UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
STATEN ISLAND PARK CONNECTIONS
Do you want to find new ways to improve your Staten Island neighborhood by caring for parks? Meet other Staten Island park volunteers and discover new resources to help your park group or organization tackle your next project. Topics include:
- Working with NYC Parks officials
- Sprucing up your park with an It’s My Parkproject
- Acquiring of 501(c)3 status and funding
- Joining together with neighbors who also care about your parks!
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 9, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Blue Heron Nature Center, 222 Poillon Ave., Staten Island NY 10312
Contact: Rebecca Elzinga at relzinga@cityparksfoundation.org
Link: Register here!
IT’S MY PARK BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS
Partnerships for Parks invites you to get involved in hands-on beautification projects in all five boroughs. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited to join in activities from painting benches and planting bulbs, to weeding and cleaning.
We offer free tools to community parks groups hosting regular park beautification projects. To host a project, submit an application on-line. Applications are due the first day of the month before the proposed project date. (Applications due Friday, Sept. 1 for October projects)
Not ready to host your own project? Search and join any of our projects happening around the city by visiting https://cityparksfoundation.org/calendar/.
RECREATION VANS: PLAY MOBILES & FITNESS MOBILES
NYC Parks Mobile Recreation Program offers organized activities at events that are free and open to the public from May through October. Apply online atnyc.gov/parks to bring a Mobile Recreation Van to your next community event.
- Play Mobiles are stocked with games and toys and are more suitable for children.
- Fitness Mobiles come with exercise equipment and instructors for physical activity on-the-go.
PROGRAMMING & EVENTS
GREENTHUMB HARVEST FAIR
Description: Come celebrate the close of the growing season with GreenThumb! The event will include a variety of activities, workshops, demos and more!
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 16, Noon – 4 p.m.
Link: Learn more here!
SHAPE UP NYC – STATEN ISLAND EXPANSION
Shape Up NYC is a FREE citywide fitness program offering classes such as Zumba, Yoga, Pilates, Aerobics, Kickboxing, and Senior Fitness! NYC Parks is looking to expand where these classes are offered throughout Staten Island. Please see the attached flyer for more information and host site requirements. If you are interested in hosting a class, contact (212) 360-3300 or shapeupvolunteer@parks.nyc.gov.
Link: Learn more!
URBAN PARK RANGER PROGRAMMING
For over 30 years the Urban Park Rangers have helped to connect New Yorkers of all ages to the natural world through environmental education, outdoor recreation, wildlife management and active conservation. Through their various FREE programs New Yorkers can hike, campout, canoe, fish, bird and enhance their outdoor skills. Checkout what the Rangers have coming up in a Park near you here.
CITYPARKS PUPPETMOBILE PRESENTS CINDERELLA SAMBA
This spring and summer the PuppetMobile will present free performances of Cinderalla Samba in parks across the five boroughs! A modernized revue of the classic tale set in the lush landscape of Brazil, this timeless fairy tale finds Cinderella and her Prince in a Samba contest at the Carnival Ball. For more information about this and other free City Parks Foundation shows, visit https://cityparksfoundation.org/arts/puppetmobile/.
NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS OPEN RUN
Join New York Road Runners for free weekly runs in your neighborhood! Open to all ages and experience levels. Walkers, strollers, and dogs on leash are welcome.
Cost: Free, no advance registration required.
Link: http://openrun.nyrr.org/
SILVER LAKE PARK
Date/Time: Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
Location: Meet at the lake bridge, down the hill from the intersection of Victory Blvd. and Eddy St.
CONFERENCE HOUSE PARK
Date/Time: Sundays, 9 a.m.
Location: Meet off Hylan Blvd., next to the parking lot, on the path that leads to the water
NYRR RISING NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
New York Road Runners offers a 100% free youth running/physical literacy program to after school sites, community centers and youth groups throughout the city. The program provides free incentives, events, staff training and many other resources. For information and application, contactrisingnyrr@nyrr.org.
TRAININGS & WORKSHOPS
GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR PARK
Do you want to make a difference in your community and support or care for a park near you? At this workshop, we will share all of the ways that people can get involved with supporting parks. Meet staff members, and hear stories from experienced volunteers and community leaders. Topics include:
- Who you need to know in NYC Parks.
- How you and your neighbors can spruce up your park with an “It’s My Park” project.
- How staff from your company can support a park.
- Ways to join together with neighbors who also care about your park.
Date/Time: Monday, Sept.18, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: The Arsenal at Central Park, Arsenal Gallery, 830 5th Ave, New York, 10065
Contact: Leah Worrell at lworrell@cityparksfoundation.org
Link: Register here!
CROWDFUNDING FOR COMMUNITIES
Join ioby (In Our Back Yards) for their webinar and learn best practices for effective crowdfunding, tips on building your fundraising team, connecting with new donors and more!
Date/Time: Wednesday, Sept. 27, 1– 2 p.m.
Link: Register here!
BASICS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Description: Join Citizens Committee for the first workshop in their Neighborhood Leadership Institute, and learn more on how to bring neighbors together to work on issues that matter to you.
Date/Time: Wednesday Sept. 30, time TBD
Link: RSVP to Shawn, swhitehorn@citizensnyc.org or 212-822-9563
ADVANCED FACILITATION SKILLS
Description: Join Be Social Change for the second class in this two-part series and learn more on how to plan and run a successful facilitated session, highlighting strategies and techniques for successful group dynamic.
