Back to AHA News

Monthly Archives: July 2021

Albany – Public Meeting with the Independent Redistricting Commission

Mid Hudson _ Capital Notice

The Independent Redistricting Commission of New York State will hold a virtual public meeting on August 2, 2021, at 2 pm to seek comments from the residents of the Mid-Hudson Valley and Capital Region.

The Commission would appreciate your help in publicizing the meeting for your residents. They can sign up to participate in and stay updated about the process at our website: www.nyirc.gov

The Commission is seeking input from your community’s residents as it embarks on this process. This includes, but is not limited to information such as:
• How do residents feel about the current lines outlining their district?
• What would residents like the IRC to know about their community of interest?

Participants will have up to three (3) minutes of speaking time, with no question or answer period. Residents are also invited to create their own maps using resources available on our website. The Commission invites residents to submit written comment as well through our website. All meetings will be recorded for future public record and will be livestreamed as they occur.

These public meetings are the first and best opportunity for New Yorkers to give public comment before the Commission begins drawing the first round of district maps after the Census Bureau releases its data on August 16, 2021. Then initial district maps will be released to the public for review by September 15, 2021. After which, the Commission will hold a series of hearings where residents may testify. Then, final district maps will be voted on and certified by the Commission and presented to the New York State Legislature. Any person who wishes to request auxiliary aids or services, including translation, to participate in this public meeting of the Commission, in accordance with State or Federal law, should indicate this when they sign up no less than 24 hours prior to the meeting.

The IRC is a ten-member body created by the voters of New York State to redraw Congressional and State Legislature lines fairly and equitably. Public participation in drawing these districts is critical to ensuring that communities throughout New York continue to have the strongest voice possible to express their preferences. When voters with similar interests are drawn into a district together, their voices multiply giving them a greater opportunity to express their views, elect candidates of their choice and hold their leaders accountable. We urge your constituents to stay updated on this process by signing up at www.nyirc.gov and connecting with us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Posted in Featured News | Comments closed

FOCUS Breakfast Special Day: Thursday, July 29 ERAP & Gift Card Giveaway

FOCUS Churches Free Hot Breakfast is giving away $10 gift cards to the first 45 Breakfast guests

Thursday, July 29
7am to 8:30am
Westminster Presbyterian Church
262 State Street, Albany

Outreach workers from Legal Aid Society and Albany County DSS will be here to sign up folks for ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program).
Poor People’s Campaign members will be here to share information on advocacy and justice opportunities.
All are welcome!
and . . .
FOCUS Churches Free Hot Breakfast
is now open three mornings a week:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
7am to 8:30am

FOCUS Churches of Albany 

275 State Street, Albany, NY 12210

website: www.focuschurches.net

Facebook

Posted in Featured News | Comments closed

City of Albany Office of Audit and Control New Youth Program- Ready. Set. Goal!

RSG FlyerPress Release

Ready. Set. Goal! Application

CITY OF ALBANY
OFFICE OF AUDIT AND CONTROL
24 EAGLE STREET, ROOM 111
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12207
TELEPHONE (518) 434-5023
PRESS RELEASE
Date: June 24, 2021
Contact: Dr. Dorcey Applyrs
Chief City Auditor
518-434-5023
** * PRESS RELEASE * **

THE OFFICE OF AUDIT AND CONTROL LAUNCHES NEW YOUTH PROGRAM READY. SET. GOAL!

Albany, NY – The Office of Audit and Control is thrilled to announce Ready. Set. Goal!, a new youth program. Ready. Set. Goal! will host its first cohort Monday, August 16, 2021 through Friday, August 20,2021. The goal of this program is to link youth in the City of Albany to economic opportunities and in turn build a pipeline of highly qualified young talent that will shape our community’s economic future. Cooperative economics and personal and professional goal setting serve as the foundation of this program. Ready, Set, Goal! incorporates workshops, field experiences, and networking opportunities with local business leaders to foster an environment that encourages career exploration, critical thinking, and skills building. Examples of featured topics include, college preparation, professional etiquette, money management, career readiness, and entrepreneurship.
In order to be eligible, applicants must be entering the 8th or 9th grade at the start of the 2021-2022 Academic Year and a City of Albany resident.

To apply for the program, prospective applicants can visit:
https://form.jotform.com/211674060275149

2021 Ready. Set. Goal! is made possible by a host of community partners. Sponsors include by Albany Housing Authority, Dawn Abbuhl, President of Repeat Business Systems, Inc., University at Albany Associate Professor Dr. Lani Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Williams and Price Chopper & Market 32.

Chief City Auditor Dr. Dorcey Applyrs said “Thank you to our community partners for making Ready. Set. Goal! possible. This program will ensure that young people gain meaningful economic opportunities which is essential to reducing poverty, develop future leaders and secure, stable community. This program will improve future employment outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged youth who would otherwise have low summer employment rates and improve educational outcomes. We look forward to collaborating with the community partners in few months ahead for a success program.”

Albany Housing Authority, Executive Director Chiquita D’Arbeau said “Albany Housing Authority is proud to support Ready. Set. Goal! and looks forward to working with the talented students who will participate in this initiative. It is extremely important to connect our youth with economic opportunities and to help develop them into community leaders. Congratulations to the Office and Audit and Control for launching this exciting program.”

