Good Morning, Brooklyn: Wednesday, December 1, 2021

December 1, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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DENOUNCING ATTACKS ON YEMENI BODEGAS: The Yemeni American Merchants Association calls for action after a string of attacks on Yemeni bodegas, with a demand-justice gathering scheduled for this afternoon, December 1, announced Pastor Gilford Monrose of the GodSquad/67^th Precinct Clergy Council. The Yemeni American Merchants Association (YAMA) are gravely concerned with the string of attacks on Yemeni bodegas in the recent weeks in NYC, with the most recent assault in Brooklyn made against 18-year-old Zayid Muthana, who was shot in the head while working at his family’s bodega.

The family of Zayid Muthana — who was reported in stable condition as of press time Tuesday night — will participate with the Yafa Community Center, United Bodega of America, and Bodega and Small Business Group, 67th Precinct Clergy Council, Inc. and elected officials are expected to take part in the Call for Action, taking place at 1854 Nostrand Ave. starting at 12:30 p.m.

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MORE THAN 1,400 ATTEND NEW BISHOP’S INSTALLATION MASS: The Most Rev. Robert J. Brennan was installed as the eighth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn yesterday, with about 1,400 packing the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights. During his homily focused on the observed Feast Day of St. Andrew (Nov. 30), Bishop Brennan spoke of that apostle as being out and among the people and that he will also be doing this as he gets to know the people of the diocese.

Speaking affectionately of his two-years as bishop of Columbus, Brennan —a native New Yorker —said that it’s good to be back home.

Bishop Robert Brennan carries the apostolic letter from Pope Francis that officially declares him as the 8th Bishop of Brooklyn, a diocese of 1.5 million Roman Catholics in nearly 200 Catholic parishes across the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.
Photo courtesy Diocese of Brooklyn

Bishop Robert J. Brennan greets priests outside the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph following the Installation Mass. Because Brennan is already a bishop, having led the Diocese of Columbus, he was installed rather than ordained.
Photo courtesy Diocese of Brooklyn

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‘LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR ALL’: Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter and the New York City Council have launched “Language Access for All,” a historic $4 million investment in improving outreach, engagement and communication with multilingual families across New York City. This unprecedented investment stresses four critical areas citywide multi-lingual “know your rights” campaigns; expanding communications outlets and tools to reach more families; building language access capacity of school staff; and partnering with community-based organizations to provide multilingual family workshops and language support.

Moreover, the Department of Education is expanding its central Translation and Interpretation Unit, which will enable the translation of Individualized Education Program (IEP) to any family in their preferred language upon request to the school of choice. Families may also call 718-935-2013 or visit schools.nyc.gov/hello.

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BROOKLYN MUSEUM’S TOY DRIVE: The Brooklyn Museum has partnered with the Vulcan Society, and Grandma’s Hands, F.O.O.D. Foundation, and elected officials to sponsor a Holiday Toy Drive Donation Drop-off. Donors may bring new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0–14 in the Museum’s Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion and Lobby, 1st Floor. during open hours, Wednesdays–Sundays through December 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

New York City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo, Congress members Yvette Clarke and Hakeem Jeffries have partnered with the Brooklyn Museum for its annual Holiday Toy Drive.

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FILM SCREENINGS FOR WORLD AIDS DAY: New York–based arts organization Visual AIDS returns to the Brooklyn Museum to commemorate Day With(out) Art 2021 with a screening of ENDURING CARE as today, Dec. 1, marks the annual World AIDS Day observance. The program, running from 6 to 8 p.m., and held in the Museum’s 3^rd floor Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium, includes seven short films that explore stories of the ongoing HIV epidemic—including those of harm reduction, prison abolition, and the long-term effects of medication—while honoring strategies of community care and mutual aid. Free, but tickets must be reserved in advance via the Brooklyn Museum’s website: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/calendar/event/film_visual_aids_december_2021

A talkback with the program’s featured filmmakers follows the screening, presented in partnership with the Studio Museum in Harlem.

