have been learning to grow in a different way - with soil, water, and sunshine!  At the Carver Community Garden on 124th Street we have been planting, tending, and harvesting our very own vegetables. We share a plot with Pathways to Housing, a neighboring non-profit and collaborate with members of their Resource Center to grow a variety of nutritious and tasty plants: tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, basil, collard greens, squash, cabbages, and more!  It has been a lot of fun to watch our garden grow, talk about how to prepare different vegetables and learn about the rich nutrients they provide us with. 

As novices, we often learn tips from some of our fellow gardeners, like James, a gentleman who has gardened at Carver for a number of years and has been a great help. On the other side of our plot, The Nourishing Kitchen grows vegetables for their soup kitchen. They are also experienced gardeners and offer cooking and gardening workshops.

This gardening opportunity has been provided by Urban Garden Connections, a Partnership of the Bronx and Manhattan Land Trusts.  They operate a number of community gardens in Manhattan and the Bronx.  For a list of garden locations visit The Manhattan Land Trust website.

I look upon the pleasure we take in a garden
as one of the most innocent delights in human life.
--Cicero