Schumer Grant Aids Queens YMCAs

A program that will continue to put students on the path to a college education will receive a $1 million grant secured by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer for several YMCAs in Queens.

The Department of Labor grant will go to the YMCA of Greater New York and then to the Flushing Y’s Youth Build Program to be funneled to Y’s in Queens, including those in East Elmhurst, Corona, Jamaica, St. Albans, Springfield Gardens and Cambria Heights, according to Schumer.

The lawmaker explained that the Youth Build Program assists out-of-school youth in obtaining diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the building industry.

Participants include individuals who have been in the juvenile justice system, youth aging out of foster care, high school dropouts and others. Schumer said that the funding would allow this critical community program to stay open during these tough economic times.

“By building math and reading skills, Youth Build programs help students finish high school and put them on the right path towards a college degree, a job and a bright future,” Schumer said. “With this critical investment in building our future, the Flushing YMCA can now keep its Queens Youth Build program open for business.”

Schumer, who first applied for program funding in 2010, said this year’s grant will provide for 70 at-risk youth with a broad educational training and employment services during the next two years. The program aims to have 70 percent of program graduates earn their GEDs, 75 percent to gain employment, a post-secondary education, a college degree, occupational skills training, or join the military and 85 percent placed in employment retaining their jobs through 90 days.

To achieve success, Schumer added that the YMCA has enlisted the support of more than 50 local partners, including the New York City GED Plus program, the City University of New York and local employees such as Macy’s, Modells and others.

Maloney On February Job Numbers

Now that the unemployment rate has dropped below nine percent and the economy added 192,000 jobs in February confirms the undeniable trend our economy is getting back on track, Congressmember Carolyn Maloney (D–Queens/Manhattan) declared after viewing February’s unemployment data.

“Now is not the time to pass Republican proposals that would weaken the recovery and send America backwards,” said Maloney.

“Just this week mainstream economists said that the GOP budget would cost 700,000 jobs nationwide potentially eliminating more than 45,000 jobs here in New York.”

She added, “Rather than the indiscriminate cuts put forward by House Republicans, we need to pair targeted cuts to programs that aren’t working well with targeted investments in education and infrastructure to move our economy forward.”

New School Considered For Ozone Park

School officials and community leaders are considering building a new, 416-seat public school in Ozone Park on a site which once was occupied by a Catholic church.

The proposal is supported by Councilmember Erich Ulrich (R–C–Ozone Park). “It’s a win-win situation,” Ulrich said. “There are a lot of immigrant families moving into the area and some of them have large families and we want to make sure that we provide them with a quality public education.”

The proposed site at 101st Avenue and 90th Street, which is where the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church school and convent was until June 2010. The congregation was merged at that time with the St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Church and parish, about two blocks away.

The city has reportedly signed a contract to acquire the property if it clears all acquisition hurdles.

—John Toscano