Senator Smith Promotes New Ideas For Improving Our Neighborhoods

Senator Malcolm A. Smith (D-Queens) is urging his constituents to take advantage of a new program to help make our neighborhoods a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Senator Smith noted that New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods (NYBN) is providing small grants between $500-$3,000, trainings, and hands-on technical assistance to well-known and new grassroots volunteer-based organizations across the City of New York.

"Everyone should take advantage of this opportunity to make their own contribution to improving our community," urged the Queens Legislator. "There are alot of success stories out there waiting to happen and this program provides the opportunity."

Senator Smith explained that Citizens Committee for New York City is a great force, which helps communities re-engage their citizens and create the type of unity that seemed to have began to disappear over the years. "The New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods awards are great opportunities to expand current community projects," noted the Queens Senator. "This could be your chance to formulate new uplifting ways to inspire cooperative spirit and introduce proven concepts from neighboring communities that would be in everyone's mutual interest."

Senator Smith said CCNYC stimulates and supports self-help and civic action to improve the quality of life in New York City and its neighborhoods. Aside from appropriating funds, the CCNYC also provides tools to jumpstart the rejuvenation of community power. The organization also offers personable client collaboration on forecasts for optimal viability of community programs looking to expand their operations, as well as new plans of action yet to be conceived.

In recent years, New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods awards have improved the quality of life for low income neighborhoods with community gardens, contributed to community outreach programs for free tax preparation sites and facilitated immigrant assimilation and language activities, and child enrichment programs.

The next grant application deadline is September 30, 2007. To find out how you can get support for a new or ongoing project visit www.citizensnyc.org. For further information call oremail Arif Ullah at (212) 822-9580 or grants@citizensnyc.org.