Newsletter Issue # 42
January 2020

BLACK HISTORY MONTH WILL BEGIN ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1 & ENDS ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 29 

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history. ARTICLE FROM HISTORY.COM
 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Happy New Year everyone! Can you believe it’s 2020? At the turn of the 21st Century we were worried about Y2K, the year 2020 sounded so far away. We figured by now there would be flying cars, and people walking around in silver space suits. Yet here were are. What will the next ten or twenty years look like? Last year our theme was Visions. We spent the year envisioning the future of Sesame Flyers. I hope you took the opportunity to do so as well for yourself and your life.

The momentum is here, there is a fresh opportunity to go after your passions and dreams with vigor and determination. In this new decade, we are proud to continue to do our signature culture and community work that Sesame Flyers is known for while expanding our reach and partnerships with community based organizations as you will read about in this edition of the newsletter.

Let the start of the New Year awaken and enliven you to all this possible for 2020 and beyond!

 

“SOLE WORK” AT BILDERSEE BEACON
BY KEISHA SYDNEY SESAME FLYERS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST

On Friday January 17, 2020 Sesame Flyers International INC. partnered with It’s From The Sole. A 501c(3) non-profit organization whose main focus is working with underserved communities, they have donated over 24,000 pairs of sneakers in New York City and around the world. The founder Andre McDonnell brought with him 35 pairs of shoes to donate to our kids at the Bildersee Beacon program.

(Picture from left to right: Keisha Sydney, Andre McDonnell, Kenya Alleyne Assistant Director of Bildersee Beacon and Cassandra Carrington, Parent)
 

THIRD ANNUAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING EXPOSITION AND RESOURCE FAIR
BY ANTHONY LINO, FAMILY TEAM CONFERENCE (FTC) FACILITATOR AT THE CENTER FOR FAMILY SUPPORT

On January 20, 2020 Sesame Flyers International Inc. was invited to attend the 3rd Annual Human Trafficking Exposition and Resource Fair. January is Human Trafficking Awareness month. In an effort to spread awareness, support survivors, and prevent youth from being exploited or trafficked, the Office of Child Trafficking Prevention hosted their annual fair. The Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services David Hansell, welcomed over 50 service providers dedicated to children and family services. During his commencement speech, the Commissioner of ACS reported; in 2018 the Safe Harbor program identified 2,839 children and young adults that have been or are at risk of sexual exploitation or trafficking, 913 were under the age of 19. There has been a steadfast development of awareness towards child sex and labor trafficking and providers are tasked with identifying it, and aiding in preventing it.

The resource fair’s itinerary for the day consisted of various activities, forums, and panels. Each respective borough was assigned a room consisting of set activities throughout the day. For the Brooklyn borough, the itinerary consisted of a panel and a creative arts therapy workshop later in the afternoon. The medical provider panel covered the clinical and medical trends observed by doctors when treating children and young adults who experience the harms of trafficking or sexual abuse. Major themes discussed as it related to child sex trafficking and abuse were trends observed by doctors when treating youth. For example, consistent complaints of stomach pains or irregular bowl movement, vaping and the transgender population were all indicators identified pertaining to youth as potential symptoms or in danger of abuse or sex trafficking.

The panel was hosted by doctors; Dr. Veronica Ades at the EMPOWER center who focuses on sexual trauma, Dr. Nina Agrawal at Columbia University who specializes in the adverse childhood experience model, Dr. Angela Diaz who is a Pediatrician at Mt. Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Dr. Dana Kaplan at STAND clinic who treats victims and survivors in Staten Island, Dr. Allen Keller at Bellevue who specializes in programming for survivors of torture, Dr. Lori Legano at NYU Langone Pediatrician for child victims, Dr. Danielle Patt at Mt. Sinai and lastly Dr. Peter Sherman at Bronx Care. Each doctor provided insight on the work they do and how we can all collectively work towards ending child abuse and sex trafficking in New York, overall the entire fair was worthwhile in acquiring resources to educate and service our respective communities.

