BCAL

Rhinelander Visits BCAL

arin — Sat, 05 May 2012 00:45:16 +0000

Guest Blogger: Irene Gilbert, Service Learner

BCAL hosted a unique College Access experience. 40 hearing impaired teens visited

BCAL last Saturday had a wonderful time. We augmented the scavenger hunt and showed hip hop videos which incorporated American Sign Language (ASL). The students were able to explore the college campus with the guidance of college service learners and interpreters. The teens were full of energy and were such a joy to be with, hopefully this won’t be their last visit to BCAL.

Spelling out the team name in ASL

Group photo!

National Grid Earth Day Celebration at Brooklyn College

College Guru — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:18:14 +0000

Earth Day was celebrated around New York City in many different ways. National Grid hosted their 5th Annual Earth Day Celebration. Children and adults alike enjoyed live music, arts and crafts and street performers at this free community festival. The event highlighted the need for creating a sustainable future and caring for the Earth. The Brooklyn College Center for the Performing Arts also presented “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale” a story told through African dance, drumming, narration and song.

[View with PicLens]

Belle And Beau of the Ball Gown and Tuxedo/Suit Donations

Winton Wedderburn — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:25:53 +0000

April 1st 2012 through May 14, 2012 the BCCP will collect dresses, suits (tuxedos), shoes, make-up and accessories for our third annual “Belle & Beau of the Ball”. We will have the Prom dress giveaway on Tuesday May 15th, 2012 and Monday May 21st the Suit/Tuxedo fitting. These exciting events provide high school seniors with Prom Dresses and Suits. Many students find it impossible to attend their high school prom because of the excessive expense. Your contribution will allow many young men and women to participate in a special evening meant to reward them for their academic achievements and success. We
encourage everyone who has a dry cleaned prom or evening dress, a formal suit or tuxedo; gently worn shoes or accessories and unopened make-up to consider contributing them to this memorable occasion.

Donations may be dropped off at the Brooklyn College Art Lab, Brooklyn College Roosevelt Hall, Room 301R (press 3R within the elevator) Brooklyn, NY 11210; Monday through Friday from 10am – 6pm and
Saturday, 12noon – 4pm or by mailing to the address above, attention to Sheena Minott or Denise Paige.

Thank you for taking the time to read and share this letter. If you have any questions or need further information, please free feel to contact Sheena Minott (Sheena@thebccp.org) or Denise Paige (paige@thebccp.org) at (718) 951-5825.

Youth Forum

sheena — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:46:26 +0000

Discovering how can we make Brooklyn more diverse and and the ways we can diversify in Brooklyn.

On April 4, the BCCP hosted the We All Are Brooklyn Youth Forum here at our very own BCAL. BCCP staff and youth gathered with leaders, staff and organizations from across Brooklyn. As we gathered we talked about diversity, issues of culture and race, racism and stereotypes. But just as well, we had conversations about ways that we can come together as a community despite being from different races, etc. There was a focus on how to include and serve youth better. We discussed how exposure to new people and new things can really change a youth’s life and also how young people too often prioritize fitting-in and fall to peer pressure. I was impressed by so much: The stories shared of people’s own dealing with racism, the opinions of my peers about youth at their schools or in their communities, and all the different cultures represented at the Forum.

I remember thinking later after the Forum: If us youth learn more, step outside our comfort zone more, I think we really could make our Brooklyn better. I hope it happens. Below are some shots courtesy of fellow BCAL-er Emmanuel Ojo. Check ‘em out!

This has been another post brought to you by

Kennymar Rankin || Kennymar is a sophomore at Edward Murrow High School interested in pursuing a career in marketing, media arts, and professional basketball.

E-Hall Spirit Takes Over BCAL

arin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:14:35 +0000

Both Erasmus Hall 11th graders and 9th graders made trips to BCAL for college access day visits. They reigned over the scavenger hunt. Both groups had a team that were able to get the maximum points possible on the hunt. Congrats E-Hall!

Bonus Points! Doing the tango during a real tango class!

Spelling out BCCP is a team effort

TW for Teamwork

Entire team studying in a quiet place- 20 points!

Take a photo with a Brooklyn College professor- they are easy to spot!

With the Martin Luther King statue

At the Lily Pond with a BC student.

Jump!

9th grade class

11th grade class

Maya Azucena Visits BCAL Saturdays

sheena — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:07:57 +0000

In the month of February, R & B songstress Maya Azucena visited BCAL for a two week intensive performance workshop. During the first week, she worked with a small group of students and shared with them what it was like to be in the music industry as an underground artist.

During week two, Maya graced BCAL with a performance. BCAL regular, Alahnie Bailey was so inspired that she read her original poem “Do Better”. It took a lot of courage to perform her masterpiece. Read it for yourself below.

