Welcome to Around the Settlement, our monthly blog post sharing a deeper look into all of the vital programs and services provided by Grand St. Settlement throughout the Lower East Side, Brooklyn, and The Bronx.

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Celebrating the Week of the Young Child!

Our Early Childhood students celebrated a joyful week of themed activities for the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Week of the Young Child. Each day focused on a different theme: Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday! During this week of learning and celebration, children had the chance to demonstrate creative expression, collaborate with their classmates, and try new foods!

Gearing Up for the AAPI Month Cook Off 

This year is the 3rd Annual AAPI Flavors Cook-Off, and it’s not just the chefs who are getting ready! Best Buy Teen Tech Center participants, like Lucas, are hard at work designing 3D-modeled trophies to submit as the official design of this year’s Annual AAPI Flavors Cook-Off winner trophy. We’re rooting for all our designers and chefs this year!

Movin' It!

BEST NORC older adults were excited to start the Moving For Life initiative, a new City Council-sponsored exercise program. Instructor Caroline King led a somatic movement class tailored towards helping our seniors manage chronic conditions and maintain their physical and mental health. 

Cooking it Up in The Bronx

Our little ones are turning into future chefs! Pelham Parkway Child & Family Center students and those enrolled with our Bronx Family Child Care Partner, Ivelise Guerrero, donned their aprons to attend a hands-on cooking experience with The Sylvia Center. From mixing and measuring to tasting new nutritious foods, our students are building confidence, learning new skills, and having a blast in the kitchen!

Eggs-tra Special Easter Egg Hunt

Spring has sprung! Marcus Garvey Community Center kids celebrated with an Easter Egg Hunt unlike any other. Participants showed off their favorite dance moves in an East boogie line before starting the hunt, and they brought those moves back when they found the Easter Bunny’s diamond egg!

Happy Earth Day!

Baruch Elder Services Team (BEST) NORC had an inspiring and crafty Earth Day! Seniors used Deterra bags to safely dispose of their expired medications before creating unique collages from recycled magazines and even picked eco‑friendly “fortune cookie” tips to learn simple ways to save energy and support the environment. The team also hosted a resource table where seniors in the community had the chance to learn more about the NORC program.

Sipping Smoothies with the Fam

As the weather gets warmer, there’s nothing better than a fresh fruit smoothie! Children and their families enjoyed hands-on time creating their own smoothies while learning about nutrition and making healthy choices together before sampling their yummy creations!

Getting Ahead

We partnered with Acceptance Ahead, a college admissions consulting firm, to spearhead a basic college and resume prep workshop for our Youth participants. Acceptance Ahead led sessions at our Juan Morel Campos Secondary School and Lower East Prep campuses, helping students feel more confident about applying for colleges and jobs!

Game Time!

Technically, every day is Game Day at the BEST NORC as our older adults gather to play mahjong, dominoes, and complete puzzles, all activities that keep their minds sharp and spirits high. This month, we had Tyreese, the NORC’s John Jay College intern and an aspiring social worker, stop by to play alongside our seniors (and even share a few gaming tips of his own!)

Say Ahhhhh

Our partners at NYU Dentistry did their bi-annual visit to our Lower East Side Child & Family Sites to educate our students on oral health! As part of the Health and Wellness Session, students learned proper brushing technique and received a complimentary dental check-up. 

Money Smarts at Marcy Cornerstone Community Center

Our Marcy Cornerstone Community Center teens are money savvy! Participants enrolled in a financial literacy class were introduced to foundational skills to support smart financial decisions. From budgeting, saving, and responsible spending, our participants are building their arsenal of valuable tools to help them make informed financial decisions in the future! We also held a special workshop for older adults in the Marcy community interested in strengthening their financial literacy!

Celebrating April Birthdays

Happy Birthday to our Aries and Taurus babies! BEST NORC threw its monthly birthday party featuring a delicious birthday cake sponsored by Mrs. G Services Home Care Agency. We’re grateful to share in these special moments and celebrate alongside our seniors!

A Lovely time with our LoLos

Our "LoLos" (Little Ones and Loved Ones) Baby & Me participants were feeling extra musical this month! The Lolos program supports young families in our community, where the littlest ones can enjoy arts and crafts, music and dancing as their Loved Ones attend wellness sessions with our Mental Health Consultant and receive additional resources and support.

Destressing with Crafts

It can be hard to recognize your emotions, especially when you’re a kid. At Gowanus Community Center, participants created their own DIY stress balls while they learned how to identify different emotions. With their stress balls, participants practiced safe and healthy calming strategies while understanding their feelings were normal and valid. We’re so proud of our Gowanus youth!

An Ode to our Poets

During the NYS English Exam week, Lyons 21stCCLC students decompressed by participating in a Poetry Slam! Participants wrote and presented their poems on their aspirational dreams to an enthralled audience of families, school faculty, and community members. Congratulations to our poets!