Repeat Business Systems, Inc., President Dawn Abbuhl, PhD said “The mission of Ready. Set. Goal! immediately grabbed my attention as I have always been committed to supporting young talent and truly appreciate the direct reach that this program will have. The process of including real field experiences coupled with workshops for relevant skill development being offered, and then providing opportunities for the students to practice these skills while networking is the perfect way to make a lasting impression and a great foundation. We are very excited to be part of it!”
New Birth Christian Fellowship Center, Dr. Paul Parsons Sr., Pastor said “Investing in our youth today is investing in the future of our communities, city, and country. Ready. Set. Goal! is an amazing first step in developing our youth locally for a global impact and we I am glad to be a part of this initiative!

For any questions, additional information, or if you would like to be a community sponsor, contact Michele Andre, Auditor at Mandre@albanyny.gov or 518-434-5023.

###

Posted in Featured News | Comments closed

City of Albany and COVID Recovery Task Force Continues to Seek Input on the Use of American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds

CITY OF ALBANY

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

24 EAGLE STREET

ALBANY, NEW YORK 12207

  * * NEWS RELEASE * * 

Date: July 13, 2021

Contact: David Galin

dgalin@albanyny.gov

 City of Albany and COVID Recovery Task Force Continues to Seek Input on the Use of American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds 

Deadline For Second Survey Tuesday, July 20

ALBANY, NY – The City of Albany and the COVID Recovery Task Force is once again seeking input on the City’s use of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds. Feedback is essential to ensuring the discretionary ARP funds are used in the most impactful ways for our community. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by Tuesday, July 20. The survey includes 17 questions estimated at under 15 minutes to complete.

The two surveys implemented as part of the COVID Recovery Task Force are intended to serve as an opportunity to get feedback on the needs and priorities identified by the Task Force and to validate, amend, and add to the Task Force’s preliminary findings.

On March 12, 2021, Mayor Sheehan announced the creation of a COVID Recovery Task Force to ensure the City of Albany equitably and strategically maximizes the resources available to its residents, businesses, and community organizations. More information on the Task Force.

Signed into law by President Biden in March 2021, the ARP has provided funding to states, local governments, and other entities to help replace lost revenues, cover COVID-related expenses, and reverse the economic impacts of this pandemic. The City of Albany was allocated approximately $80.7 million as part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

The 41 experts who make up the Task Force represent a wide cross-section of community, educational, healthcare and commercial sectors, and – in addition to these surveys – will draw from existing community strategies and their extensive experience to provide information on trends and impacts in their industries, while representing the populations they serve. As the Task Force’s work progresses, it is important for the City to obtain input from the public on local needs and priorities to ensure local needs are being well-represented. The City of Albany COVID Recovery Task Force will be working with their diverse constituent groups directly in addition to these two widespread public surveys to meet these needs. The final report produced will ultimately help guide the City of Albany and its Common Council on how best to allocate resources for recovery from the pandemic. Thank you in advance for making your voice heard in this important effort.

###

Posted in Featured News | Comments closed

Free outdoor yoga series

 NAMASTATE STREET FREE YOGA SERIES ANNOUNCED
CALL FOR BUSINESS PARTICIPATION

 
The BID has partnered with the State University of New York to host a free outdoor yoga series, NamaState Street Yoga, at SUNY Plaza (Broadway and State Street) during August and September. Led by certified instructors, the all-level classes will take place on Saturdays in August from 10:00-11:00 AM and Wednesdays in September from Noon-1:00 PM. Whether you’re looking for a weekend recharge before enjoying some Downtown shopping and lunch, or a chance to stretch out on a mid-week lunch break, NamaState Street Yoga is here for you!

Pre-registration is not required, but doing so will mean you will get event updates directly in your inbox. Full event information can be found here.

DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES: If you are interested in offering a special menu item/drink/retail deal to participants, please contact Jason Bonafide at jbonafide@downtownalbany.org with information.

Posted in Featured News | Comments closed

Multiple scholarships are available for our 2021 summer camp!

albany can code

We are excited to announce multiple scholarships are available for our 2021 summer camp being offered in partnership with SUNY Schenectady!

The camp will cover using block-coding using Scratch (scratch.mit.edu), which allows students to create programs using a LEGO-style approach or pre-built color-coded blocks that connect to form instructions, allowing students to focus on creating digital content.

Scratch Enrichment & Coding Fundamentals
August 9 – 13th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Middle School Grades 5-8
Register here

*Note: This summer camp will be held virtually, using a 100% online platform.

SIM scholarships are available for this camp:
This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) scholarship was established in 2017 by SIM (Society for Information Management) Albany. As part of its efforts to give back to the local community, SIM collaborates and works with academic institutions and non-profit organizations that promote STEM through their programs. The STEM scholarship will be awarded to economically disadvantaged students interested in attending STEM classes through the SUNY Schenectady Workforce Development and Community Education’s Kid and Teen Academy. The intention of the scholarship is to make it possible for economically disadvantaged students to take STEM classes by funding some or all of the cost of a class. The number of awards and award amount may vary based on the number of applicants and the type of class. Look for “STEM” in the course descriptions to identify STEM offerings.

Please contact Maria C. Kotary at 518-595-1101, ext. 4, if you are interested in applying your child for the scholarship.

Posted in Featured News | Comments closed