It's Our Money

Name of Your Organization:

Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, Inc.

Overview of the Project - Please provide a brief description of the project.

The JCC is seeking funds to provide a Career and College Exploration Hub to assist youth identify their individual skills and interest, navigate the college application process, explore jobs and acquire workforce readiness skills to become better prepared for their future. Career and College exploration ensures youth have the academic, critical thinking and personal skills for higher learning and employment. Virtual and in-person support will give students the opportunity to explore different careers and gain the skills and knowledge to identify their educational and employment goals. Youth will also have the opportunity to identify their interest, determine what skills need to be developed and utilize their acquired tools to explore the 16 Career Clusters. The JCC will also incorporate career exploration into the onboarding process for summer camp staff training to assist youth identify their skills and interest to maximize their potential.

Which of the following issues does your project address?

1. Issue 1 - Addressing Mental Health
2. Issue 2 - Preparation for College and/or Career
3. Issue 3 - Youth Advocacy Promotion

Issue 2 - Preparation for College and/or Career

Youth Engagement - Please explain how you will engage youth in the planning and implementation of the project.

The JCC will create a Youth Advisory Committee to assist with the planning and implementation of the project. Currently the JCC engages over 8,000 children and teens through our nine afterschool centers, music institute, leadership development programs, recreational programs, sports programs and academic enrichment. The JCC also serves over 1,000 youth through traditional day camps, sports camps, specialized camps and programs for individuals with disabilities and children with cancer and their siblings. Strategies to retain students includes giving them a voice in curriculum design. Activities and topics will also change frequently to allow us to continuously engage students. 

Budget - Your total project budget must equal $20,000 to be placed on the ballot for a youth vote. Please provide a brief description of what the funds would be used for to successfully implement your project. You will also need to download, fill in, and attach a full budget using this template.

Funds will be utilized to cover the cost of staffing and curriculum to support the objectives of the project. Funds will also cover incentives for attendance and participation.

Timeline- Please describe the timeline for the implementation and completion of the project. All work for this project must be completed by June 30, 2021, which is the end of the city’s fiscal year and the deadline for the funds to be spent.

Timeline and milestones to achieve program success include the following:

February-June Career Assessment- A key milestone to achieve success is to assist youth to obtain a better understanding of their skills and abilities. Career assessments teach youth about themselves and assist them to identify what careers would be a good fit for their interest. Students are able to explore their likes and dislikes, learn how they react in certain situations and identify their skills and values. The JCC will utilize Roadtrip Nation, focusing on a project-based program that uses a blended learning format to foster authentic career exploration through interactive lessons and engaging multimedia content. The JCC will also incorporate career exploration into the onboarding process for summer camp to match employment opportunities with skills and interest.

February-June College Exploration-students will learn how to explore college websites, learn about admission requirements and begin to navigate the college application process. Workshops focusing on SAT preparation, college essays and financial aid will assist students become better prepared and more informed about their options.

Project Activity Alignment - How does your project align with at least one of the following topics:

1. Leadership skills development: organizing & advocacy trainings
2. Stewardship of public spaces: public parks, transportation, etc.
3. Youth and student engagement
4. Civic education and advocacy
5. Community outreach involving residents that have been historically underrepresented in or underserved by city government and its processes

The JCC’s project aligns with leadership development and youth/student engagement. The JCC’s objective is to assist all individuals reach their fullest potential and to provide facilities, activities and leadership for the physical, intellectual, cultural and spiritual growth of the community. The proposed program directly aligns with our vision to shape the leaders of tomorrow by providing them with the tools to become better prepared for their future. Youth that have the tools to become self-sufficient and succeed will also become better parents, neighbors and citizens. We recognize that each student we serve has the potential to create a better community for the next generation and become key players in this revitalization process of underserved neighborhoods.  

What is your organization's area of focus?

