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Programs At A Glance
Housing Services
NIDC works with both Tenants and building owners to address a broad variety of housing issues. More then 90% of the tenant population that we work with are low income minority families, single parents, immigrant or elderly.
We provide a broad array of tenant counseling services which address issues like repairs, harassment, lease renewals and rent overcharges. We assist tenants who do not have legal representation with their Housing Court cases. We organize Tenant Associations in buildings with problems such as lack of adequate heat and/or hot water, lack of proper maintenance and security issues.
We also conduct periodic workshops on tenant rights, produce newsletters and send out informational mailings with the goal of educating tenants about their rights.
We established a Tenants Council which meets on a monthly basis to address housing and quality of life issues in the community.
We also provide building owners with information and the assistance they need to ensure that their properties are well maintained and that they fulfill their obligations under the law. Through our building security program we help owners address crime problems that plague their buildings. In addition, we provided them with a newsletter that covers a broad variety of topics to help them maintain and/or improve their properties.
Bronx River Project
The NIDC Bronx River Project, entering its second year in 2002, is an environmental endeavor involving community youth and adult volunteers. The project utilizes a community outreach specialist to recruit, organize, and train youth and adult volunteers to reclaim a section of the River. NIDC participates in the Bronx River Alliance, a consortium of groups working along the entire length of the River; the NIDC sector of the Bronx River runs along the east bank, between Gun Hill Road and Allerton Avenue.
The goal of the project is to increase community awareness of and access to the natural treasure of the Bronx River, to remove invasive plants that are damaging to the ecosystem, and to restore the native river habitat. For information on the next planting, call 718.231.9800, and press 34 when the phone answers.
After School Program at Public Schools 96, 97 & 121
NIDC has been offering high-quality after-school programs to local youth in the Allerton-Pelham Parkway area of the Bronx since 1988. We currently operate after-school programs at: PS 96, located at 650 Waring Avenue during the school year and serves approximately 150 children in grades K - 5, PS 97, located at 1375 Mace Avenue and serves 30 children in grades K - 5, and PS 121 located at 3750 Throop Avenue and serves about 35 children in grades K - 5.
Program Activities: Attendance and greetings, snack time, whole language activities, study skills, test preparation, individual and shared reading time, group games, homework session, outdoor activities (weather and schedule permitting), arts and crafts and clean up time. Additional activities may include: a reading club, poetry club, theater productions, library visits and holiday events.
In addition to servicing the children, we have created a Parenting Partnership Organization (PPO) that provides parents with a variety of tools and information necessary to help foster positive communication between the parent and child, parent and school/teachers and the parent and after-school program.
2005- 2006 Schedule: The children meet Monday - Friday from 2:55 pm - 6:00 pm.
PS 96 runs from September 30, 2002 - June 7, 2003.
For further information and/or to register, please contact S. Urbina , Associate Director of Youth Services at 718.231.9800 x 20 or email at SUrbina@NIDCNY.ORG
NIDC TEEN PROGRAMS at Barker Avenue Resource Center
The Teen Success Program is designed to serve local teens in the Allerton-Pelham Parkway area of the Bronx. We presently offer several programs that work to educate the students in anti-violence awareness and substance abuse prevention. The Teen Success Program operates at NIDC’s Resource Center, located at 2506 Barker Avenue. Teen Success students participate in the following programs, Teen Council, Leaders Club, Urban Art, Sports Program, Job Readiness and Journalism Club.
Job Readiness Program
The Job Readiness training is designed to prepare teens for their first job, and help them explore what they want as a career path. Program focuses on job search skills, job etiquette and work ethics. Students are tested and are eligible to work as interns in local businesses participating in the project. With the completion of the program, teens are then awarded with a $200 stipend. Program hours are as follows; Monday and Wednesday, 3:00pm-4:30pm, gather & attendance, 4:30pm - 6:00pm, training & dismissal.
Leaders Club
Leadership Club participates in self-reflection, value based activities and team building in hopes of producing stellar, teen leaders. We highlight various community related issues, such as recycling, drug prevention, anti-violence and the importance of community service. Teen Leadership also coordinates outside activities and holiday parties. Leaders Club meet; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00pm -4:30pm, gather & attendance, 4:30pm – 6:00pm: training & dismissal.
