RB HAPPENINGS
RBSCC’s Quarterly Employee Newsletter
ISSUE 1 WINTER 2015
Welcome
RBSCC has long been recognized for its impact on the lives of the community residents it serves. From its very early days, our agency has addressed
the needs of the whole individual, realizing that such things as stable, decent
housing, education and job opportunities, services for the young and old,
accessible healthcare are all important to community residents facing the
challenges of their daily lives. As the needs of the community have
changed, RBSCC has worked to keep its services in step with these changes
in order that the current needs of our clients are truly addressed. About a
year and a half ago, RBSCC undertook a game-changing challenge—to develop a strategy for building upon our rich history in the community and
carrying our legacy into the 21st century with a new comprehensive impact
model of services.
Several strategic planning groups were formed with a cross-section of
RBSCC employees. Each group established a set of goals and developed
strategies for moving forward. One of these groups is the Staff Orientation, Education and Professional Development Group, whose aims are to
identify needs for orienting new staff across RBSCC’s programs, deliver
ongoing …
Continued on P. 3
this issue
Staff Spotlight P.2
Exceptionals P.3
Ask aRBy! P.4
Recipes P.5
Pets Page P.5
Job Openings P.6
Games P.7
What’s New at RB? P.8
EXCEPTIONALS
Have you ever thought a coworker has gone beyond the call of
duty to help you? Do you want to
go out of your way to say thanks?
The “exceptionals” is the place to
do so. If you know of anyone who
has gone above and beyond the call
of duty, whether it be assisting
on...
Continued on P. 3
RBSCC Staff & Pope Francis
On Friday, September 25th, 2015, Pope Francis travelled via motorcade through
Central Park to meet and greet New Yorkers. This happened shortly after his visit
to Our Lady Queen of Angel’s school and before the Madison Square Mass at 6PM
that same day. The Central Park Papal Procession took place on Central Park’s
West Drive between 72nd and 60th Street.
RBSCC Welcomes
Eduard Cabre
Hi everyone! My name is Eduard
Cabre and I joined RBSCC in September. Thanks to the Morgan
Stanley: ANHD Community Development Fellowship, I will be at
RBSCC for 10 months working on
community development and housing affordability. I am very excited
to be here and to contribute to the
excellent work RBSCC is doing.
I am originally from Girona, a
town north of Barcelona (Spain)
but I moved to NYC a year ago to
attend graduate school as a Fulbright scholar. Although my background is in political science, I am
currently studying for my Master
of Urban Planning at NYU, focusing on public and affordable housing policies.
During my stay at RBSCC I will
explore new ways in which
RBSCC can work towards preserving housing affordability in the
areas where it is already present. I
will try to engage the community
in a discussion about new housing
development in the framework of
the City’s Ten-Year Housing Plan,
and to develop specific goals and
strategies with them. Although I
have only lived in the Bushwick
area for a month, I love the neighborhood’s diversity – food, art,
languages – and can’t wait to contribute to its vitality as another
member of the community.
Feel free to come say hi at my
desk (by the stairway on the 1st
floor at 217 Wyckoff Ave) or
shoot me an email at [email protected].
RBSCC staff waited in line on Central Park West before entering the Park on 69th
street to wait with an estimated 85,000 others for Pope Francis. The RBSCC staff
in attendance enjoyed an afternoon together waiting for Pope Francis and his motorcade. The weather was perfect and the massive and diverse crowd was patient
and in good spirits throughout the long waiting period. Children, seniors, young
folks and families together with church groups and RBSCC staff enjoyed reminiscing about youthful summers in the park and shared stories from our diverse backgrounds.
In typical RBSCC fashion, the staff laughed a lot, made jokes and proudly represented for Bushwick. A favorite joke amongst the RBSCC staff in the park was that
they were all fasting for Francis, when in reality they had just neglected to bring
enough snacks for the long wait and were unprepared for the airport-like security
that prevented reentry. The coordinated security was something to behold with
TSA, Homeland Security, NYPD, Parks Department, and the secret service (as
well as the Pope’s own security) working together to ensure it was a safe and
peaceful time for all.
RBSCC Staff at Central Park
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Welcome (continued from cover page)
training and professional development
to existing staff, achieve a common set
of standards and practices and further
the mission of RBSCC by inculcating
staff with a sense of community and
family both internally and externally.
