Going Green in Queens 2011 - March 26th at Al Oerter Recreation Center

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What: Going Green in Queens

When: Saturday March 26th

Time: 10am - 3:30pm

Where: Al Oerter Recreation Center

Address: 131-40 Fowler Avenue - Flushing, NY

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Assemblywoman Pheffer Announces “New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods” Grants from Citizens Committee for New York City

Assemblywoman Audrey I. Pheffer (D-Queens) is pleased to announce that Citizens Committee for New York City has informed her of grants that are available for local volunteer community groups and public school-based student groups working to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods and schools across the city.

Through New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods, Citizens Committee offers grants ranging from $500 to $3,000 to grassroots community groups in economically under-resourced neighborhoods to work on community improvement projects that bring neighborhoods together.

“With this grant program, Citizens Committee is offering our community organizations a wonderful opportunity to bring many of their innovative community improvement project ideas to fruition. I encourage anyone interested to take full advantage of this great opportunity,” said Pheffer.

The application deadline for the Fall 2009 grants is September 30^th and for the Spring 2010 grants the deadline is March 14, 2010. For further information regarding how to apply, contact Citizens Committee for New York City at their website, www.citizensnyc.org/grants, or call 212-989-0909.

On the Record with Lixian Hantover, Citizens Committee for New York City by Phil Guie - Leader-Observer

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Change often starts on the grassroots level, which could mean a handful of neighbors uniting for a common goal. That's exactly the kind of situation the not-for-profit Citizens Committee is looking to support.

According to Lixian Hantover, a resources coordinator for the organization, the Citizens Committee offers a number of different grants aimed at helping independent citizens improve their communities and schools. They have worked with residents in the Far Rockaway and Crown Heights areas of Queens and Brooklyn, respectively, but their funding is available all over the city.

In addition, the grants are not necessarily targeted at groups with long-term mission statements. Some recipients have very specified goals - for example, cleaning up a vacant lot full of used syringes - and local churches can accept the grants on their neighbors' behalf.

"It may be the only project they ever do, but we hope they continue working on other projects," Hantover said.

Past successes include community gardens started in East New York and Jamaica to address a lack of green space and activities for youth, and funding the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance's clean-up of beaches that had become illegal dumping grounds.

Meanwhile, along with the annual Mollie Parnis Dress Up Your Neighborhood awards aimed at beautification projects, the Citizens Committee also offers Dress Up Your School and New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods awards contests, both of which are semi-annual.

On average, the group gives away 150 grants per year, funded by corporations and foundations. But Hantover said there is no set amount of grants the Citizens Committee gives away.

"We will find the money to fund as many groups as qualify for the grants," she said.

Regarding popular misconceptions, she said many people assume there is an overwhelming amount of work involved in the application process.

"They think they must be an established not-for-profit [to apply]," said Hantover, who has been with the organization for six months. "Really, the emphasis is you and your neighbors seeing a problem in your neighborhood and bringing the community together for it. Something as simple as that is what we'd fund."

For more information on the Citizens Committee, and for awards contest deadlines, call (212) 989-0909 - Phil Guie