Teen Council
Teen Council is a group of 10 responsible elected teenagers who “run the show.” Teen Council members learn organizing skills, coordinating and how to set-up any and all functions for youth to perform at maximum efficiency of the Teen Success Program. Teen Council meet on Monday’s 5:30pm -6:30pm.
Sports Program
The Recreation Program is dedicated to helping the teens develop their athletic skills through a combination of physical and mental exercises. The goal is for the teens to develop a sound training that will foster both personal as well as team growth. Program hours are as follows: Fridays 3:00pm – 6:00pm.
Urban Art
Urban Art aims to enhance teenagers understanding of themselves and the world around them through various art activities. A local volunteer, directs the Urban Art program. The group works in a variety of areas such as, Dance, Writing, and Singing. These performances give the teens an opportunity to come out of their comfort zones and put themselves to the test. The teens also have an opportunity to participate in journal writing. Our goal is to give the teens the tools to express themselves creatively. Urban Art meets Fridays 6:00pm –7:00pm.
Journalism Club
The Journalism Club’s main focus is to improve the members writing skills. The group focuses on improving their techniques in interviewing skills, article writing, editing and arranging the quarterly Newsletter. The main purpose is for them to start to enjoy the writing process and develop a writing voice of their own. Informing and alerting the community of current projects, future events, and supporting NIDC’s standing within the community is a positive result of the Newsletter. The club is comprised of Middle School and High School students from the surrounding neighborhood. The group is organized and overseen by two Teen Council members and supervised by NIDC staff. News Letters will be distributed on a quarterly basis according to the seasons. Their first publication will be available mid-February.
For more information contact Christy Olsen, Teen Program Director at 718.790.0237 or to leave a voice message at 718.231.9800 ext 32.
NIDC Middle School After School Program at Barker Avenue Resource Center
NIDC has offered after school programming for Middle School Youth for the past ten years. Through the years this program has expanded and is now offered at 2506 Barker Avenue Resource Center. We serve as many as 25 youth daily. Many of the activities focus on positive social reinforcement and academic enhancement, in the areas of writing and math. Community Service has been a strong component of the program, whether it’s planting on the Bronx River, conducting water testing, or tending a community Green Street Garden at Allerton Avenue and Boston Post Road. The weather plays a large factor in many of their projects, but the youth enjoy being outdoors and reaping the benefits of their neighborhood environment.Program hours are Monday through Friday from school dismissal, 2:40 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Program enrollment begins in September and continues until mid June.
For further information or to register, please contact Janice Flood, Middle School Program Coordinator at 718.790.0236 or 718.231.9800 ext #33 for voice mail.
Allerton Business & Community Association (ABCA)
The Allerton Business & Community Association (ABCA) was founded in 1989 by a group of merchants, Beth Abraham Health Services and Allerton Avenue Homeowners and Tenants Association with the assistance of neighborhood Initiatives Development Corporation (NIDC). The mission of ABCA is to maintain the viability of the Allerton Avenue shopping district by promoting safety, beautifying the area, providing merchants with technical assistance and developing promotional campaigns. Services ABCA provides; Street Sweeping, Community Events, Holiday Lighting, Promotional Events, Technical Assistance, Crime Prevention and Maintaining the Allerton Community Garden.TEEN CENTER at PS 135
NIDC has offered an evening recreation program for over ten years. This program currently services youth and teens in the Allerton-Pelham Parkway community. Our center presently operates out of PS 135, which is located at 980 Mace Avenue. Teen Center serves approximately 100 youth from ages 6 – 18.
This Center offers a wide variety of activities for the youth to participate. The activities include, Fundamental Basketball Sessions, Arts & Crafts, Games Galore (Ping Pong, Checkers, Chess, Nok Hokey and much more) and The Spring Basketball Tournament (ages 13-15).
Program hours are Monday through Wednesday 7:00pm - 9:30pm. Program begins in October and continues until the end of May.
For further information and/or to register, please contact Richard Gill, Recreation Center Director at (718) 231-9800 x 30
Additional programs will be posted soon...