This employee newsletter, RB Happenings, was conceived as a way for
us to re-build and foster a sense of
community and family as RBSCC
grows, and as another way for us to
stay connected as we share information
about new program initiatives, departmental events and achievements and
personal accomplishments.
We hope that you will see the RB
Happenings as your newsletter and
will share some of your “news” with
the rest of the RBSCC family.
Marcia Hargrove
This is Marcia Hargrove, the
Director of the Brownsville
HomeBase Program. She is a
force to be reckoned with.
I talked to a woman who said
Marcia was her hero because
she changed her life with one
phone call.
EXCEPTIONALS
(continued from cover page)
a project, volunteering extra time to get things done or to help a client, you
can use this space to give them public applause. Just email us
([email protected]) and tell us why you are recommending someone to
be named an exceptional. Please include the name and department, and for an
added bonus you may send a picture as well.
This is Iris Rosario-Garcia. She
is the Director of the Bushwick
HomeBase Program.
A bunch of us ladies went out to
lunch to grab tacos and someone
mentioned that Iris often stays
until 9:00 p.m., working on
cases, well after the Bushwick
HomeBase closes, at 5:00. Her
Iris Rosario-Garcia
hard working reputation spoke
of her drive to make sure all of our clients are advocated for. It made me more
proud to be a part of the empowering group of people I work with. It made me
thankful to know them.
Iris was nominated by Alicia Diamond.
Marcia used to work as an accountant in Manhattan before
she realized money wasn't as
fun as it seems. She quit her
high paying job abruptly and
took a minimum-wage, parttime job at the senior center
because she wanted to do something that was fulfilling.
Now she is the program director in Brownsville changing
lives with phone calls and advocating for clients with the
fierceness of a lioness. She
hopes to open a half way house
for single mothers one day and
I caution any one who dares get
in her way.
Marcia was nominated by
Alicia Diamond.
RBSCC has a new Facebook page!
Visit us today @
https://www.facebook.com/rbscc
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Ask
aRBy!
Upcoming Events
How do I request leave?
In order to request any type of paid or unpaid leave, you must complete and submit
a Request for Approval of Leave form to your immediate supervisor. In the cases
of vacation or sick time, you will need to include your current balance as of the last
pay period ending. This information can be accessed on the ADP system but should
be confirmed with your department’s timekeeper. The timekeeper can be you supervisor or may be another person in your unit. In cases where an advance is being
requested for either vacation or sick time, the “advance required” column should be
completed. Please refer to your Policy and Procedures Manual under the headings
of “Vacation,” “Paid Sick Time” and “Leaves of Absence.” Documentation is required for a number of the leaves. The manual will provide your details. Finally,
remember that leaves must be requested in advance of taking the time off. If you
have any questions, please contact the HR Department at
[email protected]
Do you have a question that
is plaguing your professional
life? Do you forget how to
handle things like requesting
a leave or changing your tax
status? You have come to
the right place! Ask aRBy is
the forum for you to ask
your employee-related questions. When questions are
received, the newsletter committee will forward them to
the proper department to
make sure that you receive
accurate responses to questions. Email us at
[email protected].
Why can’t I stream music or news at work anymore?
Streaming slows down our network and has therefore been blocked. Downloading from the internet can create problems
beyond this like exposing our system and hardware to malware and viruses. Any IT-related questions and/or problems
should be emailed to [email protected].
Who do I contact about issues relating to my check?
Although the HR Department is responsible for processing new hires, it is the Finance Department that actually processes
all our payroll checks. This means that all pay-related functions like entering tax information from the W-4 forms, entering any and all direct deposit information (including the pre-paid master cards), and garnishments are handled in the Finance Department. For any questions or problems with these types of pay-related issues, please contact Kadeem Campbell
at [email protected] or Fran Bowen at [email protected].
E-mail us your questions @
[email protected]
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RB Staff Recipes
Noemi DeJesus
How long have you been
making this recipe?
More than 15 years. In my
family and circle of friends, I
am known for my recipe.
On a scale from 1 to 10, 1
being easiest and 10 would
be hardest, how would you
rate your recipe?
3. Since you have to remove
the yolk from the egg white,
it tends to be a bit difficult to
separate but everything else
is easy.