Date/Time: Monday, Oct. 2, 7 – 9 p.m.
Link: RSVP here!
GROUP STRUCTURE
Description: Join Citizens Committee for the second workshop in their Neighborhood Leadership Institute, and discuss how to build and maintain an effective neighborhood associations or community groups.
Date/Time: Thursday, Oct. 7, time TBD
Link: RSVP to Shawn, swhitehorn@citizensnyc.org or 212-822-9563
GRANTS AND RESOURCES
CAPACITY FUND GRANT
Partnerships for Parks makes small grants of up to $5,000 to strengthen the outreach, membership, and program-planning capacity of community groups who care for their neighborhood parks in all five boroughs of New York City. We offer three grant rounds annually. For more information or to schedule a consultation with our Grants Team, visit www.partnershipsforparks.org.
Next deadline: Sunday, Oct. 1!
To prepare for this deadline we are offering an information session and grant webinars, please register for one of the following dates:
- Capacity Fund Grant Information Session
Date/Time: Sept. 7, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Location: 100 Gold Street, NY, NY 10038, 3rd Floor
Register: Capacity Fund Grant Information Session
- Capacity Fund Grant Informational Webinar
Date/Time: Sept. 12, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Register: Capacity Fund Grant Webinar – 9/12
- Capacity Fund Grant Informational Webinar
Date/Time: Sept.14, 1– 2 p.m.
Register: Capacity Fund Grant Webinar – 9/14
COMMUNITY GRANTS & RESOURCES
REUSE AND REPAIR GRANT
Citizens Committee is offering grants of up to $2,000 to start new reuse or repair projects, to undertake related research projects, or initiate other activities which will help lead to replicable reuse or repair models in all five boroughs of New York City.
Deadline: Tuesday Sept. 12
Link: Find guidelines and eligibility here!
QUADRATEC ‘ENERGIZE THE ENVIRONMENT’ GRANT
Quadratec is offering a single $3,500 grant to an individual or group currently pursuing a program or initiative designed to benefit our environment. Applicants will submit a 1000-1600 word essay that paints a picture of who you are, what drives and inspires you, what you wish to accomplish, and how you plan to apply this grant to that project.
Deadline: Monday Oct. 30, by 11:59 p.m.
Link: Learn more here!
BEN & JERRY’S FOUNDATION GRANT
Pre-application due! Ben & Jerry’s Foundation’s Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program offers a one-year grant up to $25,000. Only groups with 501(c)3 or fiscal sponsors can apply. Pre-applications are required to submit full proposals. Check out their past grantees here to get an idea of projects they’ve funded!
Deadline: Monday Oct. 16, by 4 p.m.
Link: Application found here!
SAFE IN THE CITY GRANT
The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, led by the Office to Prevent Gun Violence is launching a public safety grant. The Safe in the City Grant offers funding opportunities designed to support community based actions and activities that will make neighborhoods safer. Learn more here!
Deadline: Applications accepted Wednesday, Nov. 1 – Thursday, Nov. 30
Link: Application found here!
WALMART COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM
The Walmart Foundation offers a Community Grant Program awarding grants from $250 to $2,500. Through this program Walmart Associates support the needs of their communities by providing grants to local organizations. Groups applying must hold nonprofit status, be a recognized government entity, or a faith-based organization.
Deadline: Rolling basis until Sunday, Dec. 31
Link: Find guidelines and eligibility here!
HOME DEPOT COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT
The Home Depot Foundation offers grants up to $5,000 to 501c3 organizations that use volunteers to improve the physical health of their communities.
Deadline: Rolling basis until Sunday, Dec. 31
Link: Learn more here!
NOTEWORTHY
SPACE AVAILABLE – CORNERSTONE AND BEACON PROGRAMS
Need a location for your next park group meeting? The Cornerstone Program and Beacon Program offer access to school classrooms for community organized meetings (afterschool and weekends only). Search for a location near you at www.dycdportal.nyc.
WILDLIFENYC
There is abundant wildlife in New York City – over 600 different species call the Big Apple home. From soaring hawks to curious coyotes, it’s no surprise that we encounter animals everywhere from our parks and greenspaces to our roads and roofs. WildlifeNYC is a campaign launched but the City of New York to increase public awareness about urban wildlife. After all, they’re New Yorkers, too! To learn more please visit nyc.gov/wildlife.
TEW-MAP 2017
If you are a gardener, a park champion, a food justice activist, a kayak club member, an educator, a researcher, or a community organizer, please list yourself or your group on STEW-MAP! STEW-MAP is a searchable database of stewardship groups designed to help understand and strengthen our civic capacity to take care of the New York City area neighborhoods. By participating in STEW-MAP, you can help potential volunteers, public agencies, funders, and other stewards find your group and learn about what it does. You will also be able to learn about other groups doing stewardship in your region and be part of an international network of STEW-MAP cities.
Date/Time: Survey is open through Fall 2017
Location: New York City Region12
Contact: E-mail Laura Landau to receive a link to the STEW-MAP survey, lauralandau.ufs@gmail.com
Link: www.nrs.fs.fed.us/STEWMAP
