The holiday season is upon us, which means the return of the “DYCD Holiday Gift Drive.” Last year, DYCD collected enough toys to put smiles on the faces of over 250 participants in our afterschool programs. The goal this year is to collect a minimum of 1,000 gifts by December 11th, and to have our gift drive culminate with five borough distribution events. For more information on suggested gifts and drop-off locations, please email Youth Connect at youthconnect@dycd.nyc.gov or call 1.800.264.4646

The Interagency Coordinating Council on Youth is proud to share with you, "Coming Home - Transitioning Back into the Community: A Resource Directory." This guide provides information about resources available to young people in New York City who are leaving detention or have been involved with the criminal/juvenile justice system. Community programs can offer support in areas such as housing, practical assistance, education, legal rights, job preparation and searches, as well as drug and alcohol treatment. We hope this directory will help those in need to identify existing community resources in order to become successful. The guide was compiled by members of the Interagency Coordinating Council Court-Involved Youth Work Group. Visit nyc.gov/dycd/icc to download your copy today.

Every holiday season, the New York Botanical Garden (November 21, 2015 — January 18, 2016) and Grand Central Terminal (November 14, 2015 — February 21, 2016) each feature their own astoundingly intricate holiday train show. At the New York Botanical Garden, large-scale model trains whiz by replicas of many of the City's most famous landmarks—including the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and Penn Station—all created from natural materials like bark, pinecones, seeds and leaves. The New York Transit Museum's display at Grand Central Terminal also features a 34-foot-long miniature New York City display, surrounded by Lionel trains running on eight separate tracks. Vintage trains from the museum's collection will also be on display. Please visit the New York Botanical Garden and Grand Central Terminal websites for more information on times and tickets.

Enjoy New York City's holiday lighting ceremonies, which can be viewed throughout the holiday season, usually through early January. Live entertainment, caroling, and pictures with Santa are all in store for you this holiday season in NYC.

Holiday Under the Stars | November 12, 2015
The Shops at Columbus Circle in Time Warner Center - Manhattan, NY

Queens Center Lights Up the Holiday Season | November 14, 2015, 5-6:30pm
Queens Center - Queens, NY

The Annual Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche | November 23, 2015
The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Manhattan, NY

The Origami Holiday Tree | November 23, 2015 - January 10, 2016
the American Museum of Natural History - Manhattan, NY

16th Annual Winter's Eve | Monday, November 30, 2015, 5:30-9pm
Lincoln Square - Manhattan, NY

The Seaport Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony | December 1, 2015
South Street Seaport, Fulton and Front Streets - Manhattan, NY

Zuccotti Park Holiday Lighting | December 1, 2015, 5:15-6:30pm
Zuccotti Park - Manhattan, NY

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting | December 2, 2015, 7-9pm
Rockefeller Center - Manhattan, NY

Charles A Dana Discovery Center Holiday Lighting | December 3, 2015, 5:30pm
Central Park - Manhattan, NY

Atlantic Avenue Christmas Tree Lighting | December 4, 2015, 6-8pm
Atlantic Avenue - Brooklyn, NY

Christmas in Richmond Town & Traditional Tree Lighting | December 6, 2015, 5pm
Staten Island Historical Society - Staten Island, NY

Carl Schurz Park Tree Lighting and Caroling and Menorah Lighting | December 6, 2015, 5-6pm
Carl Schurz Park, East End and East 86th Street - Manhattan, NY

The Lighting of the Park Avenue Christmas Trees | December 6, 2015, 6:30pm
Brick Presbyterian Church (Park Avenue & 91st Street) - Manhattan, NY

World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah Lighting | December 6-13, 2015 at 5:30pm (3:30pm on Friday for the Sabbath, 8:30pm on Saturday) Grand Army Plaza, intersection of Vanderbilt & Flatbush Avenues, Brooklyn, NY

Madison Square Park Holiday Tree Lighting | December 8, 2015, 3:30-5:30pm
Madison Square Park - Manhattan, NY

Holiday on the Hudson Tree Lighting | December 12, 2015, 4-6pm
West Harlem Piers Park - Manhattan, NY

This pre—Turkey Day ritual, held near the American Museum of Natural History on November 25, has become almost as crowded as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but many prefer it to the main event. Why? You get to weave through the crowds, walking past the inflation stations to see Kermit the Frog, Julius the Paul Frank monkey, Sonic the Hedgehog, Buzz Lightyear et al. at your own pace. Inflation takes place from 3 to 10pm. Arrive later in the evening, when the gigantic characters have taken shape; the crowds are at their peak, so you can also show off the famed New York sidewalk shuffle. Enter at West 79th Street at Columbus Ave.

A Thanksgiving institution for more than 90 years, this parade is one of the most famous holiday events in the world. Millions line the streets of Manhattan to watch celebrities, Broadway performers, clowns, marching bands, floats (notably Santa himself, riding his reindeer-powered sleigh) and the true headliners of the day: the all-star roster of floating balloons—Snoopy, Spidey and friends—flying high above the route. The procession heads south down Central Park West from 77th Street, east along Central Park South to Sixth Avenue and then south along Sixth Avenue to West 34th Street, ending in front of Macy’s in Herald Square. Also, the inflating of the balloons along the perimeter of the Museum of Natural History has become an annual Thanksgiving eve tradition on the Upper West Side. Visit macys.com for updates on this year's performers, new balloons and viewing tips.

Have a great idea for a community improvement project? Apply for a grant from Citizens Committee for New York City! From community gardening and tenant organizing to school recycling drives and art projects, Citizens Committee awards grants of up to $3,000 to grassroots groups working on community-building projects across NYC. Applications are due January 25, 2016. Questions? Contact Tehmina at tbrohi@citizensnyc.org or 212-822-9563. Learn more and find the application on our website.

Sponsored by The NYC Citywide Administrative Services, this program is open to graduates no more than two years out of college and is designed to introduce America's finest students to local government and public service. For more information about the Urban Fellows Program click here or call 311 or dial (212) NEW-YORK if outside of NYC.

500 four-year scholarships are going to be awarded to high school seniors by the Elks National Foundation. The Elks National Foundation's Most Valuable Student contest deadline is December 4, 2015. The first place award will be $60,000 ($15,000 per year). Applicants must be citizens of the United States on the date their applications are signed. Students will be judged on scholarship, leadership and financial need. All scholarships are in the form of certificates of award conditional upon the full-time enrollment of the winner in an accredited U.S. college or university. Applications will advance through local, district and state competitions to reach the national level. The national finalists will be notified in February 2016.

Are you doodling during math class? Scribbling during English? Do people admire your artwork? If so, you should enter the Doodle 4 Google competition. It’s for K-12 students. If you win, your artwork can appear on the homepage of Google for millions to see. In addition, you could win a $15,000 scholarship and a $25,000 technology grant for your school. Deadline: December 7, 2015