Mayor Bill de Blasio and DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong released the findings of the Year One Evaluation of SONYC (School’s Out New York City), part of the City’s expanded middle school afterschool initiative. The study shows the Mayor’s historic $145 million first year investment in 2014 worked to triple SONYC enrollment and dramatically increase educational and recreational opportunities for New York City sixth through eighth graders. Ninety-eight percent of parents surveyed reported their sons and daughters like coming to the program, and nearly all of the families surveyed said they would recommend SONYC to other families.

“Middle school students are in a critical stage of their social and educational development and have specific expectations of their afterschool experience. These findings are testament that our quality SONYC programs offer diverse and engaging learning opportunities, provide students with safe and welcoming environments, and result in positive outcomes. I thank Mayor de Blasio and his staff for their commitment to expand SONYC programs, which offer our young people a true pathway to success,” said DYCD Commissioner Chong.

The study also found:

• Program quality is high, and school and program staff cited program activities as a key strength.
• Program and school staff reported improvements in youth outcomes, particularly in their social and emotional development and leadership skills.
• Youth attended a total of 13 million hours in SONYC programming, with each participant spending, on average, 236 hours in programming during the year.
• SONYC programs encourage all youth, including English language learners and students with disabilities.

To read more, click here.
Key findings of the evaluation here.

More than 300 young people took part in NYC Department of Youth and Community Development's Chess Masters Tournament at the William J. Duncan Police Athletic League Center. The event gave youth an opportunity to compete among their peers and sharpen their chess skills. The tournament was open to participants of all skill levels in grades kindergarten to 12. Nonprofit educational organization Chess in the Schools facilitated the competition and, in between rounds, assisted young people in refining their strategy. The tournament winners received trophies and medals. Check out DYCD’s Facebook page to view photos of the event.

The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) has extended the application deadline to April 29, 2016. SYEP provides New York City youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with summer employment. SYEP participants work in a variety of entry-level jobs at government agencies, hospitals, summer camps, nonprofits, small businesses, law firms, museums, sports enterprises, and retail organizations. Apply online at application.nycsyep.com; for further information please, contact DYCD Youth Connect at 800-246-4646 or call 311.

Saturday, April 23, 2016
Staten Island, NY
Free for all ages
Celebrate Earth Day and the arts on Staten Island at this annual fest, which takes place near the ferry terminal. There's a ton of fun on tap, including local artists selling their wares and leading workshops, live music and dance performances, storytelling and poetry, an Earth Day Zone full of eco info, and an entire area devoted to kids with arts and crafts, and a fanciful puppet show that recounts the St. George dragon-slaying legend with a less gruesome ending. The highlight of the day is the 35-foot puppet dragon parade. For more information about the list of activities, visit the St. George Day website.

Saturday, April 23, 2016
Tribeca, Manhattan NY
Free for all ages
The beloved Tribeca Film Festival Family Street Fair—the highlight of the Tribeca Film Festival's family programming—has a new name: Tribeca on Location. As such, this community celebration will feature engaging ways to learn about the behind-the-scenes magic of filmmaking through events and workshops. But don't worry! There will still be all the old favorites including street games, vendors, performances by Broadway shows and the interactive Games for Change Public Arcade. The concurrent Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day will also be back with more athletic amusements. Please be advised that the details about this 15th annual fest are still being finalized; visit tribecafilm.com for the lastest updates.

Saturday, April 30, 2016
Thomas Jefferson Park, East Harlem, Manhattan NY
Free for all ages
Time to get old-school! This annual fest in Thomas Jefferson Park is dedicated to the kinds of analog amusements we grew up with back in the day. Leave your iPads and iPhones at home and encourage the kids to try out classics like pogo sticks, hula hoops, yo-yos, hippity hops, stickball, hopscotch, handball, skully and Double Dutch. There will also be an old-fashioned soap box derby race, skateboard lessons, a Radio Disney deejay, performances by the Dance Theater of Harlem and clinics with major league soccer's Red Bulls. For more information about the list of activities, visit NYC Parks.

Sunday, May 1, 2016
Battery Park, Manhattan NY
During the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, approximately 32,000 cyclists pedal their way through all five boroughs on a traffic-free, 40-mile course. As its name suggests, the event is a tour, not a race—so participants can relax and enjoy one of the best ways to see the City. Registration routinely sells out early, so check bike.nyc for your chance to sign up and for further information. And, of course, you can always enjoy the action as a spectator.

April 30, 2016 – May 1, 2016
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
1000 Washington Avenue (at Montgomery Street), Brooklyn, NY 11225
Free for children under age 12
Celebrate spring and Japanese culture at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's wildly popular annual fest, which is set in and around its beautiful blooming Cherry Esplanade. The lineup includes Taiko drumming performances, Samurai swords, flower arranging workshops, martial art displays, Japanese pop bands, tea ceremonies and cooking demos. Kid-specific activities include manga drawing, origami, crafts, magic and drumming workshops. Plus lots of revelers come dressed in their best anime-inspired outfits and there's even a cosplay fashion show. Although the fest usually doesn't sell out, the lines often snake around the block so arrive early. For more information and ticket admission, visit bbg.org.

