Step it Up 2016 at the Apollo Theater was a spectacular night of music, dance, social messages and community empowerment.
Check out coverage from NY1; photos on DYCD's Facebook; videos on YouTube; and performance clips on Instagram. A special thanks to Warner Brothers recording artist Giovanni James, whose performance can be seen here. And congratulations to all of our Step it Up Winners 2016, who put on a great show! Through Step It Up, dance and step teams from across the City are showcasing their on-stage talents and raising awareness in their communities through youth-led anti-violence campaigns.

Every year, SummerStage sponsors special Family Days throughout the season when kids can enjoy no-cost entertainment in NYC parks. The series kicks off in Red Hook's Coffey Park on June 19 with live performances by DJ Rich Medina, award-winning teen rap collective RAAA (Rebellious Against All Ahead) and up-and-coming hip-hop artist Ziearre. On June 26 in Brownsville's Betsy Head Park, catch sets by C3 Music Group, a traveling, musical ministry with a multicultural vibe; Mr. Reed and his genre-busting 10-piece band (of America's Got Talent fame); tap by the Boots Step Team and a live DJ. Afterward, be sure to check out the park's recently opened Imagination Playground.

Visit cityparksfoundation.org for event details.

As usual, NYC's FREE outdoor pools open the day after public school lets out and remain available through Labor Day. Year-round indoor pools require a recreation center membership. Judging by the rising temps, kids (and their chaperons) are going to need to cool off! Check out this roundup of favorite places to take a no-cost dip but there are lots of options in all five boroughs.

Most are open from 11:00am – 3:00pm and 4:00pm – 7:00pm daily, weather permitting. And before you go, be sure to read this post about public pool rules—some of them might surprise you.

Catholic Charities of NYC is looking for a summer SYEP Education Instructor. Essential duties and responsibilities include planning and supervising daily group activities for youth in Work Readiness, Financial Literacy, Career Exploration, Higher Learning, and Health Education; Maintaining and updating all participants’ education files; Recording participants’ attendance in educational activities; and instructing students in all DYCD-required educational curriculum. Perspective applicants are also required to prepare lesson plans for supplemental educational instruction in addition to the DYCD curriculum, and coordinate with potential special guest speakers and assist in facilitating lesson plan.

Apply for the SYEP Education Instructor position at www.nycityworks.com.

The New York Ramblers Scholarship for Student Athletes was created in 2016 to support student athletes who self-identify as either lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI), or are demonstrated and committed allies. Awardees will receive a one-time scholarship, paid directly to their college, to cover tuition and fees. Up to two scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded in Summer 2016. Applications for 2016 are now available and can be accessed here.

Applications are due by noon on Tuesday, July 12.  For more information please, visit the Stonewall Foundation website.

Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. Those labels located in New York City under the Sony Music Entertainment umbrella include: Columbia Records, Epic Records, Legacy Recordings, RCA Records, RED Distribution, SONY Masterworks and RCA Inspiration.

To apply for the Sony Internship, visit www.sony.com.

Is college worth it? You invest your time, money, and energy into getting a college degree. The return could be your education, experiences, relationships, a career, a sense of purpose, or something else entirely. Weighing the expected investment and return, is college worth it for you? In 250 words or less, tell us why. To apply, applicants must be 13 years of age or older at the time of application, legal residents in the United States or the District of Columbia and currently enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2022) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education.

Submit an online short written response (250 words or less) for the question: "Weighing the expected investment and return, is college worth it for you? Why?" The Unigo $10K Scholarship winner will be notified by email or phone on or around March 31, 2017. To apply by December 31, 2016, visit www.unigo.com.

To apply, visit www.nytco.com.

Whatever your feelings about L. Ron Hubbard’s work and philosophy, the prizes for this regular contest are nothing to sneeze at. Every three months, winners earn $1,000, $750 and $500, or an additional annual grand prize worth $5,000. Submissions must be short stories or novelettes (up to 17,000 words) in the genre of science fiction or fantasy, and new and amateur writers are welcome to apply. The deadline occurs quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1; apply at www.writersofthefuture.com.

To apply, the student must fill out the Historically Black College or University (HBCU) member registration form on HBCUConnect.com. Applicants must submit a short essay of no more than 350 words addressing both topics in the essay prompt. The applicant must also include basic identifying and contact information, which should include the student's email address, campus or current address and phone number, permanent address and phone number, major, and expected graduation date. Essay questions and resumes must be submitted online by the deadline on August 1, 2016. Transcripts may be requested from selected finalists. Apply online now at www.hbcuconnect.com