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‘WE SPEAK ART’: Practice English and converse about art at a special “We Speak Art” program of the Brooklyn Museum. Participants in this free event (advance registration on the museum website) can join fellow English-language learners in practicing conversational English skills with a discussion inspired by a work of art. All levels of English proficiency are welcome at “We Speak Art,” tomorrow, Thursday, December 2, from 6–7 p.m., in the Museum’s first-floor Rubin Lobby.

Hablemos de Arte, a similar program for people wanting to learn and practice their Spanish conversation skills will take place the following Thursday, December 9, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Register on the Museum’s website.

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SALSA AND SOCIAL DANCING: Salsa Party on the floor of the Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion (on the other side of the brick piers from the lobby) on Thursday, December 9. The Balmir Dance Society will start the evening with a 6 p.m. dance class.

The floor then opens up with live music and performances by Brooklyn’s best Latin dance teams. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance via the Museum’s website.

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NOMINATE BUSINESS LEADERS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Crain’s New York Business seeks nominations for its special editorial feature on Black History Month being published in February 2022. Subscribers can nominate Black executives — individuals and organizations — for their success and accomplishments during the last 18 months. Crain’s seeks nominations across all industries for executives with a minimum of 10 years in a leadership role.

Deadline for the Monday, February 21, 2022 print edition is just before midnight on January 7.

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HOLIDAY MARKET IN COBBLE HILL: FAD Market — a curated fashion, art, and design pop-up marketplace— is bringing an expansive collection of small-batch goods from local makers to Cobble Hill — just in time for thoughtful holiday shopping. The weekend market includes a rotating roster of over 100 up-and-coming brands, designers, and small businesses based in New York City — offering a curated selection of infinitely giftable, handcrafted apparel, home goods, stationery, and accessories.

The market is open December 4 and 5, 11-12, and 18-19 at The Invisible Dog Art Center and St. Paul’s Church, 190 Court St. in Cobble Hill, at Congress St.

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5-BOROUGH FOOD BANK CHALLENGE: Food Bank For New York City, along with longtime partner Bank of America, and media partners iHeartMedia, Univision and WNBC, kicked off Giving Tuesday with the 2nd annual 5-Borough Challenge running until December 31. The 5-Borough Challenge is a media campaign that will contribute to the Food Bank’s overall goal of providing 20 million meals by the end of the year to New Yorkers most in need. The challenge consists of five teams, one for each borough, with a goal of raising $20,000. Bank of America will match the total of the $100,000 raised by the teams for a grand total of $200,000.

Also launched on Giving Tuesday was a 4X match digital campaign as well as a 6-week brand awareness and fundraising video campaign on Spectrum, LinkNYC terminals, JFK and LaGuardia airports screens, MTA subway boards and retail stores across the five boroughs

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NETS AND ADIDAS PARTNER FOR YOUTH: The Brooklyn Nets and adidas have formed a multi-year partnership that will be centered around connecting with the youth community through basketball. Celebrating the launch of the partnership, the Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy, and James Harden, currently in his second season with the Nets, hosted a clinic for more than 130 youth from six community organizations in partnership with adidas.

Founded in 2016, the Academy has, in its first five years, welcomed more than 30,000 kids to over 450 events while working with upwards of 225 community partners, ultimately reaching 60,000 people. Harden’s teammates Cam Thomas, Bruce Brown and Day’Ron Sharpe have personal endorsement deals with adidas.

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JAIL CONSTRUCTION ‘GROUNDED IN DIGNITY AND RESPECT’: The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) has selected four separate teams of designers and builders to receive design-build contracts to prepare sites where four new borough-based jail facilities will be built in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx. In three of the boroughs, including Brooklyn, the design-build teams will dismantle existing facilities on the sites and construct temporary “swing spaces” to facilitate NYC Department of Correction’s transfers for court appearances during construction.

Design and construction firms participating in the program will have a rare opportunity to build facilities grounded in dignity and respect, offering better connections to the Court system. The facilities will be designed to accommodate the needs of families as well as for medical, mental health, education and therapeutic programming service providers.