Talking the Bronx 01.30.13
Talking the Bronx 01.30.13
Leadership Training Day
Toastmasters invites residents to its First Leadership Training Day.
Come out and meet new and advanced members and hear special guest speakers talk about the importance of communication skills in today’s job market.
Those afraid of public speaking are welcome. Join neighbors and friends for a hands-on experience in how to conquer public speaking fears.
Guests will be informed on prepared speeches, table topics (impromptu speeches), and evaluations.
Those who attend will also be among the first to view a screening of the documentary Speak, about six Toastmasters and their quest to win the coveted title of “World Champion of Public Speaking”.
The Training Day takes place on Sat., Feb. 2nd at the Community Center located at 177 Dreiser Loop in Co-op City from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The event is free to the public.
For more information, contact Workshop Leader Kathy Blount, CC at 347.419.0570 or email secs38@hotmail.com.
Monroe earns second in the State Culinary championships
On Sat., Jan. 26th, the final count of the American Culinary Federation New York state championships in Hyde Park, NY had the Monroe Culinary Team in second place by a mere three-tenths of a point, just behind the Culinary Institute of America. The championship hosts some of the nation’s best collegiate culinary programs, with close competition between Monroe College, CIA, Schenectady CC and the Niagara Culinary Institute, all of whom field talented young chefs with outstanding coaching.
The performance of the Monroe Culinary team, led by captain, Katherine Taveras, and including Gabriela Grande, Yocary Luna, Carmen Albino, Rossella Cangiolosi, Laura Sanchez and Angelina Hernandez, was lauded by those present.
“This is an exceptional group of young female chefs, and they have very bright futures ahead of them in the industry,” said Dean Frank Costantino. “We think this could very well be the most accomplished team Monroe has fielded in the four years we have been competing at the state level and it is by far the most fun group to coach that we’ve ever had because of their passion and culinary ability.”
In addition to the team, a number of Monroe culinary students traveled to the competition along with student assistant coaches Shamel Donigan and Cuatemhoc Cortez, the team’s pastry coach Chef Gerard Molloy and culinary chairperson Tracy Zimmermann.
During the competition, the Monroe team won five gold medals, which brings this year’s gold count to eleven out of 33 total medals.
Bronx musicians selected for The Battle of the Boroughs
Hundreds from a variety of backgrounds and genres auditioned and 14 have now been selected to represent The Bronx on April 5 at WNYC/WQXR’s The Greene Space.
From a group that improvises every song at every performance to an artist who has performed at Carnegie Hall, the participants in Battle of the Boroughs exemplify the diversity and vitality of The Bronx.
Battle of the Boroughs is WNYC/WQXR’s The Greene Space’s annual city-wide search for the undiscovered musical talent.
The Battles take place from February to June. This year the winner of the Ultimate Battle will get a chance to perform and the iconic Apollo Theater.
Participants representing The Bronx:
I Am B13 (rap)
Captains of Industry (Free Jazz)
Tee Dot Ohh Liya Marie (Singer/Rapper)
Blue Meadow (Rock)
marie-claire (Jazz)
Kevin Batchelor’s Grand Concourse (Reggae/Ska)
Daphya (Hip hop/ R&B)
Bill Santen (Folk)
Flow Freequan (Rap)
Yurby (Folk/Alternative Rock/Blues)
Al-Lisha Burns (R&B/ Pop/)
Corky Has a Band (Hyper- Vaudevillian Performance Art)
Tyrone Birkett/Emancipation (Postmodern Spirituals, Jazz, Soul, Gospel)
Emily Angell (Folk-Pop)
For more information, please visit www.thegreenespace.org/battle.
Project Compass launches new program
The Fortune Society is launching new employment services initiative named Project Compass, which serves as an integration assistance program.
Project Compass is a free job training and placement assistance program, exclusively for re-entrants in specific neighborhoods, including in the South Bronx.
Participants must meet all of the following requirements to qualify for enrollment in the fortune Society’s Project Compass Initiative:
- Released from incarceration in the past 6 months or will be released within the next 3 months.
- Physical residence in any of the following zip codes within the South Bronx:
- 10451, 10452, 10453,10454,10455,10456,10457,10459,10474
- Commitment to personal growth and seeking sustainable employment
- 18 years of age or older
Program acceptance includes:
- Work readiness instruction
- Career planning
- Job placement assistance
- Mentorship
- Consideration for additional hard-skills training in food preparation or green technologies
- Referrals for education, counseling, legal and family services
For more information please contact Carmen Bautista at 347.510.3686 or send an e-mail message at cbautista@fortunesociety.org.
Sen. Klein honors student filmmaker
New York State Sen. Klein honored Sofie Somoroff, a Bronx sixteen-year-old who was named winner of the Reach for the Stars Aspiring Filmmakers Contest for her lyrical, 71-second “micro-movie,” entitled “Me.” Somoroff is a junior at Bronx High School of Science.
