It’s been 26 years since Mayor David Dinkins founded the Beacon program, so what better time to celebrate that achievement than now! This year, 11 new locations will be added, bringing the total number of sites to 91 in all five boroughs. Beacon programs are school-based community centers serving young people ages six and older, and adults. The Department of Youth and Community Development and a grateful City of New York thank Mayor Dinkins for his vision of providing safe places that New Yorkers could call their own since 1991.

DYCD Youth Services programs (Beacon, COMPASS, Cornerstone and Teen Action) came together for this culminating event to showcase community service and youth leadership activities as well as demonstrate skills learned implementing projects during the program year. The Young Citizens Conference offered interactive workshops for participating youth from across DYCD programs. Over 400 youth turned out with their enthusiasm for working to make a difference in their communities. View photos from the Young Citizens Conference on our DYCD Facebook Page.

In collaboration with Darryl Makes Comics, LLC and The Comic Book Project, the DYCD Heroes Project literacy-focused comic book initiative challenges middle school students in all five boroughs to develop stories about heroes, real or imagined, in their own communities. On May 12th, students from DYCD-funded afterschool programs and community centers gathered with their friends and family for the second annual DYCD Heroes Project Youth Comic-Con. The culminating event was held at BRIC Arts Media House in Brooklyn and featured panel discussions with professional comic book artists, NYC Emergency Management superhero Ready Girl, and the youth artists behind this year’s Heroes Project comic “The Portal.” Thanks to special guest Hip-Hop legend Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-DMC for contributing to this fantastic event.

In observance of New York City Immigrant Heritage Week (April 17 – April 21), DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong visited the New York Tibetan Service Center’s City-funded SONYC afterschool program in Astoria, Queens, on April 20. Among the activities were Tibetan dance with full costumes and music, as well as a mixed media arts class, with students using different materials to give Tibetan-themed paintings a modern twist. View photos on DYCD’s Facebook page.

Friday, May 26, 2017 – Monday, May 29, 2017
Various Locations
Forty years after its inauguration under the artistic direction of Chuck Davis, the nation’s largest festival of African dance returns for a special anniversary celebration, bringing together performance, art, film, community events, and dance workshops. This year’s main event, under the leadership of artistic director Abdel R. Salaam, pays tribute to the music and movement of Guinea, featuring two powerful ensembles that represent the diverse cultures of the African diaspora and the transformative power of movement. For all things Dance Africa, please visit BAM.org.

Saturday, May 27, 2017 – Monday, May 29, 2017
Ashland Place and Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
DanceAfrica’s beloved bazaar returns, featuring more than 150 vendors from around the world, offering African, Caribbean, and African-American food, crafts, and fashion. Celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Africa and its diaspora—and see the streets surrounding BAM transformed into a global marketplace. Bazaar hours are 12:00pm – 10:00pm (Saturday), 12:00pm – 8:00pm (Sunday & Monday). Hours are subject to change, rain or shine. For details, please visit BAM.org.

Saturday, May 27, 2017, 12:00pm – 3:00pm
BRIC Arts Media House
647 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Free for all ages
Join some of BRIC’s Teaching Artists for an imaginative adventure in art-making! There will be tours of the student exhibition and BRIC television studios, digital animation, printmaking, refreshments, and more! This program is taking place in conjunction with the 29th Annual Contemporary Art Education Exhibition, featuring work by students from more than 30 NYC public schools on view at BRIC House May 19, 2017 – June 18, 2017. Visit bricartsmedia.org for more information on BRIC Family Days.

Opening Saturday, May 27, 2017
Citywide
Free for all ages
Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of beach season in the City. Head to Brighton Beach and Coney Island to people-watch; Rockaway Beach to surf; and Orchard Beach to observe Pelham Bay Park’s range of wildlife. Lifeguards are on duty daily (10:00am – 6:00pm) from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

Brooklyn

• Coney Island; Brighton Beach
• Manhattan Beach

The Bronx

• Orchard Beach

Queens

• Rockaway Beach
• Jacob Riis Park

Staten Island

• Midland Beach & South Beach
• Cedar Grove Beach
• Wolfe’s Pond Beach

Saturday, May 27, 2017, 11:30am – 7:00pm
LIC Landing
52-10 Center Boulevard, Queens, NY 11101
Free, but seats are a $10 donation
The Queens Book Festival—a celebration of diversity in reading, writing, publishing, and technology—was created to introduce the borough and area residents, especially the children and young adults, to the many facets and genres within the literary world. It is designed to ignite and foster a passion for reading in the children and youth of the borough while also encouraging literacy. At the same time, the festival will celebrate authors and their literary contributions, while connecting these artists to the community at large.

With exhibitors and an ever-growing list of authors, the festival will feature non-stop panel discussions, book signings, an abundance of assorted entertainment and activities that will parallel the cornucopia of Queens. The book festival will feature children’s and YA authors, books, illustrators, makers and STEAM activities and more. The festival is free to attend, but seating areas are at a minimal donation of $10. For more information, please visit the festival’s website.

