Summer Goes Out With a Bang at Henry Street
By Nicole Fogarty
Picking out books for the school year at the School Based Mental Health Clinic/Parent Center Back to School Event.
Fall may not officially start until September 22, but Henry Street’s been busy ushering in the back to school season with many events, three of them shared here.
First up: the Lower East Side United Festival, or LES United. Henry Street participated in this inaugural event, organized by Why Not Care, a nonprofit that provides community resources to those in need. LES United aims to educate, unite and empower people of the community by providing access to free Lower East Side resources. Henry Street’s Education and Employment programs, the Parent Center and the Abrons Arts Center were represented at informational tables.
Attendees enjoyed free backpacks, back-to-school haircuts, raffles and giveaways, face painting, basketball skills and drills, check-ups, and special hip hop dance performances by Abrons students all day long.
Abrons Engagement is currently enrolling students for Fall classes, including Hip Hop—click here for a full schedule.
The School Based Mental Health Clinic partnered with the Parent Center to host their annual Back to School event for program participants, this time assisted by volunteers from Lloyd’s Bank and United Talent Agency. Over 100 participants crowded the gym at 301 Henry Street to take part in informational workshops, arts and crafts, pet therapy, temporary tattoos from Tattly, raffles, and more, designed to welcome children of all ages to the new school year. Volunteers helped distribute books, backpacks and school supplies donated by Saturday Night Live star Michael Che, while kids designed their own t-shirts, received free temporary tattoos and enjoyed healthy snacks.
The Parent Center offers a host of free parenting groups and workshops in the fall, click here to learn more.
Finally, Jobs Plus and Jacob Riis Cornerstone Community Center hosted their 2nd annual End of Summer Jam. More than 400 community members flocked to Cornerstone the second weekend of September to say farewell to summer in style.
The law firm Allen & Overy provided 200 backpacks with school supplies, which were given away to the K-12th graders in attendance. Additionally, nonprofit organization Images for Inclusion provided free soccer balls and soccer workshops for girls while local law enforcement officers served popcorn and snow cones to the happy crowds. In addition, there were games, prizes, free food, live music, and community resources from local nonprofit organizations and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Jobs Plus and Cornerstone’s fun doesn’t end with summer—check out Jobs Plus’ membership drive for residents of the Wald and Riis Houses, and Cornerstone’s free evening program for all community youth!
