BK Reader

When was the last time you had a massage? I’m not talking about the 10-minute foot massage that comes with a pedicure or the three-minute shoulder rub from your significant other. I’m talking about a 45-minute, face-down, deep-tissue massage where you lose track of time, fall alseep and are awakened by the sound of your own snoring! It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? Bob Gallagher, a Williamsburg resident, massage therapist and owner of Mahalo Massage NYC in Union Square, says fewer people are choosing massage as a form of therapy. She's noticed an overall decline since the COVID-19 Pandemic, as people have gone back to pre-pandemic work schedules while trying to make ends meet. The Latest from BK Reader BQE Fix on Triple Cantilever Section Won't Start Until 2029 Read More But, says Gallagher, massages should not be seen as a treat you indulge yourself in every now and then. Instead, it should be viewed as something you can’t afford not to do– as essential to your physical and mental health as exercise and as necessary and routine as brushing your teeth! After 17 years in the massage therapy business, Gallagher sits down with BK Reader to share her journey: how the art of touch can inform how you view your body and self and also transform your quality of life. Tap the link for more on this feature. https://lnkd.in/gHRRVDr9

Since the spring of 2022, more than 200,000 asylum seekers have entered New York City. While government programs struggle to keep up with the growing number of new arrivals, nonprofits like the Arab American Family Support Center have stepped up. “I put myself in their shoes,” said Nidal Aloubane, AAFSC’s Director of Readiness Initiatives. “When I came to this country, I didn't have anyone. I didn't have any friends except my husband… I hoped to find someone just to explain to me the new country, the system, all this stuff.” AAFSC fills in the gaps by offering classes on U.S. citizenship, English language, parenting, mental health and more. “We try to cover everything,” Aloubane said. “The information, the resources, whatever they want to know about the new country. Through online and in-person classes, one-on-one sessions, and group workshops, the organization makes processes like signing up for food stamps or insurance a little easier to navigate. Upon arriving in the U.S., asylum seekers often need basic essentials: toiletries, clothing, shoes and food. To alleviate this, AAFSC does food distributions, which also includes non-food items like deodorant, shampoo and conditioner. “They need everything. When I say everything, that means everything,” Aloubane said. Tap the link below for more on this story. https://lnkd.in/getj4Pk5

While government programs struggle to keep up with the growing number of new arrivals, nonprofits like the Arab American Family Support Center have stepped up. “I put myself in their shoes,” said Nidal Aloubane, AAFSC’s Director of Readiness Initiatives. “When I came to this country, I didn't have anyone. I didn't have any friends except my husband… I hoped to find someone just to explain to me the new country, the system, all this stuff.” AAFSC fills in the gaps by offering classes on U.S. citizenship, English language, parenting, mental health and more. “We try to cover everything,” Aloubane said. “The information, the resources, whatever they want to know about the new country.” Through online and in-person classes, one-on-one sessions, and group workshops, the organization makes processes like signing up for food stamps or insurance a little easier to navigate. Upon arriving in the U.S., asylum seekers often need basic essentials: toiletries, clothing, shoes and food. To alleviate this, AAFSC does food distributions, which also includes non-food items like deodorant, shampoo and conditioner. “They need everything. When I say everything, that means everything,” Aloubane said. The organization also provides migrants with legal help, emotional support, and a place to feel less alone. “Our agency, for our clients or our students, is like a second home,” Aloubane said. During a quick intermission in his English class, AAFSC Associate Director of Readiness Initiatives Paul McKenney told BK Reader, “As people come to New York after a long and terrible journey, they're really just looking for somewhere to go where they can feel a little bit better about themselves in the world around them. I think that's the most important thing we can offer people here.” Tap the link below for more on this story. https://lnkd.in/getj4Pk5

Since the spring of 2022, more than 200,000 asylum seekers have entered New York City. While government programs struggle to keep up with the growing number of new arrivals, nonprofits like the Arab American Family Support Center have stepped up. “I put myself in their shoes,” said Nidal Aloubane, AAFSC’s Director of Readiness Initiatives. “When I came to this country, I didn't have anyone. I didn't have any friends except my husband… I hoped to find someone just to explain to me the new country, the system, all this stuff.” AAFSC fills in the gaps by offering classes on U.S. citizenship, English language, parenting, mental health and more. “We try to cover everything,” Aloubane said. “The information, the resources, whatever they want to know about the new country. Through online and in-person classes, one-on-one sessions, and group workshops, the organization makes processes like signing up for food stamps or insurance a little easier to navigate. Upon arriving in the U.S., asylum seekers often need basic essentials: toiletries, clothing, shoes and food. To alleviate this, AAFSC does food distributions, which also includes non-food items like deodorant, shampoo and conditioner. “They need everything. When I say everything, that means everything,” Aloubane said. Tap the link below for more on this story. https://lnkd.in/getj4Pk5

