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Newsletter
Issue
# 29 |
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Angela was a bank manager for many years. When she joined Sesame Flyers, she demonstrated her love for finances as our first Financial Administrator. She provided a template of our financial reports for our multiple events, that was presented in a clear and detail manner for the organization. As a result she was able to hold that position for many years.
FULL STORY AVAILABLE BELOW |
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Happy
New Year everyone! I hope you have had a happy and safe holiday
season leading into a wonderful 2019. While every New Year we get a
sense that we can let go of the past and start fresh, it pleases me
to say that reflecting on 2018 was quite refreshing. We began the
celebration of our 35th year of community service. We honored the
Sesame Flyers legacy of excellence, our commitment to young people,
and our unwavering efforts in preserving and promoting Caribbean
culture. My vision for Sesame Flyers International for this year and the next 35 years and beyond is brighter than ever. We invite you to assist as we continue to build community by participating in our programs, our culture, and by providing leadership in safe and welcoming places. You can support Sesame Flyers by adding to our 35/35 campaign. We are committed to building on the youth development work and community building we are known for while bringing more attention to national issues by aligning some of our Newsletter topics with National Awareness months. Also, we are forging new relationships with community organizations that will allow us to extend our reach. We re-welcomed for the second year at Winthrop Beacon, Brock Harris of Step USA and bro Terrance Jenkins with the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. for their 13th Annual Brooklyn Borough Step Championship.
And, while I am proud of
the future that is before us for 2019, it is with deep sorrow that I
share the passing of one of our longest running members of Sesame
Flyers, Ms. Angela Fenton. You will get a chance to learn more about
her in this edition of the Newsletter. She touched many, many hearts
in her years of service with Sesame Flyers International and she
will be sorely missed. We send our love and heart felt condolences
to her family who have been core contributors to this organization
and its mission for many years. |
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…Again we are called to celebrate the LEGACY of our SESAME FLYERS member Angela Fenton. Angela was a bank manager for many years. When she joined Sesame Flyers, she demonstrated her love for finances as our first Financial Administrator. She provided a template of our financial reports for our multiple events, that was presented in a clear and detail manner for the organization. As a result she was able to hold that position for many years. At our 20th anniversary she avidly voiced her reflection on our organization. She expressed in glowing terms her enjoyment working with our children especially at our Saturday Program which is still in existence. She participated actively by teaching math to the young ones, an area where she was innately qualified. She explored her creativity with the children and established a relationship of love they dubbed her “Mama Fenton”, to date our children and grandchildren still refer to her as Mama Fenton. Many years ago she retired and relocated to Trinidad to enjoy the warmth and relaxation. Her love for children endured her to open an international school with her sisters in Central Trinidad. Her love for Sesame FIyers and our children traveled and stayed with her. One year Sesame Flyers sponsored a heritage tour to Trinidad for a dozen of our Saturday program children. Angela and the staff and students greeted them with open arms: She arranged a historical tour to the Largest Hindu temple and the famous temple built on water in the Caribbean. She returned to New York for health reasons and continued to participate in all Sesame Flyers events with joy in her heart but a stickler for detail with our financial reports. Despite the discomfort of her illness, she would be most present to “work the door” our famous Calypso on the Avenue Tent every Friday in the summer. We offer condolences to you Joanna, her family and friends on behalf of our Sesame Family, from the Board of Directors, our Members, our Staff , our young people and our community at large. “Mama Fenton”, latest project left, midway is a “Bric Brac” sale which we will hold this summer in her honor.
We will miss our Mama |
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Sesame Flyers partnered with Jenée Ivi Whitehead, author of the
Hashtag HERO Planner, to host a 2019 Vision Board Party. The Hashtag
HERO Planner imparts positive psychology and creative productivity
techniques to support people in achieving unique social impact
goals. We welcomed the community to take a pause with us to reflect
on 2018 and plan ahead for 2019. Those who attended the event
departed feeling refreshed, renewed, and most importantly ready for
2019!
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January is Human Trafficking awareness month. Forbes Magazine states, “UNICEF estimates that there are around 21 million trafficked people around the world. This figure includes some 5.5 million children. Human trafficking is a crime that is gendered; the primary victims are women and girls. However, the number of trafficked men and boys is on the increase.” Human trafficking, also known as modern day slavery, is more prevalent than one would think. Unfortunately, it’s happening right in our backyard. Human trafficking is the act of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Both adults and children can become victims of sex trafficking. Anyone involved in commercial sex trade is considered as sex trafficked. Children are extremely vulnerable when it comes to being trafficked. Often young girls who have run away from home and/or have had an abusive home life are targets for traffickers. Children can also be picked up or recruited at school, the mall or just hanging out with friends. Internet access also makes recruiting efficient and so much easier. Traffickers lure emotionally naïve and vulnerable youth with false promises of money, love, food, and shelter. Traffickers use violence as well in order to prevent the victim from leaving. Here are some signs that we should look out for if a child is involved in sex trafficking.
If you see something, say something!!! If you know a victim or
suspect that someone you know may be a victim of traffickers, call
911 in an emergency. To learn more and how you can help, contact the
National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888. |
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In
2018, Sesame Flyers celebrated the 35th anniversary of our
groundbreaking introduction to the community of East Flatbush, which
created the foundation for our rise. Every year since that first
year, we have built on the success of the previous year, learning
lessons and honing our strategy to achieve more for our youth, our
people, and our communities. |
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This month the Winthrop
Beacon welcomed Step USA with the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
Inc. for the 13th Annual Brooklyn Borough Step Championship. This is
our second year hosting this competition. Sesame Flyers has built a
strong partnership with this organization and we look forward to
continuing to support our young people by giving them a platform to
shine. |
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As a great kick off to the year, Sesame Flyers hosted a Breast Feeding Workshop and Support Group in partnership with our neighbor Caribbean Women’s Health Association. New moms were provided the opportunity to learn about key tips and techniques in breast feeding and post-natal care. Moms also received information on health and nutrition and had an opportunity to share their trials and well as triumphs as new moms. Moms also received new clothes, books and other essentials items for their babies.
We look forward to
continuing our support of new moms and have two Community Baby
Showers already planned for 2019. You will find information about
those dates in our upcoming newsletters, so stay tuned! |
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NOTE :
SESAME FLYERS INTERNATIONAL IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/PROGRAM AUXILIARY
AIDS AND SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
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