Tuesday, May 30, 2017 – Sunday, June 4, 2017
Citywide
The World Science Festival returns to NYC for its tenth anniversary year, with various events around the city. Perennial favorites will return, including main stage Big Ideas programs, intimate Salons, the Flame Challenge, Cool Jobs, and free outdoor events that transport science from the lab to NYC’s parks and waterways. 2017 events will celebrate the achievements of Women in Science, and explore the impact of the award-winning teachers on the future of scientific discovery. Join the World Science Festival for an exploration of groundbreaking discoveries, encounters with the trailblazing scientists and thinkers who are changing the world, and youth & family events that will inspire the next generation of leaders.

Saturday, June 3, 2017, 12:00pm – 5:00pm
McCarren Park
776 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Free for all ages
Go Green is a fun and informative day of exhibits and activities promoting Earth Day values for the thousands of park-goers who traditionally enjoy McCarren Park on a nice pre-summer day. This year’s event includes green exhibitors, school sustainability challenges, fitness workshops, dance performances, educational and scientific displays concerning our environment, a Greencycle Swap, and volunteer park clean ups. It is the place to go to learn about local sustainability initiatives while sampling local food, art and music. To learn more about the Go Green Festival, please visit gogreenbk.nyc.

Saturday, June 10, 2017 – Sunday, June 11, 2017, 12:00pm – 7:30pm
Mount Loretto
6581 Hylan Boulevard, Prince’s Bay, Staten Island, NY
The Staten Island Irish Festival features local & international artists playing traditional Irish & pub music live on two stages, as well as a “Tinkers Shopping Village”, food galore, and a Traditional Sunday Catholic Mass. Local Irish dance schools, such as Mrs. Rosemary’s & Forest Haven Center For Dance, will be on hand to do some jigs and reels for the crowds. There will also be traditional Bagpipe bands, featuring local favorites the Richmond County Pipes & Drums and The Staten Island Pipes & Drums along with many others.

For youth, the “Land of the Leprechauns” (open Saturday and Sunday: 1:00pm – 5:00pm) is a pay-one-price wristband spot where youth have unlimited access to The Super Slide, The Adrenalin Rush, Giant Moon Bounce, and The Crazy Caterpillar. There will also be face painting by Marion Murphy, balloon art and two puppet shows each day! Tickets are $15 for general admission, youth under 12 free and $10 wristband for rides. For more information, please visit statenirelandirish.com.

Hannah & Friends is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and adults with special needs. Hannah & Friends provides funding for a program called Hannah’s Helping Hands, which funds quality of life grants for families that care for children and adults with special needs. Grants for individuals with developmental disabilities are given priority. The grants provide low and moderate-income families with stipends that may be used for a wide variety of supports and programs related to their family member with special needs. The grant deadline is June 1, 2017. For application details, please visit hannahandfriends.org.

At GoodCall is trying to help people make smarter decisions by giving them access to important data. GoodCall would like to know about a great decision you've made in your life. Write an essay between 400 and 500 words detailing one of the most important decisions you’ve made in your life. What information did you rely on? What decision did you make? How did you know it was the right choice? Use the form provided on their website to enter this scholarship by June 30, 2017. GoodCall will award $2,500 to the writer of the best essay, as decided upon by our panel of judges. To be eligible for this scholarship you must be a high school senior, current undergrad or current graduate student with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The Immigrant Rights Fund will support both the immediate and long-term needs of immigrants in across New York City, while strengthening collaboration among immigrant-serving and ally nonprofits. The Action Fund offers support for ongoing civil resistance and organizing efforts—including community-building, bystander training, public education, action planning, and event logistics—with grants up to $2,500. Grants will be offered on a rolling basis for immigrant-led and immigrant-serving efforts, and will be awarded to nonprofits or fiscally sponsored groups. Applicants will be asked to describe the nature of action, event or project and describe the community you wish to engage. Please include details about the demographics of the community served such as racial and ethnic make-up, immigrant community, and neighborhood served. To submit your funding request, please complete the Brooklyn Community Foundation’s online form. For more information, please visit brooklyncommunityfoundation.org.

Research is a critical component for the development and advancement in the life science community. Novus Biologicals wants to further scientific achievement by helping students who are interested in developing a career in science. The Novus Biologicals Scholarship Program is awarded to students pursuing a degree in a science related field. A $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to one student for the fall and spring semesters. To apply, submit a transcript of all college/post-secondary coursework (if high school student submit high school transcript) and complete the written requirements provided on the scholarship website. The application deadline is July 17, 2017. The finalist will be notified by August 4, 2017.

The objective of the Coupon Code Future Leaders Scholarship is to identify and assist a student who will make an incredible future leader, regardless of their chosen field of study. The application deadline is July 15, 2017. A winner will be chosen by the Official Coupon Code leadership team by August 31, 2017, and the $3,000 award will be disbursed directly to the school chosen by the winner. The winner must be accepted to and attending an accredited school, otherwise funds will be awarded to a runner-up. Please complete the application and essay questions in its entirety to be considered for the scholarship. For more information, please visit officialcouponcode.com.

Looking for an afterschool program in your neighborhood? Need information on improving reading skills or finding the nearest community center? The web application discoverDYCD allows you to search in multiple languages for DYCD-funded programs. You can search by borough, neighborhood or zip code, and discoverDYCD provides contact information, activities offered, and a mapping feature with navigation.
Categories of services include: Afterschool Programs, Family Support, Literacy Services, Youth Services and so much more! We hope you find discoverDYCD useful as you take advantage of the diverse resources and opportunities that New York City has to offer.