Brooklyn's Progress
August/September 2005

Re-Opening of Hunterfly Road Houses at Weeksville
The Society for the Preservation of Weeksville & Bedford-Stuyvesant History recently celebrated the grand re-opening of Historic Hunterfly Road Houses, one of America’s first free black communities.

Historic Weeksville was a 19th century community located in Brooklyn and named for James Weeks, an African American who purchased the land in 1838.  Weeksville was home to ministers, teachers and other professionals, including the first female African-American physician in New York State, and the first African-American police officer in New York City.

Weeksville had its own schools and churches, an orphanage, and one of the first African-American newspapers, the Freedman's Torchlight.  Weeksville Executive Director Pamela Green was joined in the June 5 re-opening celebration by U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was the guest of honor.  For more information about the Society for the Preservation of Weeksville and Bedford-Stuyvesant History, visit http://www.weeksvillesociety.org/.

Judith Zuk, BBG, President Honored During BrooklynBest
As part of BrooklynBest 2005, Borough President Marty Markowitz re-dedicated the beautiful walkway in the Japanese Garden at Brooklyn Botanic Garden as the Brooklyn Celebrity Path.  Brooklyn Botanic Garden President and CEO Judith Zuk was inducted into the celebrity path during the June 4 BrooklynBest festivities.

Brooklyn Arts Council Regrant Program
Brooklyn Arts Council is accepting applications for Community Arts Regrant Program funding.  The application deadline is Sept. 28.

Funding is available for Brooklyn-based projects in visual arts, film/video, media, photography, crafts, folk arts, multi-discipline, literature/writing, dance, music, opera, theater and drama. Funds are also available for capacity building projects for arts organizations.

To learn about guidelines and applications, you must attend an application seminar. Seminars are divided into two categories – individual artists and arts organizations. For seminar locations and more information, visit http://www.brooklynartscouncil.org/, or call 718-625-0080.

Master Class at BCM
Jazz singers from around the metropolitan area gathered at Brooklyn Conservatory of Music for the unique opportunity to participate in a master class led by renowned jazz vocalists Sheila Jordan and Mark Murphy on June 4.  Students of all ages and levels were invited to sing for the duo and receive tips on how to improve and hone their skills.  For a concert season calendar and free brochure about programs and lessons, please call the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music at 718-622-3300 or visit their Web site at http://www.brooklynconservatory.com/.

Lutheran Medical Center Opens State-of-the Art Cath Lab and On-Site Mosque
Lutheran Medical Center (LMC) recently opened a state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization suite (cath lab). The cath lab uses the most advanced diagnostic equipment to detect heart disease at an early stage and to diagnosis further treatment options.  On July 5, the medical center held its Annual Dinner Dance and Silent Auction at Chelsea Piers.  The event, sponsored by Commerce Bank, attracted a record-breaking number of guests, 860, and raised $845,000 for the medical center's new cardiac catheterization lab.  

On June 21, LMC dedicated its new mosque (or masjed) to serve as a place of worship, spiritual healing and comfort for patients, families, visitors and staff of the Islamic faith.  With a team of volunteers, fundraisers and Imams from Brooklyn's Islamic community, LMC's new permanent mosque, located on the main floor of the medical center, took shape over a period of six months. For more information, visit Lutheran online at http://www.lmcmc.com/.

NYM Hospital Unveils New Pediatric Unit and Receives Grant to Battle Low Health Literacy
New York Methodist Hospital (NYM) recently unveiled its new pediatric unit at a ceremony held on the third floor of the Hospital’s Carrington Pavilion.  The new floor features 15 bright and airy carpeted patient rooms designed specifically for children.  Each room has a state-of-the-art hospital bed, window and bathroom and plenty of space for visitors.  The unit also features a child-friendly playroom decorated in festive colors.  The floor also has a five-bed state of the art pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

NYM also received a one-year Health Care Improvement Grant for $35,000 from the United Hospital Fund to expand the Health Literary Project, which was initiated last year.  The Health Literacy Project provides funds for NYM’s Department of Educational and Volunteer Resources and the Adult Literacy Media Center, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve adult literacy, to provide training and literacy materials to volunteers.  Once trained, volunteers spend time with patients with low literacy skills, explaining how to read medication labels and follow a doctor’s written instructions.  The goal is to improve patients’ ability to understand, interpret and use health information.   

In other NYM news, the hospital recently honored its volunteers.  Last year 1,239 volunteers gave over 70,000 hours of their time at NYM, performing tasks that ranged from singing to patients, to helping nurses feed them.

Maimonides Medical Center  Named to “Most Wired” and “Most Wireless” Lists
Maimonides Medical Center was named one of the nation’s 100 “Most Wired” hospitals and one of the nation’s 25 “Most Wireless,” by Hospitals & Health Networks, a journal of the American Hospital Association (AHA).  Maimonides was the only hospital in New York State to achieve the dual honors of these prestigious awards.  Only 18 hospitals in the nation appear on both lists which are based on the AHA’s Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study.  The awards reflect the Maimonides commitment to computer technology as a tool for enhancing efficiency, improving patient care and reducing medical errors.

Beth Israel Nurses Honored for Excellence
Two nurses from Beth Israel Medical Center-Kings Highway Division received the Beatrice Renfield Circle of Excellence Award.  Rosemary Fiore, RN, a preceptor in the 2 East Medical-Surgical Unit was recognized for Excellence by a Preceptor; and Edna KoYang, RN, a staff nurse in the Emergency Department, was honored for Excellence in Patient-Centered Care.  Each nurse received a $1,000 educational stipend.

Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation Receives Neighborhood Achievement Award
Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation received a Community Partnership Award as part of the 2005 New York City Neighborhood Achievement Awards.  Restoration Corporation was recognized for executing a multi-pronged economic development strategy including its streetscape improvement collaboration with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, its financial fitness workshops for community residents, its Youth Arts Academy which reaches more than 2,000 students in public schools, spearheading the Central Brooklyn Childhood Asthma Partnership to raise awareness about asthma and working with schools to improve care and treatment, and working with New York State to make homes more energy efficient and reduce bills for residents.

The 2005 New York City Neighborhood Achievement Awards honor neighborhood organizations, businesses and individuals that have demonstrated excellence, partnership and creativity in enhancing New York City’s business environment and quality of life.  Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Robert W. Walsh presented the awards to 15 recipients during a reception at Gracie Mansion on July 11.  Chairman of Con Edison Eugene McGrath and Vice President and Director of Community Affairs for Citibank Hector Ramirez were also in attendance to present the awards.   Con Edison and Citibank are sponsors of this year’s award ceremony.

Exito Empresarial also received a Community Partnership Award for its collaborative effort with Con Edison, Staples and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop a four-part Spanish-language seminar series that provides existing small business owners with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to grow a successful business.  Classes take place at CUNY schools.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Paralegal Studies Debuts at City Tech
New York City College of Technology (City Tech) in Downtown Brooklyn is offering an American Bar Association-approved, post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies. 

A collaboration between City Tech’s Division of Continuing Education and Department of Law & Paralegal Studies, this new, non-credit certificate program delivers 315 hours of legal studies coursework and provides entry to the law profession as a paralegal. The program is open to those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in any field.  Classes will begin on Fri., Sept. 23, 2005.  Call 718-552-1180 with questions and 718-552-1170 to register.