Dear parents, grandparents and education activists,

More than 200 parents joined UFT members in Albany to lobby for education funding on March 9. To those of you who joined us: Thank you for your continued activism, leadership and support. Our efforts paid off when the governor and Albany lawmakers on April 1 finalized a new state budget that contained a $1.4 billion increase in state education funding, with $525 million going to New York City public schools.

Come to our next Queens parent workshop about emotional intelligence on May 3.

• Date: Tuesday, May 3
• Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
• Location: UFT Queens borough office at 97-77 Queens Blvd. Directions »

We'll discuss the five components of emotional intelligence and how they can be taught and learned. Refreshments will be served, and child care will be provided. RSVP by calling me at 718-275-4400. See the flier »

Remember to sign up for UFT text messaging by texting the word "parent" to the number 30644 and answering the questions that follow. We'll alert you about school cancellations due to weather, political campaigns and breaking news. And we'll even send a text message that links to a copy of your newsletter you can easily read on your mobile phone.

Enjoy more events, resources and news below.

Sincerely,

Rose Walker-Yates
UFT Parent-Community Liaison

Upcoming events

• Sunday, April 17: People with physical and visual impairments are invited to a "Gateway to Gold" event to learn about Paralympic sports from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd. in Flushing. This is a chance for youth, adults, military veterans and other prospective Paralympic athletes to try tests and sports drills that will give them an idea of of what Paralympic sports involve. For more details and to register, visit the event listing »

• Tuesday, April 19: Parents of children between the ages of 24 months and four years are invited to bring their children to a read aloud of Goodnight Moon, free book giveaway and library card signup from 11 a.m. to noon at Greenpoint Library, 107 Norman Ave. This event is part of the City's First Readers initiative, which holds giveaways and read aloud events every month. See the flier »

• Saturday, April 23: High school students are invited to a Black College Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with an after show from 3 to 5 p.m, at 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. in Jamaica, Queens. Learn about college admissions, scholarship opportunities and more. Tickets are $8. For more details and to register, see the website »

• Saturday, May 7: There will be a citywide baby shower at Beach Channel High School, 100-00 Beach Channel Drive in Far Rockaway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. New and expecting parents are invited to enjoy food, entertainment, activities and information about New York City resources for parents of babies. RSVP online now »

Opportunities and Resources

• Free financial counseling near you: The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs invites you to visit one of four Financial Empowerment Centers in Queens to get help with handling debt collectors, improving your credit, creating a budget, opening a bank account and more. Counseling is free, confidential and available in multiple languages. To make an appointment, call 311. Visit the website »

• Apply for a grant from the Build a Better School Contest: The Municipal Credit Union, the UFT and other partners are accepting video entries for our third annual Build a Better School Contest. Public school students are invited to submit a three-minute video that explains why their school is in need and what project they would undertake to make it better. The winning school will receive a $10,000 grant and other prizes. For more details, see the flier »

• Computer resource centers provide free digital literacy classes and more: There are 32 computer resource centers at NYC parks and recreation centers throughout the city. Computer resource centers offer digital learning opportunities and internet access to New Yorkers of all ages. For more information and to find a center near you, visit the website »

• Volunteer to help the homeless: The NYC Department of Homeless Services is looking for volunteers for its homeless shelter library program and annual street survey. If you're interested in lending a hand, see a flier for more details »

Free summer camps and programs

• Free academic summer programs and after-school programs: Inside Schools has gathered a list of free summer and after-school programs with an academic focus, sorted by subject. See the list of free programs at InsideSchools.org »

• Free sleep-away camp: The Fresh Air Fund sends low-income New York City children to sleep-away camps and to stay with host families in upstate New York free of charge. It is accepting applications for this summer now, and applications are available in English, Spanish, Bengali, Chinese, French and Korean. To learn more and apply, visit the website »

• STEM enrichment programs for all grade levels: The Department of Education offers summer enrichment programs in science, technology, engineering and math for all grades levels. Applications are open until April 19. Visit the website »

• Summer youth police academy: New York City children who are between the ages of 10 and 16 and attending school are welcome to apply for the New York Police Department's summer youth academy. This 6-week program, running from July 5 to Aug. 12, offers educational sessions about law, behavioral science, drug prevention and gang resistance. Students will also enjoy field trips and outdoor volunteer opportunities. There are locations in all boroughs. Lunch and transportation are included. Applications are being accepted until May 20. To learn more and apply, visit the website »

• Summer employment for New Yorkers between 14 and 24 years old: The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development is accepting applications for its summer youth employment program. Anyone between the ages of 14 and 24 who is a New York resident is eligible to apply for a paid summer job, plus workshops about career awareness, money management and more. Applications will be accepted until April 15. Apply online now »

• Summer internships at the NYC Department of Design and Construction: High school students over the age of 16 are invited to apply for paid, full-time summer internships at the Department of Design and Construction. Applications are due by April 15. For more information, see the flier »

• Free summer science program for high school girls: New York University is accepting applications for GenCyber CS4CS, a free, three-week, full-day summer program for high school women. The program will focus on cyber security and computer science. Applications are due by April 27. For more information and to apply, visit the website »