GIVING Time

[View this email in your browser]( Michael’s GIVING Tuesday Tips Giving Tuesday is a global movement that encourages people to support nonprofit organizations through donations and volunteer work. Donating to a nonprofit today can make a significant impact and help support equitable opportunities for innovation and education. There are many ways to support nonprofits on Giving Tuesday, whether it be through making a monetary donation, volunteering your time, or spreading awareness on social media. Please consider giving today to the below nonprofit organizations. Barbershop Books [Vote for Alvin - CNN Hero of the Year!]( Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Celebrates the Launch of DreamYard’s BX Start Gaming and Entrepreneurship Center The Bronx Community Celebrated the Grand Opening of our State-of-the-Art Gaming Hub on November 15, 2023 New Center Supported by Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation November 16, 2023, BRONX, NY – DreamYard’s BX Start Gaming and Entrepreneurship Center, dedicated to empowering youth through technology and education, opened its doors to funders, partners, students, and community members for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in its brand-new state-of-the-art gaming hub. The event held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at its new location, 337 East 162nd St, Bronx, NY 10451, was a huge success. The new location was supported by a $500,000 grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. "This is where journeys will begin, where creatives will find their tribe, and where the first steps towards a future filled with creativity and innovation will be taken,” said Rudy Blanco, Director of Entrepreneurship and Gaming Programs for BX Start. “Access to a welcoming environment is so important for students. An updated space can help students experience new opportunities, nurture their passions, and connect with other innovators,” said Alex Cohen, President of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. “We are proud to support DreamYard’s BX Start Gaming and Entrepreneurship Center.” The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony marked the official opening of this innovative facility, which is poised to become a transformative hub for gaming and tech enthusiasts, students, and the community at large to develop skills and forge careers in “...New York City's burgeoning digital games industry, which supports 7,600 jobs, $762 million in wages, and $2 billion in economic output,” said MOME Commissioner Anne del Castillo. The event itinerary promised a dynamic evening that included a reception, a meet and greet with DreamYard staff and alumni, remarks from our partners, engaging activities led by Bronx youth, and meaningful insights into BX Start's mission and impact with this new location. “This new center will ensure the Bronx has a seat at the table with one of New York’s fastest growing industries currently generating an estimated $2 billion in revenue,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Not only will the Bronx attract gaming enthusiasts, BX Start also offers free programs during the school year and summer months for teens and adults.” BX Start will offer free programs during the school year and summer, including ongoing skills-building workshops, career readiness and gaming education workshops for adults in the community, as well as paid internships for high school students. The Center will also provide mentorship to middle and high school students in creative technology and entrepreneurship. A scholarship fund will support students pursuing gaming-related college degrees and other post-secondary training. About DreamYard DreamYard collaborates with Bronx youth, families, and schools to build pathways to equity and opportunity through the arts. DreamYard provides nationally recognized, transformative arts education to Bronx youth and young adults and supports them as they work toward higher learning, creative-filled careers, and social action. Our programs nurture young people’s desire to create change and cultivate the skills necessary to reach positive goals. By committing to social justice pedagogy along an educational pathway, we support young people as they work toward higher learning, meaningful careers, and social action. We have every expectation that through offering a thoughtful and continuous set of supports, our youth will develop the tools necessary to become creative and engaged citizens, life-long learners, as well as leaders and innovators of the 21st Century. [Visit Dreamyard Website]( The Bronx Community Foundation The Bronx Community Foundation is the first and only community foundation in the Bronx solely dedicated to delivering resources across the borough. The foundation’s mission is to support and invest in community power to eradicate inequity and build sustainable futures for all Bronxites. Founded in 2017, the foundation has made significant impact in the borough by being the largest relief effort during the pandemic, and continues to show its unwavering commitment to ending the historic disinvestment of the Bronx. The foundation provides grants to nonprofits and small businesses, leads key strategic programming initiatives in education and digital equity, and convenes the community on critical issues areas residents face. [Led by Dr. Meisha Porter, the former Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, a bold, visionary leader, and Bronxite who brings a commitment to creating generational change in the Bronx.]( As you’ll [see by her letter here]( the foundation is the necessary lever to steward resources and uplift community assets, in addressing the long-standing disinvestment. During this season of giving, We ask you to consider supporting The Bronx Community Foundation and investing in the future of the Bronx. [Donate Here]( Youth Inc is a powerful community of influencers, experts, promising nonprofits and over 250,000 young people committed to making our city’s next generation our city’s best generation. New York is a city of endless opportunity, but not all our youth have the resources they need to meet their potential. Without help, many of the city’s children will be left without the support they need to get them through high school and into a supportive work environment. New York City is full of people who want to make the greatest city on earth even greater, by providing support for those who need it most and stepping up to solve problems. There are more than 1,500 youth-serving nonprofit organizations in New York City, all trying to make this city a better place. However, with all these different organizations and limited resources, it can be difficult to ensure philanthropic dollars are well spent. This is where Youth INC’s Venture Philanthropy approach makes all the difference. [Learn More & Donate]( The Knowledge House (TKH) was founded in 2014 to close the gaps in the education­-to-­employment pipeline by leading digital skills training in coding and design for underserved young people in the Bronx. TKH combines technology training, career support, and a comprehensive network of partners to help disconnected job seekers secure rewarding careers in the tech economy and become financially independent. TKH aims to lift entire communities out of poverty by creating a pipeline of talented and capable workers equipped with the technology and skills that provide economic opportunity, living wages, and career mobility. [Go to The Knowledge House Website]( Renaissance Youth Center is here for the community. Maximizing youth potential through performance-based programs in education, music, and civic engagement. We increase high school graduation rates and college entrance rates and bring support and positivity to youths as young as 4 years old. We like to think of ourselves as a 2nd home with a clear perspective on learning and growth. [Donate Now!]( [Website icon]( [Instagram icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( [YouTube icon]( [Facebook icon]( Copyright (C) 2023 Atlas Strategy Group. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Atlas Strategy Group 837 Washington Ave Bronx, NY 10451-4842 USA Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe]( [Logo]