When was the last time you had a massage? I’m not talking about the 10-minute foot massage that comes with a pedicure or the three-minute shoulder rub from your significant other. I’m talking about a 45-minute, face-down, deep-tissue massage where you lose track of time, fall alseep and are awakened by the sound of your own snoring! It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? Bob Gallagher, a Williamsburg resident, massage therapist and owner of Mahalo Massage NYC in Union Square, says fewer people are choosing massage as a form of therapy. She's noticed an overall decline since the COVID-19 Pandemic, as people have gone back to pre-pandemic work schedules while trying to make ends meet. The Latest from BK Reader BQE Fix on Triple Cantilever Section Won't Start Until 2029 Read More But, says Gallagher, massages should not be seen as a treat you indulge yourself in every now and then. Instead, it should be viewed as something you can’t afford not to do– as essential to your physical and mental health as exercise and as necessary and routine as brushing your teeth! After 17 years in the massage therapy business, Gallagher sits down with BK Reader to share her journey: how the art of touch can inform how you view your body and self and also transform your quality of life. Tap the link for more on this feature. https://lnkd.in/gHRRVDr9

The public review period for New York City Mayor Eric Adams' “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” plan has started. The proposal asks for a set of zoning and law changes to increase overall housing supply, according to a news release. The New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) released the draft environmental impact statement of the proposal, which estimates it could produce as many as 108,850 new homes over the next 15 years. The proposal will now be reviewed by community boards and borough presidents, before the City Council will vote on it before the end of the year. "In Downtown Brooklyn, we know first-hand how neighborhoods where people can live, work, learn and play function as vibrant economic engines for New York City, and the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity would pave the way for more mixed-use corridors while also addressing the ongoing housing crisis,” said Regina Myer, president of the nonprofit Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. https://lnkd.in/eDY5n_k6

Brooklyn community stakeholders on Friday celebrated the May launch of the Brooklyn Youth Offshore Wind Training program, a workforce development initiative for New York’s offshore wind industry at the Brownsville Community Culinary Center. Citizens Financial Group said it would provide a $600,000, two-year grant to help launch the program, available for 72 Brownsville youth, aged 15-24, to gain certification and hands-on experience for green energy jobs. The program will provide safety certification, hands-on training, paid internships and swimming lessons starting this summer. The program is organized by the Central Brooklyn Economic Development Corp. (CBEDC), in partnership with the National Wind Service Corp. (NWS) and Local Initiatives Support Corporation New York (LISC NY). The program kicks off in Brownsville, where La’Shawn Allen-Muhammad, executive director of CBEDC, was raised. “As someone born in this community, it is a blessing to work with purpose and on purpose about giving back to the community that has given me so much,” she said. https://lnkd.in/eysadn7J

New York City mayor Eric Adams criticized the people who have caused disruption, like throwing chairs and bottles, during the protests in support of Palestine at college campuses in the city, and announced the addition of two New York City Police Department academy classes at his weekly press conference at City Hall on Tuesday. Hundreds of students and faculty were arrested on campus at Columbia University and New York University this week as they protested their institutions’ ties to Israel. Protesters from both schools demanded they divest all financial and academic ties to Israel and called for a permanent ceasefire in the region. Last week, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of Columbia University student groups, began occupying the center of campus and launched the Gaza Solidarity encampment. This prompted Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to authorize police to remove and arrest the protesters on April 18. Adams blamed “outside agitators” for the recent unrest within the city’s school campuses. https://lnkd.in/ekg876At  

On a recent spring weeknight, Brooklynites gathered in a backyard, not knowing what to expect. In the end, there was singing, dancing, comedy, poetry, community discourse and even fire throwing at a gathering dubbed the 7 7. It's easy enough to remember: seven people perform for seven minutes at 7pm on the 7th, 17th and 27th of every month at a local venue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. With no theme or agenda, every 7 7 show brings a distinct experience guided by the seven performers that show up on any given night. For those seven minutes, the floor is open for anyone to share whatever it is they desire. Recite a haiku, talk politics, play the didgeridoo or just sip on a beer and take in the local voices. “It’s not church, but we meet regularly. It’s not an immediate family but we all love each other and know each other. There’s a certain uniqueness to it,” said Miles E. McAfee, the creator and host of the 7 7. “It’s not an event, it’s a gathering and an experience.” https://lnkd.in/eBJAf4Qw

High school sports can pack more punch and have higher stakes than you think. Take the 2024 New York City Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) Boys Basketball championship. This year, the 4A division was rocked with scandal, as several teams in the semifinals were disqualified after the league conducted unexpected audits. It all started when the PSAL, which is run by the city Department of Education, reinstated their eligibility office for the first time in four years and began conducting audits towards the end of this year’s season, causing confusion and disappointment for players and coaches alike. At least three teams were disqualified ahead of games during the semifinals in March. South Shore High School in Canarsie was disqualified due to an age eligibility violation (athletes can play up to their 19th birthday), while Thomas Jefferson High School in East New York was disqualified on an academic eligibility basis. Eagle Academy-Bronx was also disqualified for reasons that remain unclear. “In simple terms – adults put the long-term future of young people second for momentary high school glory on the court. These adults are not helping students, they are only helping themselves.” said New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks in a statement in March when the disqualifications first came to light. “The goal is to ensure that any issues are identified and dealt with in a timely fashion prior to playoffs, thus avoiding last minute cancellations, which only harm students and their families. Student-athletes across our system deserve role models who uphold the highest levels of integrity and honesty.” https://lnkd.in/ett2jF4V