Ingredients:
1- Blender
1-Big Bowl
2 Coconut Cream (Goya)
2 Coconut Milk (Goya)
2 Carnation Milk
1 Condensed Milk
1 Table spoon of vanilla
6 Egg yolk only
1 Pinch of nutmeg powder
1 pint of 150% proof
Bacardi
Directions:
Pour all the ingredients into your blender and mix together. Depending on the size of your blender, you may need to make smaller
batches and set aside. When completed, pour into a bottle or other
container, refrigerate and enjoy responsibly!
If you would like to share a recipe with the RBSCC family, please email us
[email protected]
RB Pets
Name: TeaToe Falkor
Mendoza
Parent: Rocio Mendoza
TeaToe’s Name
I always thought I wanted a
nice and silly name for the
dog I would get. I was thinking merengue, bobo, are some that came to
mind, but the moment I saw him, the first words out of my mouth were
TeaToe. Since I didn't get the silly name I wanted, I thought to change
the spelling to make it unique. His middle name comes from one of my
favorite movies called the Never Ending Story. I thought he looked like
Falkor, the good luck dragon.
TeaToe is a great dog. He is very friendly, rarely barks, and enjoys everyone's company. He loves belly rubs and demands attention. If no attention is given, he will find a way to trip you and meet you on the floor,
belly up, waiting for a rub!
Name: Florence Bean
Parent: Alicia Diamond
Favorite place in Bushwick
to hang out:
Maria Hernandez park for some
low-key law breaking when I chase sticks off the leash in the grass and
get in a cardio workout. Three Diamond Door for some pints. Dillinger’s
for some breakfast and people watching, everywhere I go I am famous.
What is something special about your pets personality?
Florence is the most emotional and expressive dog I have ever met. She
wakes up in bad moods some days, gets jealous and storms out of the
room when I pay attention to other dogs, huffs when I don’t share what’s
on my plate with her and scoffs at any activity in which she is not the
center of attention. I have been documenting her adventures on Instagram
since she was a pup – she even has her own hashtag – to see what Bean
is up to check out #FlorenceBean
Are you a proud pet owner? Why not feature him/her in the next issue?
Email [email protected] a picture and name of your pet, and we will follow up!
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Everyone loves games, and what better time to play them than when you’re at work and need a little break? From
a word search, to mad libs, and more, we have it all! Before you have a mental break down at work, kick back and
play a game. Enjoy!
Mad Libs:
Mad Libs is a phrasal template word game where one player prompts another for a list of words to substitute for blanks in a story, before
reading the - often comical or nonsensical - story aloud.
Quick review:
Enter words here...
Adjective_____________________________
Noun________________________________
Noun- Person, place or thing.
Verb_________________________________
Verb- The action being performed.
Adjective_____________________________
Adverb- Tells how something is done, how fast, slow etc. Noun________________________________
Part of the body_______________________
Plural- More than one.
Adjective_____________________________
Past Tense- Happened in the past usually ending in –ed. Type of container______________________
Plural Noun___________________________
Verb_________________________________
Noun________________________________
Plural Noun___________________________
Adjective- Describes something.
Verb-ing______________________________
Plural Noun___________________________
Adjective_____________________________
Adverb_______________________________
Adjective_____________________________
Every morning your bus runs a/an_______ (Adjective) route, so you must be sure that you arrive at your local ___(Noun) early. While waiting, do not___
(Verb) in the middle of the street. You might get run over by a/an____ (adjective)_____ (Noun). When you see the bus, wave your_____ (Part of Body).
Before boarding, make sure you have all your______ (Adjective) books and your lunch______ (Type of Container). When you board the bus, do not push
or jostle any of the smaller____ (Plural Noun). Go to the nearest empty seat and______ (Verb). Do not talk to the____ (Noun) while the bus is in motion.
Do no throw____ (Plural Noun) at the other students. Instead of wasting time by____ (Verb-ing), use the trip to study your____ (Plural Noun). Follow
these rules and you will have a/an____ (Adjective) ride and arrive____ (Adverb) at your_____ (Adjective) school.
Word Search
S X L F T X C L M J E F R U F V Y N D C
1. BEAUTIFUL
2. BRILLIANT
R U G M A H D I G C E U G E B L Q X H W
3. CHRISTMAS
A F Z J X L A S N O W T O X I W O R M M
4. COLD
E R C H L Y A N E R M Y Y U I N I L U V
5. FAMILY
Y I Y O T O O D K E M H X L L S D J V G
6. FRIENDS
7. FUN
W E A T L N K K J S L U F I T U A E B C
8. GIFTS
E N T C Q D A V B K G H Q M Y J Z H E N
9. HANUKKAH
N D N H D Q J I W F N I A E C L L X K R
10. HOTCHOCOLATE
Q S A O J V S A L U C S V M Q Q I W F C
11. JOY
H B S C P Q N W T L I C U I I V I M H P
12. KWANZAA
T H F O U Z A M W E I U H A N U K K A H
13. LAUGHTER
L O R L A R E T N I W R Y O X G X S E F
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WHAT’S NEW AT RBSCC?
