3 minute read
Out & About
There were well deserved certifications as National Gang Specialists awards were presented on Thursday, Dec. 16, at East New York’s Prince Joshua Avitto Community Center, to 35 team members at MUSA (Man Up! USA) including founder and leader A.T. Mitchell. Mayorelect Eric Adams attended the event, and praised the Brooklyn violence interrupters and effective members of the City’s Cure Violence Crisis Management System. He commended the team for successfully completing the very intense training. Mitchell said, “We are the first and largest group in the state of New York as a non law enforcement agencies.”
Mayor-elect Eric Adams with the graduates
(Lem Peterkin photos)
Apostle Dr. Staci Ramos of Garden of Gethsemane Ministries hosted a toys, books, and hot food giveaway. All in the community were welcome.
Here’s a photo of Apostle Ramos with a father and his daughter happily receiving wonderful gifts.
(Bill Moore photo)
BED-STUY VILLAGE’S RESTORATION PLAZA HOSTS OFFICIAL TREE LIGHTING
Hosted by New York State Assemblywoman Stefani L. Zinerman, after the successful launch of its Winter Wonderland 2.0 popup Holiday Marketplace, Bed-Stuy Gateway BID—in concert with Van Alen Institute’s Neighborhoods Now program, and Wells Fargo’s “Hope USA” initiative—joined forces with Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation for its annual Tree Lighting ceremony. The illuminating event kicked off with a strutting performance by The Empire Marching Elite marching band and included inspirational sounds from The Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir.
Ariama C. Long
AmNews Staff Reports
The Amsterdam News is excited to announce that it will be adding a second Report for America (RFA) corps member to its editorial staff in 2022. This follows our selection as a RFA newsroom for the first time in 2021. This new journalist will be a community reporter with a special focus on covering public safety and AmNews readers will have a special opportunity to support their work.
“We are excited for Report for America’s faith in the important work we are doing keeping New York’s Black community informed,” said AmNews Publisher and Editor in Chief Elinor R. Tatum. “This additional capacity will allow us to continue our essential mission of holding the powerful accountable and keeping our community safe.”
Amsterdam News readers can make a matching, tax deductible donation to support the important work our RFA corps members do by visiting bit.ly/amnews1 or by mailing a check to: Report for America New York Amsterdam News Campaign c/o The GroundTruth Project, 10 Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135.
So far the AmNews has donated more than $4,000 towards our fundraising goal of $25,000.
“Now, more than ever, we depend on the generosity of our readership to help us continue our 112 year old mission of fighting for the Black community,” said Publisher Tatum.
AmNews’ new corp member will join the paper in June, joining our first RFA corps member Ariama C. Long who for the past six months has been covering politics and city hall as well as doing groundbreaking reporting including her article on food insecurity in New York City.
This announcement caps an exciting year at the AmNews which has seen the relaunch of our website amsterdamnews.com and our newsletter Editorially Black, both of which continue to expand our digital reach. In addition, the paper has received grants from Borealis Philanthrophy’s Racial Equity in Journalism Fund as well as the National Association for Black Journalists, the Fund for Investigative Journalism and Solutions Journalism Network among others. 2022 will continue to see an expansion of the essential journalism the AmNews does with several soon to be announced editorial initiatives.
