Day: January 28, 2025

When I reflect on the experiences that have most profoundly impacted my life, my time at Uncommon Excellence Boys Charter School, a PreK-8 school in Bedford-Stuyvesant, stands out. It wasn’t just a school for me; it was a place that molded my character, sharpened my intellect, and prepared me for life’s challenges. Excellence Boys provided more than just an education; it fostered a sense of brotherhood and instilled values that continue to guide me. 

Sadly, my story is extraordinarily rare. And young Black boys often don’t have male role models in the classroom to guide them and foster a sense of belonging. Why does this all matter? The dropout rates from high school for Black male students after an encounter with a single Black male educator decrease by 39%, and their college aspirations increase by 19%.

I remember one pivotal moment when I struggled in math class. My teacher spent time after school and on the weekends helping me understand the material. This dedication and persistent support gave me a better grasp of the subject matter and showed me the value of perseverance and seeking help when needed. Admittedly, as a shy young boy, it was much easier to ask for help from a teacher that I could relate to. There was no fear of judgment, and he told me his own stories about overcoming his fear of math. 

Bottom line: Excellence Boys fostered an environment where failure wasn’t the end but rather an opportunity to improve. I wouldn’t be the first to fail and neither the last to improve. I could thrive, and it would feel fulfilling to defy challenges. I wish this on all young black men across the country. We just want to be seen, heard, and respected — and the classroom oftentimes is the first place where many are belittled.

We need to tackle this issue head-on because Black boys have continually performed lower in school than other demographics and have higher dropout rates in middle schools and high schools. Brooklyn boys can undoubtedly benefit from attending a school like Excellence Boys. At Uncommon Schools, 8% of teachers are Black males, more than four times the national average and double the number in New York City. This stark difference in representation matters. The structured environment, high academic standards, culturally relevant, responsive teaching practices, and focus on character development provided by Black males further strengthen a strong foundation for future success. The school doesn’t just teach you how to solve equations or write essays; it teaches you how to think critically, communicate effectively, and collaborate with others. It prepares boys to be scholars and leaders in their communities.

All young boys need more than just academic knowledge — they must develop resilience, social skills, and a sense of responsibility. Excellence Boys excels at nurturing these qualities.  In my eight years at Excellence Boys, I developed a strong sense of camaraderie and accountability with my peers, turning them into brothers. I became part of a deep brotherhood that extended beyond the classroom, creating a supportive network of parents, teachers, and students, where we all felt like we were in it together. I could not be more grateful for this support network and life-long brotherhood, and I urge all parents and prospective students to consider a school like Uncommon Excellence Boys. It’s a genuine launching pad to success.

To find out more about more about Uncommon Excellence Boys please click HERE.

TRUMP’S order to suspend Congressionally-approved domestic and international grant funding, including Medicaid, is illegal.

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THE EVE OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR was celebrated in Brooklyn with a “Pop-Up” food distribution event on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

The post Food giveaway heralds Lunar New Year appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

City Comptroller Brad Lander and other city officials urged Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday to either directly sue or join other legal actions to protect the $11.8 billion in federal funding that the city could lose due to President Trump’s newly enacted federal funding freeze.

Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced on Monday night that it would pause all federal grant and loan payments as it conducts a “review” of spending to ensure they align with the torrent of executive orders he issued last week. His actions touched several areas, such as dismantling federal diversity and inclusion programs, executing mass deportations of undocumented migrants, and rolling back climate change-fighting policies.

According to Lander, the city’s fiscal watchdog, Trump’s freeze could cut off Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding aimed at helping the city recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and money for infrastructure projects passed through the Federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act. While OMG said in its memo that Social Security and Medicare are exempt from the freeze, other public assistance programs, like those administered by nonprofits and those funded through block grants, are in a more precarious state.

“This is money that goes to our hospitals, this is money that pays the rent for low-income families, this is the school lunch money in our public schools,” Lander said at a Jan. 28 press conference. “Hundreds of millions of dollars are at risk here that would have direct, devastating impact on working families and, of course, on cities and states themselves.”

‘Stealing our lunch money’

The comptroller also raised concerns about what could happen to New Yorkers who rely on programs the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program — also known as Food Stamps, Medicaid, and Section 8 housing vouchers.

However, Mayoral spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus, in a post on X, pointed to new guidance released by Trump’s budget office indicating that those programs and several others would not be subject to the freeze. Yet multiple reports indicated that Medicaid’s online portals were down in several states on Tuesday.

Lander, who is running for mayor against Adams, said the city should either file its own legal action or join larger brewing lawsuits to block Trump’s pause on federal funding. He said the city could join a suit that state Attorney General Letitia James plans to announce later Tuesday on behalf of a multi-state coalition or another brought by a group of nonprofits and small businesses in Washington DC.

“New York City has to take action; this is literally the bully stealing our lunch money,” Lander said. “And it is critical for New York City to stand up and be counted and make clear that we won’t stand for it.”

The City Council, in a post on X, also pressed Adams to take legal action in its own Tuesday afternoon statement.

“From our children and families to older adults and students, President Trump’s decision to halt federal aid will endanger our economy and the health and safety of our residents and Americans across the nation,” they said. “This demands a clear and coordinated response from the mayoral administration to join with cities and states throughout the US to protect the services our residents depend on.”

