Newsletter Issue #63
DECEMBER 2021

Sesame Flyers International Toy Drive Recap

It was great seeing our community this past Saturday for our Annual Toy Drive, in partnership with the Morvant Ebonites and Redd World Foundation! Over 200 parents of the programs and the community at large registered to have a moment with Santa and the elves for this holiday gift celebration. Covid protocols staggered the guests arrival throughout the day and had performances from the participants of the Bildersee Beacon, and Sesame Flyers Junior Dance Company to provide holiday cheer along with some holiday refreshments.
 

Executive Director's Message

The year-end routine of personal and professional assessment seems to evade no one. At the close of every year we tend to look back and wonder what we could have done differently, better, or more of. This review drives us to laser focus our attention on what we want to accomplish for the new year, in the hopes of a better year ahead. As we go through this cycle year after year, it has become clear to me that what we all want most is to experience balance. We want to experience growth in our lives, however not at the expense of other key areas taking a down turn. However, what if balance is choosing to embrace all of our experiences as growth?

Our afterschool programs are flourishing and events have resumed at the Clubhouse, yet we are chartering new territory in implementing CDC health protocols and navigating behavior challenges in our young people who missed out on almost 2 years of peer to peer socialization. I am grateful for the growth of the programs and choosing to embrace an enhanced commitment to community health and deepening Sesame’s impact on youth mental health. Perhaps, balance is a choice and not something that happens to us when it seems like everything in life is working out.

I encourage you to embrace 2022 with the grace, elegance, and power of water, “water goes with the flow but is unstoppable.”

May this be your best year yet.
 

Sesame Flyers International Thanksgiving Recap

We hope you all had a safe and blessed Thanksgiving. This year we were grateful to come together at our Winthrop Beacon and Bildersee Beacon campuses as well as at our SFI Main Office and Cultural Center to give thanks for another year and share a meal as a community. Here’s to the Holiday Season!

Sesame Flyers International Center For Family Support
By MRS. L RAHAMAN - Program Director

Sesame Flyers International, Inc., Center For Family Support (CFS) Preventive Program was not, will not, and will never be ACS (Administration For Children Services).
 
We are a division of Sesame Flyers International, Inc. and the program – comprised of Sesame Flyers International employees - is contracted by ACS to provide Preventive services to specified Brooklyn community districts. Preventive services’ aim is to prevent placement or replacement of children into foster care via the provision of case management services. The program has been in existence for over 20+ years. The staff provides individual and family counseling, referrals, advocacy, crisis management, etc., during monthly home, field, and office sessions.

The Center For Family Support has faced various obstacles in the past, but remain steadfast in the community and committed to its mission. The program has been operating throughout the pandemic, with some Case Planners conducting in-person sessions. CFS is aware that the pandemic has affected our clientele, which is evident by the increase in domestic violence, unemployment, and additional stressors. We’re (CFS) dedicated to providing essential services to address all matters affecting our clients.

The staff includes Ms. Harte/Senior Case Planner (CP) - 8 years, Ms. Polanco/Spanish speaking CP -2 years, Ms. Ogungbenro/CP - 10 months, Ms. Cook/CP - 10 months, Ms. Parkinson/French Creole speaking CP 6mos, Ms. Corbin/ Quality Assurance -18mos, Mr. Osborne/Supervisor 3 years and Mrs. Rahaman, Program Director - 9 years. We are on a committed path and remain dedicated to empowering our families towards self-sufficiency. We are preparing to have a Case Aide/Office Manager join our team in the near future.

All interested candidates can forward their resume and cover letter to Mrs. Rahaman at lrahaman@sesameflyers.org. Come join our team as we “Love a Kid Today and Every Day!”

The Center for Family Support is currently operating remotely until further notice. We can be reached at 718-221-8881 for further assistance.
 

Dahved Levy & Sesame Flyers International Laptop Giveaway

Dahved Levy of 107.5 WBLS and Caribbean Fever with his trademark catchphrase, “Rockin’ you! Rockin’ you!” a benchmark in Caribbean radio, is a trailblazer and innovator in the field of broadcast media. He was the first person to host a Caribbean focused show on mainstream radio in New York. While many people know Dahved for his possessing an easy charm, quick wit, and a distinctive voice, what some people may not know is Dahved’s commitment to investing in the youth of our community.

At the start of this year Dahved Levy in partnership with Sesame Flyers International Inc. launched a Laptop Giveaway to deserving high school students interested in the field of journalism. Many young people applied, the top two selected were selected, Madison Garrett and Aissata Maiga. Madison went on to start Sesame Flyers Teen Magazine "Gen Z Voices" which can now be found on instagram https://www.instagram.com/genzsvoices/ She also went on to receive and an award for Excellence in Journalism at Sesame Flyers’ Caribbean Essence Awards and Showcase this year. Asissata is now in college and the laptop has helped her tremendously.

To end 2021, Dahved is looking to give away more laptops to deserving high school students ages 14 -18 who have an interest in journalism and broadcasting. Young people should write a one-page essay detailing why they are interested in this field, what their future career goals are, and what the laptop would help them accomplish. If you know a young person who is eager to take advantage of this opportunity, please have them complete an essay and send to development@sesameflyers.org for review.

Winners will be announced in the Sesame Flyers January Newsletter. https://www.sesameflyers.org/newsletter.html
 

The School To Prison Pipeline
By TEEN WRITER - Madison's Garrett, Editor & Chief Of GenZs Voices

Sesame Flyers International
Calendar Of Events 2021

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