2004 Grant Cycle

2004 Grant Cycle

The Park Slope Civic Council is proud to announce the 2004 Grant Awards. These grants, funded by the annual Park Slope Civic Council's House Tour, are awarded each year by the Civic Council's Grants Committee to projects at schools, charities, cultural institutions and other organizations benefiting the Park Slope community. The 2004 awards totaled $9,140; and the 22 projects are described below. The Civic Council is delighted to support these important local groups. They reflect the range and variety of active, creative organizations in Park Slope, and contribute greatly to the diversity and vitality of our community. Congratulations to all!

(1) Saturday Morning Gardening Program - The Garden of Union.
The Garden of Union enlivens the area between 4th and 5th Avenues on Union Street. It is an urban composting facility, works cooperatively with the BBG's Green Bridge program, and donates some of its produce to CHIPS soup kitchen on a year-round basis. The Saturday morning program is run by volunteer garden members from April through November, offering workshops on garden planning, planting, mulching, bed care, and harvesting. The request was to help them increase local participation by providing beverages and snacks to participants. The Grants Committee (GC) awarded their request in full.

(2) Cultural Evening Series. - The Lesbian Herstory Educational Foundation, Inc.
The Lesbian Herstory Educational Foundation was founded in 1973, and moved to its permanent home on 14th Street in Park Slope in 1991. It is a resource and cultural center, housing an archival library of lesbian material. The Archives are open to researchers and to the public; they produce newsletters, bibliographies, exhibits, and cultural events, including "at homes". The funds requested are earmarked to allow them to increase outreach by re-starting their "at home" series. As we have supported this same activity in the past, the GC decided to partially fund their request to acknowledge their work and show community support.

(3) Community Board 6: Founding a new organization, "Friends of Brooklyn CB6"
CB6 does not need any elaborate introduction to the PSCC. The request for funding was to form a non-profit 501-c-3 organization to be able to apply for grants and engage in fund-raising activities to supplement their budgetary constraints. Any proceeds would be used to provide enhanced direct support services to the community. The request was granted in full.

(4) Performing Workshop Community Tour - BAX/ Brooklyn Arts Exchange
BAX is an independent not-for-profit community arts organization, which has been in the Slope for over a decade. They provide year-round performance, rehearsal, and educational venues for varied age groups in the community. Their request was for help with providing free performances in several social service and health faciltities, and in job-training and HIV/AIDS centers. Since only three of their venues would be in Park Slope, the GC granted them partial support.

(5) Story Share Book Project - The Park Slope Senior Citizen Center
Serving seniors in the community since 1973, the Center offers a variety of educational, recreational, and social services, as well as lunch, - to 70 -90 seniors daily during the week. The request was not from the Center directly, but from the instructor, working with 8-12 group members to compile and publish a book, hoping to promote it at local bookstores to raise money for the Center. The GC decided to fund this request partially; the Center will be encouraged to apply for a broader based project that might involve more of its clients.

(6) Block Swap and Community Recycling Resource Information Booklet - 6/15 Green Community Garden
The 6th Ave. and 15th Street Community Garden has successfully worked to improve and enlighten their neighborhood via a series of educational, cultural, and agricultural programs involving local children, youth, and their families. They conduct composting workshops, computer and electronic waste takebacks, leaf mulching, and workshops on using renewable energy sources. The request was for help with the cost of updating and printing a recycling resource information booklet, which is distributed free at their events. The GC voted to grant their request in full.

(7) Family Support Workshops - Significant Steps Child Development Center (SSCDC)
SSCDC is a not-for-profit organization that offers early intervention services to families of babies and toddlers who exhibit developmental delays or disabilities. They work both in the home and at the center to offer a variety of therapies, social services, and parenting support programs. They requested funding for their family support workshops. The GC granted a partial award as they serve the Park Slope neighborhood only partially.
(8) Outside Bulletin Board Expansion - Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
The Society is a non-denominational organization, formed in 1906, and dedicated to cultivating ethical living. Amongst its other activities, it sponsors lectures and cultural events (e.g., the Good Coffeehouse series) that are open to the public. The request was for help with expanding their outside exhibit space to have more room for announcing community-related events. The GC awarded their request in full.

(9) Veterans' Committee of Kings and Richmond Counties, NY Inc.- Return of Historical Statues to the Armory on Eighth Ave. and 14th Street.
The Armory is a unique structure in our community. It was built in 1895 and closed in 1995, at which time the State removed some historical statues and Tiffany windows from the site. The Veterans' Committee, which is housed in the Armory, was told by the State that the statues would be returned if money was raised for their transport. The GC had no problem granting this request, but will disburse the funds when the Veterans' Committee receives the actual approval from the State.

(10) The Nestlings Program
The Nestlings Program began in June 2002 at the Audubon Center in Prospect Park, with its founding teacher serving 3-5 year old children and accompanying adults. In December, the program moved to The Park Slope Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. The request was for the teacher's salary and art supplies. The GC decided to encourage this fledgling endeavor by providing funding for art supplies.