‘Assessing the situation’

In a statement, the mayor did not address whether the city would take or join legal actions against Trump’s order. He stopped short of taking an adversarial tone against the White House but said he would “advocate firmly” for the city’s interests.

“We are assessing the full reach of the Trump administration’s announcement, as specific programs are not named in the memo,” Adams said. “We are in touch with our federal counterparts as we continue to monitor this situation closely, and will advocate firmly on behalf of New Yorkers whose lives are impacted by affected programs.”

Lander charged that Adams, whose office has said he is “not feeling his best” this week, has thus far not taken a hard line against Trump’s action because he is seeking help from the president with his federal indictment.

“Today, perhaps that has to do with his illness, and I want everyone to be healthy,” Lander said. “But in days even before that, Mayor Adams has appeared as someone more interested in seeking a pardon for himself than standing up for the people who elected him.”

Seven people protesting the closure of a Starbucks on Seventh Ave. were arrested on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 28.

The post ✰PREMIUM<br>Starbucks union workers arrested at protest in Park Slope appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

28 января 2025 г. НЬЮ-ЙОРК –  Мэр Нью-Йорка Эрик Адамс сегодня опубликовал следующее заявление после того, как Управление по управлению и бюджету (OMB) федеральной администрации объявило […]

Seven people protesting the closure of a Starbucks on Seventh Ave. were arrested on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 28.

The post Seven arrested at Park Slope Starbucks workers protest appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

A THREE-STORY VACANT building on Atlantic Avenue and Beach 42nd Street was engulfed in a blaze early Monday morning,

The post All 50 states appear to have lost access to Medicaid portals appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

Potential mass deportations of undocumented individuals could ripple through New York City’s economy if Donald Trump carries out his presidential campaign promise for such expulsions, according to financial experts. 

A report from the Fiscal Policy Institute and the Immigration Research Initiative weighed the potential economic and fiscal fallout following anticipated policies from the Trump administration, which has signaled its intention to escalate enforcement actions aimed at removing immigrants from New York’s communities, workplaces, and families.

This forced exodus has caused widespread concern for undocumented immigrants, those on temporary visas, those with temporary protected status, asylum seekers and DACA recipients — all of whom may find their statuses potentially compromised.

New York city is home to approximately 4.5 million immigrants, 1.8 million of whom are noncitizens; an estimated 670,000 individuals are undocumented. In 2022, undocumented immigrants contributed approximately $3.1 billion in state and local taxes.

Team members with the Immigration Research Initiative — including David Dyssegaard Kallick, director of the program — say the removal of these individuals from the workforce poses severe threats to the state’s economy, particularly in essential sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, construction, and agriculture.

“Immigrants are a vital part of New York, so it is no surprise to see the drastic impact the proposed Trump Administration policies will have on our state,” Kallick said. “Heartbreaking stories are already emerging of immigrants being separated from their families and their communities, and those separations are going to have negative consequences for all of us.”

Hospitality, child care, construction impacts

The report highlights the potential devastation across various industries, including restaurants, which employ an estimated 42,300 undocumented immigrants, 51,200 child or home care workers, and 48,500 construction workers. 

The effects aren’t limited to urban centers, but they could also negatively impact upstate cities.

According to the report, stopping the new flow of refugees to upstate cities will have a direct impact on population rebound in these areas. 

“State and City leadership must oppose the implementation of deportation policies that could have a devastating impact on New York’s immigrant communities and its economy,” said Nathan Gusdorf, director of the Fiscal Policy Institute. “In addition to their human cost, these policies could remove hundreds of thousands of immigrants from the workforce, causing New Yorkers to lose access to essential services, including child care and home care, and pushing up the cost of construction during a historic housing shortage.”

In a related development, the New York Working Families Party previously expressed strong disapproval of Mayor Eric Adams’ December 2024 meeting with the Trump Administration’s “border czar,” Tom Homan. Co-Directors Jasmine Gripper and Ana María Archila criticized the meeting as “deeply disturbing and irresponsible,” stating, “New Yorkers deserve a mayor who will fight to protect them, not harm them for political gain.”

They emphasized the need for collaborative community efforts to protect immigrant rights in the face of federal threats.

Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition emphasized the hurtful effects these deportations would cause. 

“This report highlights, what we know has been true for generations—immigrants are the backbone of New York’s economy, playing a vital role in building and revitalizing our local communities, whether as childcare providers, construction workers, teachers, farm workers, and more,” Awawdeh told amNewYork Metro. “Deporting our immigrant neighbors would have devastating consequences, disrupting the availability and affordability of basic necessities like food, housing, and care. By protecting New York’s workforce we can ensure the health of New York’s economy while ensuring that  every New York family can continue to contribute to their communities and build stable, fulfilling lives.”

In previous statements, Mayor Adams has said he would cooperate with the Trump administration on kicking out undocumented individuals convicted of violent crime, but that he would seek to protect all immigrants. 

“I’ve been very clear on this, and it’s not going to change,” Adams said, as previously reported by amNewYork Metro. “We want to bring down the anxiety. We want our immigrants to know that this is the city of immigrants; this is the country of immigrants. It’s imperative that you go to school, use the hospital service, use the police services.”