TEEN SPOTLIGHT
BY KIANNA PAUL, GET R.I.C.H PRESIDENT

Abigaelle Bellevue is now one of our newest members of Get R.I.C.H! Get R.I.C.H. stands for Reaching Individuals to Care for Humanity. This program is for young leaders and it is based on community service, life skills workshops and fun events for teens. Abigaelle started as a Summer Youth Employment Program worker in 2019. Abigaelle was asked to fill out a survey and was told she would get a call after the summer. Abigaelle’s survey was the best survey, she stated that she was passionate about mentoring and helping young children. She sees herself going to law school one day. Abigaelle says she wants to be a youth leader because younger kids are looking for someone to guide them and talk to them as an equal not as a child. She is also interested in learning more about business in one of our upcoming workshops. There was no way we wouldn't want her to be with us, we are happy to have her on the team.

If you are within the ages of 14 - 24 and want to be a leader and give back to the community you can contact Get R.I.C.H. at SFIGetRich@gmail.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR 2020

MARCH

WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 11, 18, 25, 2020
Sesame Every Wednesday African Dance Class at 7:00 pm
WEDNESDAY MARCH 25, 2020
Winthrop Beacon Advisory Board Meeting
FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2020
Winthrop Beacon Spring Showcase

APRIL

WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2020
Sesame Every Wednesday African Dance at 7:00 pm
SECOND BILDERSEE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

THURSDAY APRIL 9 TO FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2020
Spring Recess (DOE Schools Closed)
SUNDAY APRIL 12, 2020
Easter Sunday
FRIDAY APRIL 24, 2020
Winthrop Beacon Family Event

MAY

WEDNESDAY 6, 13, 20, 27, 2020
Sesame Every Wednesday African Dance Class at 7:00 pm
SATURDAY MAY 9, 2020
Bildersee Beacon Health Fair
SUNDAY MAY 10, 2020
Mother's Day
SATURDAY MAY 16, 2020
Winthrop Beacon Health Fair
MONDAY MAY 25, 2020
Memorial Day (Programs Closed / Schools)
MONDAY MAY 25, 2020
Memorial Day Sesame Atlanta Carnival
FRIDAY MAY 29, 2020
Winthrop Beacon Family Event

JUNE

THURSDAY JUNE 4, 2020
Bildersee Beacon Advisory Board Meeting
THURSDAY JUNE 4, 2020
Chancellor Conference Day
(Winthrop Beacon Open, Bildersee Closed / DOE Schools Closed) FRIDAY JUNE 5, 2020
Winthrop Beacon End of Year Showcase
TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2020
Clerical Day
(Winthrop Open, Bildersee Closed / DOE Schools Closed)
FRIDAY JUNE 19, 2020
Juneteenth
WEDNESDAY JUNE 10, 2020
Winthrop Beacon Advisory Board Meeting
SUNDAY JUNE 21, 2020
Father’s Day
FRIDAY JUNE 26, 2020
Last Day of Public School

To Be Announced
Sesame: Father’s Day Dinner
To Be Announced
Caribbean Heritage Cultural Gala
To Be Announced
Kiddies Launch
To Be Announced
Summer Youth Employment Program Registration

JULY

SATURDAY JULY 4, 2020
Independence Day (Observed Friday the 3rd)

To Be Announced
Summer Camps Opens
To Be Announced
Summer Youth Employment Program Begin

AUGUST

FRIDAY AUGUST 7, 2020
Calypso Fridays

To Be Announced
Block Party

SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2020
Kiddies Carnival
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2020
Brooklyn Labor Day Carnival Parade - Eastern Parkway
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2020
Sesame Flyers International Last Lap Lime

OCTOBER

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 14, 21, 28, 2020
Sesame Flyers Every Wednesday African Dance Class Open to Public and Practice
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, 2020
Halloween

To Be Announced
Saturday Program Open for Registration
To Be Announced
Breast Cancer Walk

NOVEMBER

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2020
Daylight Saving End
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 11, 18, 2020
Sesame Flyers Every Wednesday African Dance Class Open to Public and Practice
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2020
Veteran’s Day
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2020
Thanksgiving

To Be Announced
Sesame Flyers International Thanksgiving Celebration
To Be Announced
Children’s Thanksgiving Celebration

THURSDAY 26 & 27, 2020
Thanksgiving Recess (Schools closed)

DECEMBER

THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 2020
Christmas Eve
FRIDAY DECEMBER 25, 2020
Christmas Day
SATURDAY DECEMBER 26, 2020
Kwanzaa
31st New Year’s Eve

To Be Announced
Children’s Holiday Party
To Be Announced
SFI Parang

Winter Recess (DOE Schools closed)
 

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