(11) Celebration of Diversity Event - Imani House, Inc
Imani House, Inc. provides a range of services to low income families, including a large immigrant population. It is mainly a volunteer organization, providing a food pantry, tutoring in ESOL/literacy, job-readiness skills and citizenship involvement. The present request is to help support their third annual diversity event - bringing together youth and adults of various backgrounds. The GC felt that this was a worthwhile effort and should be supported.

(12) Lego League Tournament - Robotics Team - PS 372 PTA
PS 372 (The Children's School) provides an inclusive learning environment for general education students and students with special needs. They requested funds to create a second Lego League team, which is to be an all girls team, in order to promote and increase their interest in the applications of technology. The GC felt that this was worthy of support, and granted the request in full.

(13) Beyond the Black Box - The Gallery Players.
The Gallery Players is in its 37th year in our community. It offers professional quality theatre at affordable prices and nurtures aspiring theatre artists (actors, writers, and directors, etc.). One night of each of their productions is reserved for Brooklyn's homeless population. Their season consists of seven fully staged revivals and four weekends (in June) devoted to new plays performed without scenery (the Black Box series). This year, they wish to produce a new play more fully. The GC voted to grant their request in full.

(14) Sandboxes: Harmony and Third Street Playground Committees.
The Playground Committees work with the Prospect Park Alliance to involve the community in supporting public spaces that provide young children with safe, clean areas for children to play in creatively. Not only are these places to play, but special programs in the arts, education, and cultural milieus are offered as well. The request was for a challenge grant to help pay for the sand in the sandboxes in the two most heavily used playgrounds in our neighborhood. The request was granted in full.

(15) After-school Newspaper: Friends of MS 51
MS 51 is a public middle school for gifted and talented students. It has a newspaper that is created entirely by the students, who work during their lunch hour and after school to publish it. The paper includes puzzles, cartoons, artwork, and a variety of writing genres, including interviews and expressive writing. They wish to develop a true Broadsheet school paper with a professional layout, taking student experience to a higher level of experience and quality. The GC granted their request.

(16) South Brooklyn Waterfront and Neighborhood Resource Map - The Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club
Thanks to the March 2000 reopening of the flushing tunnel which was out of commission for 30 years, the Gowanus Canal is slowly "cleaning up its act". In fact, one can now rent a canoe and watch crabs swimming around and egrets feeding on fish. In 2001, the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club created a map of the neighborhoods abutting the Canal (including Park Slope, of course) which now needs updating. We applaud the effort to monitor the Canal, to unite our neighborhoods; and to use our waterways. The GC voted to partially fund their request as the group is only partly focused on Park Slope.

(17) Communications Upgrade - Park Slope Voluntee Ambulance Corps (PSVAC)
The PSVAC was founded in 1992 to supplement the overburdened NYC Emergency Medical Services. They are located near the 78th Precinct Station House, serving anywhere they are called, but primarily in the neighborhoods nearby. PSVAC, as its name indicates, is comprised of unpaid volunteers with a wide range of skills and experiences. They are requesting funds to help upgrade their communication system, as they are limited in the service they can provide by the number of two-way radios they have.The GC voted to provide funds for two portable two-way radios.

(18) The Old Stone House of Brooklyn - School Program - First Battle Revival Alliance aka The Stone House of Brooklyn
This group works to preserve and publicize Brooklyn's role in the Revolutionary War. They work with local schools, and offer public programs and heritage events throughout the year. They are requesting funds to help create school programs for Pre-K to 5th Grade, which will be interactive and multi-disciplinary (history, language arts, social studies, etc.). The GC voted to award their request in full.

(19) Brooklyn Conservatory Music Therapy Program - Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music needs no introduction to the Council. Founded in 1897, it is the oldest community music school, and a cultural landmark in Park Slope. It offers free and subsidized music instructions and community concerts. The request this year was to help support a new on-site music therapy program for children and adolescents, most of whom are from Park Slope. The GC endorses this program, but awarded half the request, commensurate with our budgetary restrictions.

(20) Lifetime Fitness Program Materials - Park Slope Geriatric Day Center, Inc.
The Park Slope Geriatric Day Center (PSGDC) helps older adults with physical and/or cognitive limitations maintain their levels of functioning in order to avoid premature institutionalization. Clients are accepted without regard to their ability to pay. PSGDC operates fitness programs in two locations: at 1 PPW and at the 14th St. Neighborhood Family Center. The request was for the provision of dumbbells and resistance bands to be used to improve balance and other motor skills of their frail elderly clients. The GC decided to award their request in full.

(21) Third Annual Brooklyn Alternative Small Press Fair - Spiral Thought (Emily Brown)
The Alternative Small Press Fairs, representing over 50 local small presses, poets, and writers is now in its third year. The Old Stone House is often used as the site of operation for the Fair and for an ongoing reading series. The request was to help with costs of producing the event. The GC initially dismissed this application, as it appears to be the efforts of a single individual - but is granting $100 as a token of support.