Education

New York Public Library creates Black Liberation Reading List

By Síle Moloney
In response to the uprisings across the globe demanding justice for Black lives, New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has created a Black liberation reading list. The 95 titles on the list represent books that the Center and the public regularly turn to as activists, students, archivists, and curators, with a particular focus on books by Black authors and those whose papers the center stewards.   For 95 years, the Schomburg Center has preserved, protected, and fostered a greater understanding of the Black experience through its collections, exhibitions, programs, and scholarship.   Most of the #Schomburg95 books


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Academy of Mount St. Ursula Earns Middle States Re-Accreditation

By Síle Moloney
  The Academy of Mount St. Ursula (AMSU), located in the Bedford Park area of the Bronx, recently earned re-accreditation by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, a worldwide leader in accreditation and continuous school improvement for over 130 years.   Sr. Jean Marie Humphries, PhD is the school’s principal. A member of the Order of St. Ursula, she is also a former student of AMSU, having graduated with the Class of ‘89. Sr. Humphries said she is proud to have earned re-accreditation, since she said it serves as an independent validation of the good work


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Op-Ed: Solitary Confinement – Where is the New York Legislature?

By Anisah Sabur
We are in the midst of the gravest humanitarian, economic, and social crisis in at least a generation, and one that is disproportionately harming Black and Brown people, poor people, and other marginalized people and communities.   Over 27,600 New Yorkers have died from COVID-19 already and many more are projected to die. Hundreds of thousands of people are out of work. People cannot afford to pay their rent or their medical bills. Many are going hungry.   The police are brutalizing Black and Brown people in the street and forcing people who are homeless out of the subway –


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The Bronx Toastmasters Club of Riverdale Hosts Virtual “Open House”

  The Bronx Toastmasters Club of Riverdale will hold a virtual “Open House” meeting on Wednesday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom Video Conferencing. The  committee is asking anyone interested in joining the meeting to RSVP to bronxtoastmastersclub@gmail.com.   The club is an affiliate of Toastmasters International, a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization’s membership exceeds 358,000 in more than 16,800 clubs in 143 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders.  


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15th Congressional District Race: Mark-Viverito Receives Endorsement of Four Teachers’ Unions

By Síle Moloney
Earlier this week, on May 13, Melissa Mark-Viverito received a boost to her latest election campaign to become the democratic nominee for the City’s 15th congressional district in the Bronx, as four of the country’s leading teachers’ unions announced their endorsement of her.   The United Federation of Teachers (UFT), the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the National Education Association (NEA) all threw their weight behind Mark-Viverito, one of around a dozen remaining candidates in the race.   UFT represents over 190,000 members nationwide and is, therefore, considered a major win for


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Psychology Professor: How to Stay Sane During The Shutdown

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned New Yorkers during his regular press briefing on Sunday, Apr. 26 about an unintended consequence of his “PAUSE” executive order which has been in effect since March, ever since the World Health Organization declared the spread of COVID-19 a pandemic.   The impact of having to stay home, cancelling public events and social gatherings, closing non-essential businesses, schools, religious and sports venues has given rise to a common dilemma – how to maintain positive mental health. Coincidentally, May marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month.   “Do not underestimate the stress that this situation has


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Dinowitz Supports Presidential Primary Cancellation; State & Congressional Elections To Go Ahead

By Síle Moloney
The NYS Board of Elections announced the cancellation of the New York State presidential primary today, Apr. 27. The State, congressional and other elections will still go ahead on Jun. 23, as planned. Other state presidential primaries have been postponed in recent weeks but not cancelled. The Sanders campaign released a statement the same day as the announcement, describing the decision taken in New York as an “outrage”.   “Today’s decision by the New York State Board of Elections is an outrage, a blow to American democracy, and must be overturned by the DNC,” the statement read. “Just last week,


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North Bronx Elected Officials Host Town Hall: Address Mail Delays & Vote-by-Mail

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
In the midst of a pandemic, public health is the number one priority. People need to know what is being done at every level of government to keep them safe. In the case of COVID-19, an additional worry is that there is currently no vaccine, nor any clinically proven treatment for the virus. Local officials have been kept busy reaching out through social media posts, newsletters, emails, and phone calls advising their constituents on how to stay safe and avoid infection.   However, if the latest town hall for North Bronx residents is any indication, people are not just concerned


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