Saturday, May 7, 2016
Rockaway Beach
Beach 2nd Street (to Beach 149th Street), Queens, NY 11693
Free for all ages
Celebrate Earth Day with the tenth anniversary of this yearly event in Queens’ Rockaway Park. For the last nine years, organizers have outdone themselves putting together an array of activities sure to please kids and their families, and this year is no exception. The 2016 list of happenings includes kite-making, recycling Olympics, mock dolphin rescue, plantings, water testing, raptor demonstration, a firehouse safety obstacle course and art-related booths to learn how to better appreciate and conserve the Earth's resources. For more information, visit rwalliance.org.

May 14, 2016 – May 15, 2016
Hell's Kitchen
42nd to 57th Street, Ninth Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10019
Free for all ages
Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen will be lined with an array of different cuisines and beverages as part of one of NYC’s oldest and largest food festivals. Bar Bacon, Poseidon Bakery and Amish Market are just a few of the many food vendors who will be on hand; guests can also enjoy arts and crafts as well as live performances from local entertainers. The party extends from 42nd to 57th Streets. For more information, visit ninthavenuefoodfestival.com.

Full-time undergraduate or graduate students attending a four-year HACU-member institution within the United States or Puerto Rico. Students will be required to complete an 800 word essay on the following topic: Describe how your Latino heritage, family, and the community in which you grew up have impacted your desire and motivation to obtain a college degree. Additionally, describe what you intend to accomplish with your degree and how you will give back to your community. The essays and supporting documents will be judged by a qualified panel of judges and assigned points based on the criteria listed in the official rules. The highest scoring applicants will be deemed winners. Winners will be announced to the public on or about Septempber 1, 2016. The supporting documents must be postmarked no later than the application deadline on May 27, 2016. For official Café Bustelo Scholarship Rules and Guidelines, please visit the HACU website.

What does the number five mean to you? One is the loneliest number. Three is a crowd. Then there is five. What's so special about five? Well, for starters, this lucky number could help you win a $1,500 scholarship. It would take more than just one hand to count all the reasons why the number five is important and UNIGO.com wants to know what you think! What is it about the number five that's so significant to you? Help bring awareness to the fifth month and the number five. Applicants must be thirteen years of age or older at the time of application, be legal residents of 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) explaining why five is important. Be serious or be funny. Either way, here's a high five to you for being original. The Fifth Month Scholarship winner will be notified by email or phone on or around August 31, 2016. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2016; for additional infomation guidelines please visit UNIGO.com.

The Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation’s Bonner Program provides diverse low-income, under-represented, and first generation students with the opportunity to attend college, while engaging their talents and educations in building and supporting communities via the Bonner Scholar and Leader Program. The Bonner Scholar Program supports individuals who otherwise could not afford to attend college because of financial need. Bonner Scholar Programs meet the full documented need of the student. In return for the financial aid support, the Bonner Scholars are expected to engage in 10 hours a week of community service during the school year (140 hours per semester) and 280 hours in the summer. The Bonner Leader Program supports supports individuals interested in serving throughout their college experience. Bonner Leaders receive financial aid directly from their institution in the form of a scholarship and/or work-study. Each program is unique; for further information, please visit the Bonner website.

The Edward and Ellen Roche Relief Foundation was established in 1953 to support organizations serving disadvantaged women and children. Specifically, funding will be provided to nonprofits that help ensure the well-being and self-sufficiency of low-income women and their families. Recognizing the diverse array of programs that serve these populations, the Roche Relief Foundation has chosen to focus its limited resources on programs that serve unemployed or underemployed women; immigrants; victims of domestic or sexual violence; and organizations that provide comprehensive support services to a distinct disadvantaged population. The application deadline for the Edward and Ellen Roche Relief Foundation is June 30, 2016. Grant decisions will be made by October 31, 2016. The typical grant range is between $15,000 and $25,000. Visit the grant page for more details about the guidelines.

The Harry S. Black and Allon Fuller Fund was established in 1930 to support quality health care and human services programming for underserved populations. The grantmaking focus is health care and physical disabilities. The Fund supports access programs for physically disabled individuals; disability policy analysis and advocacy; workforce development programs; and programs that improve quality of life for the disabled. The Harry S. Black and Allon Fuller Fund generally does not provide funding for projects in the areas of health care specific to medical/academic research or to organizations or programs that primarily provide mental health services. In the area of physical disabilities, the Fund generally does not provide funding to organizations or programs that primarily provide services to either the mentally or developmentally disabled. Applicant organizations must both serve and be geographically located within the city limits of New York City or Chicago. Grant requests for general operating support or program/project support are strongly encouraged. In general, grant requests for endowment campaigns, capital projects or research will not be considered. The majority of grants from the Harry S. Black and Allon Fuller Fund are 1 year in duration. The Harry S. Black and Allon Fuller Fund has a deadline of June 30, 2016. Grant decisions will be made by October 31, 2016. For more information, please visit the grant page.