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City of Albany Launches New Mapping Tool to Highlight Summer Programs

* * NEWS RELEASE * *

City of Albany Launches New Mapping Tool to Highlight Summer Programs 

ALBANY, NY – Earlier today, Mayor Kathy Sheehan kicked off “Summertime in Albany,” highlighting the numerous recreational offerings available throughout the City of Albany this summer.

New this year, the City of Albany has developed a comprehensive map of summer programs for young people in the City that includes summer programs sponsored and organized by the City of Albany and various community-based organizations. These organizations include the City School District of Albany, Albany Public Library, Albany JCC, JMU 4 Kids, Sage, PAL, CapRep, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area, St. Rose, Capital Milestones, Club Fed Child Care Center, Center Square School, the Institute of History & Art, and the House of Hoops. The map also highlights where summer meal sites can be found.

This new map gives residents an easy-to-use tool to sort programs by location, type, age limit, cost, and whether free meals are included, and is available by visiting http://bit.ly/SummerProgramMap, on our homepage at www.albanyny.gov, and on our social media pages.

“Our goal each year is to create healthy and fun summer opportunities for every young person in our City, and we’ve made those opportunities easier to find with this new map,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “We are excited that the City’s pools are about to open for the season, and hope that all of our residents utilize the dozens of recreational facilities the City offers, including playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, handball courts, swimming pools, baseball and softball fields, spray pads, roller skating rinks, and community centers.”

If you provide summer programming and your program is not yet included on the map, please visit http://bit.ly/AddMySummerProgram to share that information so it can be included on the map.

Pool and Spray Pads Opening Schedule

  • The Lincoln Park Pool will open for the season on Saturday, June 29 at 12pm, and will be open daily for the season from 12pm to 7pm for open swim.
  • The Mater Christi Pool will open for the season on Saturday, June 29 at 11am, and will be open daily from 11am to 6pm.
  • The Arbor Hill Community Center Pool is open daily from 12pm to 6pm.
  • The 11 spray pads located throughout the City will also open on Saturday, June 29.  Spray pads will open daily from 10am to 6pm, and are located at Colonie Street Park, Hackett Park, Krank Park, Livingston Park, North Swan Street Park, Ridgefield Park, Rosemont Park, and the Sheridan, Swinburne, Westland Hills, and Upper Lincoln Spray Pools.

City of Albany Summer Camps:

Camps are offered by the City’s Department of Recreation, and are free for City of Albany residents and $50 for non-residents. Camps are offered for various activities including baseball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, dance, as well as a variety of sports at the Arbor Hill Sports Complex, while space is available.

To register for a City of Albany-led camp, please visit www.albanyny.recdesk.com. If you do not have access to the internet, please call (518) 434-5699 to schedule an appointment to use our RecDesk kiosk.

Wi-Fi in the Park:

This summer, for the first time, the City is proud to partner with the Albany Public Library to bring free wireless internet to three municipal parks—Washington, Lincoln, and Bleecker-Swinburne. The project, which will be funded by the Library and maintained by the City, will provide parkgoers with free Wi-Fi in several neighborhoods where many residents lack internet service in their own homes. Click here for more information on this important partnership.

Summer Meals:

The City’s Department of Recreation will also be partnering with the Albany Housing Authority, City School District of Albany, and United Way of the Greater Capital Region for the 2019 Summer Food Service Program. This program offers free breakfast from 8am to 9am and lunch from 12pm to 1pm for those under the age of 18 at various sites around the City, including Hoffman Community Center. A complete list of summer meal sites can be found here.

Summer Youth Employment Program:

The City of Albany is again hosting our annual LIGHT (Learning, Initiative and Gaining Headway Together) Summer Youth Employment Program. This program is designed to provide any young City of Albany resident, age 14-18, with a summer work experience.

LIGHT received a Livability Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors for its Friday enrichment program, which includes a financial literacy workshop, a tour at UAlbany, a career exploration workshop, and a “Know Your Rights” program led by representatives from the Albany Police Department and the Center for Law and Justice.

This “fifth day” of enrichment resulted from input from parents, participants, and community leaders to make sure Albany’s youth are exposed to the broad opportunities that are available to them as they plan for their futures.

New this year, the City of Albany also received a $10,000 grant from the United States Conference of Mayors’ DollarWise: Mayors for Economic Mobility initiative and Bank of America. The funds will expand our Summer Youth Employment Program to help focus on youth whose parents are immigrants or are returning from incarceration.

The program runs five (5) days per week for five (5) weeks. The first date of employment is Monday, July 8th, and the last is Friday, August 9th.

Please keep in mind all information about the Department of Recreation opportunities and offerings can be found on our website, www.albanyny.gov, or by calling (518) 434-5699.