DO BETTER

I will, I will

after I pop this bean

at the end of this bottle

I mean we all have dreams

but I’ll never be skinny enough to be a model

Aren’t we all just like everyone else searching for love

then me great intentions are curved by some jack-ass i think I’m not pretty enough to deserve But tell me once, just one time

That I’m Georges and for a moment, for a split second I’ll believe I’m flawless

What happens when i don’t feel like that anymore

what happens when my feelings aren’t there

you’ll be the same one I “love”

sitting next to the one that’s prettier

the one with long hair

But I guess it was all fake I was Barbie and you were Ken

I thought I was happy in the beginning but in the end

That same bottle was the one I could turn to

that was my “boyfriend”

And those same people that said I can do better turned into letters

Letters that meant nothing until I stepped back and saw the big picture

So when you are worrying about if he’s a good kisser

your life is dripping away

Slipping through your fingers

Then when its too late you’ll be thinking if what you should have , would have , could have done If it wasn’t for stage number one

All that lateness could have been greatness

And All the time I waste could be bad memories erased from my mind

how can i think of all the bad times when I’m on my grind

I would have all the confidence in the world to tell those people that said i was easily broken that they are sadly mistaken

For all those who think I cant reach the level I’m coming

Things change and people do I’m a strong black girl now

and in a few years I’ll be a strong black woman

I herd loudly the ones who said I couldn’t

Turned my back to those who said I could

They tell me that I’m crazy but I know for sure I’m misunderstood

For all those who are waiting for Alahnie to make them proud

I’ll say it loud so that the negativity to hear me

I throw out the window everything that scares me

I know my memory Isn’t great but, forget? I could never

All the voices that said Alahnie you CAN do better!

BCAL Saturday- Butterfly Project

sheena — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:43:34 +0000

At BCAL we made butterflies to represent the children that were lost in the Holocaust. These butterflies were sent to The Holocaust Museum in Texas where the butterflies will eventually compose a breath-taking exhibition scheduled in the Spring of 2014. They will be put up in a gallery where everyone can notice all that has passed away.

If I could fly i’ll touch the sky,

if I could fly i’ll be closer to GOD,

if I could fly i’ll be so high,

Man I wish I had wings so I could try.

-Unknown

BCAL Aspirining Actors Get A Chance To Get Their Show On….

sheena — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:12:41 +0000

I’m used to the crowds of young musicians, rappers, singers, even painters, and peeps around the ping-pong table at the center, but check out the BCAL 5. Yup, their not rappers or superheroes: Their actors. Five aspiring performers joined together at BCAL after our Project Peace hour to kick-out their acting skills.

Yup, yup, they did it all in a lil’ under two hours: Theater games, stage pictures, improv scenes and monologue writing and performing. I was like “wow” as I watched them portray celebrities, try out accents, and perform stuff that couldn’t possibly happen in real life like a reunion between Big Pop and Pac. It was cool, I saw my fellow teens not caring about who or what was around ‘em in their environment even if just for a couple of hours.

Performing monologues about Franklin Ave. and grandmothers, I witnessed these teens make art based on their everyday experiences. It showed me actors don’t just have to memorize scripts, they can be creative with writing too. It wasn’t just words though, but crazy imagination and talent pouring out of these youth. It let me see how unique they really were and we all can be when we’re not scared.

Here are some snapshots I took of the whole event:

East Coast versus West Coasts even in our imaginations as Ricklin and Isaiah portray Notorious B.I.G. and TuPac….

: Ashley and Nadja ‘mirror’ each other and make ninjas…

This post brought to you by:

Kennymar Rankin

Just Another BCAL Thursday, Another Busy Thursday!

sheena — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:10:03 +0000

I first came to BCAL early in the school year, in September. Back then our numbers were low, but we were a mighty crew. Five months later, BCAL is packed with youth everywhere. It’s crazy to see how BCAL has grown, bringing young people together and allowing us to get to know each other, professional artists, and ourselves through cool arts activities. It looks a little something like this:

Kimari, one of BCAL'S vocal most-talented-est-est singer and songwriters, gets down in the studio to produce her own tracks.

Richie and Ojo throw down with that ping and pong!

BCAL regular, Linda, makes use of the computer lab to get homework and catch up on Youtube.

Armando, one of BCAL'S musical artists, is about to use his talent and that guitar.

Ms. Paige, our College Access Coordinator, working hard just like she was the first day I got here.

As you see from the pics above, BCAL is popping with no plans of stopping.

This post brought to you by:

Kennymar Rankin

Kennymar Rankin is a Sophomore at Edward R. Murrow High School and aspires to be a professional basketball player or media and technology worker.

BCAL BAND Writing An Original

ivan — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:49:47 +0000