As of July 1st of this year, our Senior Services Unit opened up 3 new
sites: Stuyvesant Gardens Senior Club, Palmetto Gardens Senior Club
and Breevort Senior Club. These programs are located in NYC Housing
Authority (NYCHA) developments and offer senior citizens hot lunch
meals as well as the array of services and activities of our larger senior
centers. All 3 clubs were in operation prior to July 1st, but were run
directly by the NYCHA. The NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA)
took over these centers and requested that RBSCC, because of the high
quality of services and our excellent track record of running senior services, become the clubs’ sponsor. With only approximately one month
lead time, RBSCC took over running these sites. Since we assumed sponsorship, members of each senior club receive a hot daily meal for the
first time since the clubs began operate. Kudos to Sandra Christian and
the staff of our Senior Services Unit! For more information about these
sites you may call them directly at 347-318-3313 (Stuyvesant Gardens), 718-676-0876 (Palmetto Gardens) and 347-318-3383 (Breevort).
newly funded Work, Learn and Grow Program allows us to offer year
round subsidized employment to 50 young people, age 16-24. Youth
have the opportunity to work for 10 hours per week in the field of their
choice. The critical job related skills that youth acquire at their worksites
set the foundation for their success in their future careers. It is a wonderful program that also offers educational and personal counseling, as well
as referrals for needed ancillary services. Keep up the great work Elena
Zullo & Youth & Ed team! For more information about the services at
our Youth & Education unit, call 718-381-9653.
In addition, RBSCC was selected through the DFTA Request-forProposal (RFP) process to continue sponsorship of our Case Management
Services. Congratulations to Michael Velez and the staff of the Case
Management Program who are continually recognized for their efforts
to over 800 home bound seniors.
vices for very low-income senior citizens and their families. The Coretta
For the 2015/2016 program year, our Youth & Education Unit is very
excited to be expanding its services to include three new programs. In
addition to the services we have been providing in the Bushwick section
of Brooklyn, Project Ex.I.T.O. now provides primary prevention, education and counseling programming to hundreds of youth in Bed Stuy,
Brownsville and Ocean Hill. We are in public schools, charter schools
and after school programs. Our newly funded Educational Support for
High School Youth Program provides critical support services to 30 high
school youth who reside in Bushwick. These youth receive tutoring,
project based learning, career readiness workshops, and counseling on a
daily basis. In the short time we have been administering this program,
we have witnessed substantial gains in youth's report card grades. We
anticipate additional outcomes that can only be positive. Lastly, our
medical and social security assistance, exercise and educational classes,
Our Housing Department has partnered with the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Community Partners Commission Association (CPCA) to open the Coretta
Scott-King Senior Houses in East New York, Brooklyn. This development includes 51 units of affordable housing with onsite supportive serScott-King Senior Houses was constructed on vacant formerly cityowned land and includes 32,736 square feet of residential space and
3,471 square feet of community space. Residents of the building have
access to a number of supportive programs offered by RBSCC including
along with day trips and other social outings.
Units were rented with a
preference for adults age 62 or older, or to families in which the head of
household is an eligible senior citizen. The entire development was designed to be affordable to very low-income families and individuals earning no more than approximately $24,800 for individual and $28,350 for
family. Each renter is required to pay 30 percent of their monthly income towards rent. The remainder of the rental cost is subsidized by a
HUD issued Project-Based Rental Assistance Contract in the amount of
$1.1 million annually. Our hats are off to you, Angela Battaglia, Scott
Short and the entire staff at housing!
RB Happenings Committee
Alicia Diamond
Antoinette Kozlowski
Rocio Mendoza
Kelly Morales
Silvia Nunez
Sharon Rios
Staff Orientation, Education and
Professional Development Group
Francis Blacklock
Antoinette Kozlowski
Kelly Morales
Maria Viera
Contributors
Brigette Blood
Eduard Cabre
Comments or questions? Contact us at [email protected]
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