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Summer Food Program 2019 Schedule

Summer Food 2019

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Become an Albany Police Officer – Application Deadline August 12th

Police Application

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Reaching Goals with the WAGE Center

Falonda Haggray-1

NEW HOME OWNER, FALONDA, ON REACHING GOALS

Falonda lived on Green Street as an Albany Housing Authority resident until last month, when she bought a home for her family. It was through Affordable Housing Partnership (AHP), that she learned about the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program at the WAGE Center.
When she first started home buyer programs, two and a half years ago, Falonda realized that she needed to establish credit. So, she started “getting credit cards and making on-time payments.” During that process she says, “I built my credit score up and [started thinking about] meeting the criteria needed to take the next steps.”
Through AHP, she learned about a matched savings program. She says, “It disciplined me to save.” In addition, she enrolled in FSS, which allowed her to save more money toward owning and furnishing a home. Of the FSS program she says, “I like goals. I like challenges. Pay your rent on time…I took that and ran with it.” Paying rent on time, and earning more money, she accumulated escrow savings with FSS.
Becoming a homeowner has made Falonda feel “peacefulness.” She says, that through the process of saving and working toward owning a home, she has gained, “peace of mind and [is feeling] accomplished.” She says, “My goal was to own a home. I achieved that. Now, I can achieve anything I put my mind to.”
Falonda learned about AHP in a conversation with her sister’s friend and FSS through her Housing Advisor. She says she had some “disbelief” that earning money for savings through increased earned income wasn’t a “gimmick,” because, who would give you free money? But, she encourages Albany Housing Authority residents and Housing Choice Voucher recipients to check out FSS and, “Set a goal. Write it down.” Then, “take the steps to achieving.”
In the fist month of owning a home, Falonda has already contacted a contractor to look at her fist renovation project, bought new furniture and is considering new windows. During the next five years she talks about, “looking at buying property and becoming a future landlord.”
Joining FSS and working through AHP’s program has allowed for “growth and expanding my horizons,” according to Falonda. She says, with a smile, that she is now thinking about new things like buying a lawnmower and a rake and other “homeowner issues.” Falonda is the perfect example of how FSS and partner programs can help participants achieve their goals and dreams.

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“Second Chance” Job Fair in June!

June 5th Job Fair Flyer

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Come Meet the Candidates for Albany County Comptroller!

NAACP Albany County Comptroller race flyer

The NAACP Albany Branch invites you to meet the Democratic Candidates for the Albany County Comptroller Race!

Albany City Treasurer: Darius Shahinfar

Albany City Auditor: Susan Rizzo

May 23, 2019 / 6PM – 8PM

Albany Housing Authority, 200 SOuth Pearl Street

Come and meet the candidates and ask questions.

Exercise your right to vote!

Primary day is Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Polls will be open from Noon – 9PM

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Spring Break Family Awareness Days

spring break family awareness day

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Albany Honors George Marbley

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/news/2019/04/13/city-of-albany-honors-george-marbley-s-dedication-to-the-community

City of Albany Honors George Marbley’s Dedication to the Community
By Spectrum News Staff

A piece of Albany’s skyline has been renamed in honor of a man who dedicated much of his life to the community.

The apartment building at 230 Green Street was dubbed the George Marbley Tower in a ceremony on Friday.

Marbley was as a long time Housing Authority resident and activist. He served on the City Wide Tenant Council for almost 40 years and helped to bring about more fairness in city housing.

April 12 would have been his 100th birthday.

“We have a lot of people that have done tremendous things in this city, for this city, and Mr. Marbley is probably at the top of it, because a lot of things that he did he didn’t benefit from,” said Derek Johnson of the Albany Common Council. “A lot of kids in summer had the chance to go experience things that they wouldn’t have had the chances to experience, had it not been for Mr. Marbley.”

A new street sign that reads “George Marbley Way” is also up. It sits alongside the current sign for Green Street.

Marbley passed away in 2016.

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City of Albany Commission on Human Rights to Host 10th Annual Human Rights Reception

* * CITY OF ALBANY * *

* * COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS * *

* * NEWS RELEASE * *

 City of Albany Commission on Human Rights to Host 10th Annual Human Rights Reception

 ALBANY, NY – The City of Albany’s Commission on Human Rights will host the 10th Annual Human Rights Recognition Reception this evening, Tuesday, April 16, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the City Hall Rotunda.

The Commissioners will honor those individuals and organizations, within the City of Albany, who best exemplify the Commission’s objective of fostering a climate of mutual respect, tolerance and understanding among all groups living and working in the City.

What: City of Albany’s Commission on Human Rights 10th Annual Human Rights Reception

Where: City Hall Rotunda, 24 Eagle Street

When: Tuesday, April 16, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Light refreshments will be served.

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YouthFX Events and Activities

Events

Spectrum+Screen+Flyer+2019_square

For Tickets or More Details Please Click HERE.

Activities

YouthFX partnered with an all-volunteer organization called Young Futures to host a Yoga class for kids that was amazing!

The same day in the evening YouthFX hosted their first ever Youth FX Open Mic!

