What's New at Neighbors Link

Carola Bracco Awarded 2009 “Circle of Giving” by Westchester Community Foundation
“Family Health Day” to Offer Free Medical Screenings, Health and Nutrition Info
Dec. '09 Update
Summer Links Creates A Mural
Neighbors Link Debuts Two Student Volunteer Awards
Community Comes to Neighbors Link
Obama's Call to Service Brings Local Community to Neightbors Link
Neighbors Link Clients Give Back to the Community
New Initiatives and Partnerships

Fall/Winter 2009 Newsletter (pdf)
Past Newsletters

CAROLA BRACCO AWARDED 2009 “Circle of Giving” by Westchester Community Foundation

Carola Otero Bracco, Executive Director of Neighbors Link, has been named the 2009 recipient of the Westchester Community Foundation’s Circle of Giving award, for her “extraordinary efforts to create an inclusive community in Mt. Kisco,” and for exhibiting “personal courage, principled stands and peacemaking skills” in her leadership role.  In conjunction with the award, Neighbors Link will receive a $10,000 grant from the Westchester Community Foundation.  The 2009 Circle of Giving award ceremony took place at the Jacob Burns Film Center’s Media Arts Lab in Pleasantville, NY, on Wednesday, December 2, 2009.  

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“FAMILY HEALTH DAY” AT NEIGHBORS LINK TO OFFER FREE MEDICAL SCREENINGS, HEALTH AND NUTRITION INFORMATION

Children’s Activities, Family Wellness Resources Also Provided

Neighbors Link community center will present its annual Family Health Day for low-income area residents on Sunday, December 13, 2009, from 12:00 to 4:00pm.  The event will feature medical, dental and vision screenings and information, as well as food and clothing resources for those in need.  Family Health Day is sponsored by the Westchester Community Foundation and presented by Neighbors Link in cooperation with community partners Northern Westchester Hospital, Open Door Family Medical Center and WestCOP Mount Kisco Head Start.

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December, 2009 Update

Dear Friends,

When people ask about the work of Neighbors Link, we invite them to come to a morning English class, spend an afternoon at our Learning Links program or join us for Family Night – to experience for themselves the wonder and success of Neighbors Link.

We welcome you to do the same. Come and witness the deep sense of accomplishment among our English language learners. Watch the eyes of elementary school children as they begin to realize their full potential and strive for more. See for yourself the close bonding and professional growth shared by students in our Latin Sol sewing program.

As communities across the country grapple with the challenges of marginalized immigrant populations, you can be proud that your insight and generosity have empowered Neighbors Link to create positive solutions to these complex issues here in our own community. Our families are working hard to develop as human beings, to believe in themselves and to take their part in the common future we share together. Your support makes all this possible.

As the current generation of immigrants surmounts the challenges of life in a new country, we are deeply grateful to you – our forward-thinking, compassionate supporters – for recognizing in them the timeless pursuit of the American Dream that has created and strengthened both our community and our country.

The work we do has enormous results – each and every day. We invite you to stop by and experience for yourself dreams in the making.

Thank you.

Summer Links Creates a Mural

During July, our Summer Links program provided camp with enrichment activities to children of low-income families.

Neighbors Link Debuts Two Student Volunteer Awards

Two new student volunteer recognition awards were created by the Neighbors Link Board of Directors and awarded to high school seniors who have made a significant impact through their service to the community center over the past four years. The awards were presented at a Student Volunteer Appreciation Celebration at Neighbors Link in June to Horace Greeley High School seniors Caryn Laska and Noah Sheinbaum, shown below with their families. Press Release with more details (pdf)

Caryn Laska of Chappaqua, winner of the Neighbors Link Student Volunteer Award, and her parents.	Noah Sheinbaum of Chappaqua, winner of the first-ever “Agnes Hassell Youth Leadership Award," and his family.	Carola Bracco, Executive Director of Neighbors Link (left), presenting a replica of the new “Agnes Hassell Youth Leadership Award” to Agnes Hassell, Co-Chair of the Friends of Neighbors Link.

Community Comes to Neighbors Link

Several families in the community brought/prepared and served breakfast or lunch during the difficult winter months.

The Bustamante Family from Chappaqua serving lunch on Wednesday, February 4 – Tony and Norma’s specialty Cuban picadillo was well-received, as was the chicken and pasta dish and bread donated by Richard Lange of Lange’s Little Store in Chappaqua.		The Clark Family from Katonah and the Resnick Family from Chappaqua, serving lunch on Martin Luther King Day – Obama’s national day of service. Also contributing to the meal were the Pasquales from Mount Kisco and the Horends from Cross River.
Isaac Marquez, Neighbors Link Hiring Site Manager.		The Marquez Family preparing and serving breakfast on Christmas Eve
Catalina Samper-Horak, Neighbors Link Board Chair; Linda Denison, Dick Lawrence, Starr Lawrence and Carola Bracco, Neighbors Link Executive Director		Starr and Dick Lawrence and Linda Dennison of Mount Kisco – with the help of many cooking friends -- serving lunch to Neighbors Link clients on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Obama's Call to Service Brings Local Community to Neighbors Link

MOUNT KISCO, NY, January 21, 2009…The local Northern Westchester community responded to the Obamas’ call for community service on Martin Luther King Day, January 19, 2009, by donating hundreds of bags of groceries, and supplying and serving a hot meal to more than 75 clients at the Neighbors Link community center in Mount Kisco, NY.

Neighbors Link posted an event – “Love Thy Neighbor Drive” – on the official ‘Renew America’ Service Day website – www.usaservice.org – and more than 50 people in the local area registered to participate.

On Monday, January 19, more than 50 separate donations of groceries, toiletries and grocery giftcards were made by different groups – a steady stream of families, friends and individuals – from 9:00am until 6:00pm – until an entire classroom at Neighbors Link was filled with canned goods, bags of rice, toiletries, and assorted food staples. In addition, four families brought food for a pot-luck lunch, and served a hot meal to more than 75 Neighbors Link clients at midday.

On President Obama’s Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20, the groceries were sorted and distributed to Neighbors Link clients after they assembled at the community center to watch the Inauguration in the morning. A discussion session led by executive director Carola Bracco followed Obama’s Inaugural address, with a goal of building civic awareness and explaining how the election process works.

Neighbors Link Clients Give Back to Community

Neighbors Link volunteers worked to clear the Village of litter in June as part of
National Day Laborer Clean Up Day.

 

Westchester Community College Comes to Neighbors Link
In 2007, Neighbors Link joined in an unprecedented partnership with Westchester Community College to provide a certificate program for daily ESL classes on-site at Neighbors Link. The college has a well-earned reputation as the “school of choice” for immigrants. Volunteers continue to make very important contributions to our ESL program. Volunteer tutors offer learners ESL in small group sessions at various times during the week.

Neighbors Link goes to Mount Kisco Elementary School
In partnership with Mount Kisco Elementary School, Neighbors Link has launched a new after school program, Learning Links, at the school for 40 low-income students. This new program provides three teachers to help children with their homework and to allow them to participate in the after-school activities available to other students. Full-time classroom teachers surveyed report overwhelming improvement in school work and test scores.