1. Children and youth related
2. Advocacy and organizing
3. Arts and culture
4. Civic engagement
5. Education and literacy
6. Emergency management and disaster response
7. Employment and workforce development
8. Environment and sustainability
9. Faith-based
10. Food access
11. Health and medicine
12. Homelessness and/or affordable housing
13. Human rights
14. Human services
15. Immigrants and/or refugees
16. Justice related
17. Legal services
18. People with disabilities
19. Senior services
20. Women's issues

The JCC serves each community of Staten Island enrolling over 40,000 individuals each year in both normative times and periods of crisis. Based on our extensive experience providing an array of critical services across the borough, we have identified St. George is currently facing the most disparities. According to the most recent New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene data, St. George/Stapleton Neighborhood reports 23% of residents are foreign born and 13% have limited English proficiency. Stapleton has a higher rate of minorities, 29% of residents are black and 22% of residents are Hispanic. Over the past few years, the neighborhood has been faced with many challenges such as extreme poverty, drug addiction and violent crimes. 20% of residents of St. George and Stapleton live below the Federal Poverty Level, the highest percentage among Staten Island community districts. Characteristics of our target population will include unemployed or underemployed, those facing poverty, lack of proficiency in English and single parent households. 

The JCC is perfectly positioned to address the needs of the Stapleton/ St. George Community though our extensive experience serving the community. Our existing partnerships with NYC Department for Youth and Community Development, NYC Department for the Aging and the NYC Housing Authority assists us to outreach and engage individuals most at risk. The JCC also operates the only Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) on Staten Island, coordinating a broad range of health and social services to help support older residents age in their own homes. Our solidified partnerships with not-for profits, public and private organizations, community residents and leaders coupled with our presence in Staten Island will enhance the capacity to meet and exceed outcomes. 

\tThe JCC is one of the largest not-for-profit organizations in Staten Island and has been dedicated to serving residents for over 90 years. Our mission is to assist all individuals reach their fullest potential regardless of limited resources or abilities. The history of the JCC began in 1929, with its first facility located on the North Shore; in 1982 it began to operate a South Shore site and our summer day camp has been located mid-Island for approximately 45 years. In 2007, the JCC opened our centrally located flagship facility, making it possible to serve residents in every community district of the borough. Diverse religious and cultural organizations also recognize the JCC, as a “neutral\" space, where individuals can work together for the common good of the community.

The JCC operates Eight Centers of Excellence including:

• Early Childhood - day care, 3K and Pre-k for ALL and First Foot Forward.
• Youth and Teen- camp services, Sunrise Experience, youth and teen programs, Explorers/DYCD after school programs and Cornerstone Centers.
• Cultural Arts-Adult Jewish Education, concerts, lectures, travel, Music Institute, Art @ the J.
• Senior Services-senior centers, family solutions to memory loss, caregiver support, Holocaust survivor services, Seaview Senior Housing, NORC, Senior Olympics.
• Services for People with Disabilities –Marvin’s Camp, Kids Club After School, teen programs, day habilitation.
• Community Engagement-social service/Kosher food pantry, Synagogues/Partners in Caring, health navigation, adult education, COVID-19 Connect to Recovery.
• Operations-facilities & security, accounting, human resources, marketing, development, fundraising, IT, transportation, administration.
• Membership, Fitness, Sports & Wellness- sports & recreation, aquatics, spa & wellness.

Affirmations - Type \"YES\" below each statement to affirm that you are eligible to appear on the ballot for this process.

I confirm that my organization will be registered in the NYC Payee Information Portal and in PassPort, NYC’s online procurement system, in order to receive funding from the City of New York.

YES

I confirm that my organization is able to front the costs of implementing this project. Organizations will be paid based on deliverables. 

YES

Completion of Deliverables: I understand all deliverables must be completed by June 30th, 2021.

YES

I understand a condition of funding includes submission of a final report upon project completion, and participating in a debrief session with the CEC.

YES