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Spring Into First Friday with Albany BARN!

barn barn gallery

Albany BARN’s 1st, First Friday of the Spring is kicking off with not one, but TWO exhibitions!

Black Dimensions in Art, in partnership with Albany Barn, is proud to present a new exhibit of Black comic and book illustrators, “Illustration & the Word”, featuring artwork by Marcus K Anderson, Cozbi A. Cabrera, R. Gregory Christie, James E. Ransome, Grey Williamson, Onjena Yo, & Elizabeth Zunon.

The opening reception will be held in conjunction with April’s First Friday tomorrow, April 5th, from 6-8pm.  Light refreshments will be served.  The exhibition will be on display from April 5th-27th.

And please join us on Saturday the 6th at 10am for a special kid-friendly storytelling event at Albany Barn:

My Hair Is A Garden “After a day of being taunted by classmates about her unruly hair, Mackenzie can’t take any more. On her way home from school, she seeks the guidance of her wise and comforting neighbor, Miss Tillie. “

As if that wasn’t enough, we have another exhibition happening right down the street!
The Chair Show II at Nine Pin Cider in collaboration with Albany Barn alum Tim Fealey is finally here! We have 12+ artists who have put their creativity to the test on the old school desks leftover from The Barn’s days as a school. There will be an online auction to bid on the chairs, so if you can’t make it (although we hope you will) you’ll still have an opportunity to buy a desk!

Online bidding opens on Friday at 6pm!

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Literacy Zone Career Fair

Literacy Zone Career Fair Literacy Zone Career Fair Flyer

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ONE and TWO Bedroom Waiting Lists Reopening!

PUBLIC HOUSING POSTER

The Albany Housing Authority will open the ONE and TWO bedroom waiting list ONLY beginning at 8:30 A.M on Wednesday, March 27, 2019
You may apply online at http://www.albanyhousing.org/apply-for-housing or in person at 200 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12202
**ALL OTHER BEDROOM SIZE WAITING LISTS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED.**

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4th Annual Healthy Aging Fair

4TH ANNUAL Healthy Aging Fair - Made with PosterMyWall

The City Of Albany Department of Recreation cordially invites you to attend the 4th Annual Healthy Aging Fair on Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 from 12:00 – 3:00 PM at St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church on 440 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY, 12208. Last year over 200 people over the age of 55 joined us at this event, and this year we are aiming for an even bigger crowd. The goal of the Healthy Aging Fair is to showcase our talented seniors and the local community resources available for them. Health and wellness leaders will be on hand to conduct demonstrations, provide valuable information, and raffle prizes.

Seniors are encouraged to participate in various health and wellness demonstrations those interested in being trained as health and wellness leaders will have an opportunity to register for future training.  As we hope to provide inspiration to those looking to change their health status.

The vision of the department for this event is to enable seniors to make informed choices about health and wellness programs which are of interest to them.  If seniors become active participants in their well-being and stay engaged they will live healthier and longer lives!

Feel free to share this event flyer (attached) and information with  organizations that may wish to join us or be a vendor on April 10th.  If you have any questions, please contact us at cwilliams@albanyny.gov / (518) 434-5803 or Brittney White at brwhite@albanyny.gov / (518) 434-5699.

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Soul Line Dancing at the North Albany Community Room

MB&SOUL-LINE-DANCE - AHA-1

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Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) Application is Now Available!

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) is now accepting applications until Friday, March 22 at 4:30pm.

Please click the appropriate link below to fill out the application.

Section 8 Application

Solicitud de la Sección 8

**All applications must be submitted by 4:30 PM on Friday, March 22, 2019.**

**There will be no exceptions to this deadline.**

**Todas las solicitudes deben presentarse por 4:30 PM el Viernes, 22 de Marzo, 2019.**

**No habrá ninguna excepción a este plazo.**

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Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) Waiting List Reopening For One Week!

**Albany Housing Authority will be accepting applications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), beginning 10:00 am March 18, 2019 and ending at 4:30 pm on March 22, 2019. Applications will be accepted at 200 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12202 and at AlbanyHousing.org. Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone needing assistance to complete the application. Albany Housing Authority will not discriminate against and applicant because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, disability , age, political or other affiliation.**

**All applications must be submitted by 4:30 PM on Friday, March 22, 2019.**

**There will be no exceptions to this deadline.**

 

SECTION 8 APPLICATION w EHO-1

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Annual February Film Festival!

Feb Film Series Promo1-1

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YouthFX Opportunity – Documenting Our Community Lab

D.O.C. Lab Program Flyer_JPEG

YouthFX is offering a free opportunity to youth 14-19 years of age!

(Space is Limited)

Create short videos that amplify your voice on certain issues important to you!

Participants will learn camera, sound & interview skills, as well as 3-point lighting, editing and how to share your video online and make an impact.

Click the above image for more information!

Click HERE to apply now!

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