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Newsletter Issue
#53 |
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On Saturday December 12, 2020 Sesame Flyers created a special day of
giving in honor of the Holiday Season. The day began with food
distribution. We gave away 220 bundles of food to the community. After
the morning portion of the day, we gave away over 100 toys for
Christmas. |
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The holiday season is here and thus the end of an unforgettable year. We still do not know what the future holds, however, I know Sesame Flyers has become stronger and more resilient in the face of adversity and the unknown. I am amazed at what we have been able to accomplish this year with all of the challenges that were in front of us. I have to thank my dedicated board members, staff, volunteers, and donors who helped Sesame make it through 2020. We should all take a moment to acknowledge our collective perseverance in the face of those we have lost, a change in Presidency, civil and racial unrest, and extended distance and time away from family and loved ones. We have pulled through, and are more resilient for it. We, the Sesame Family, are still here and bringing joy to the community by distributing food, highlighting our culture at the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, giving toys to children in the community, and continuing to provide free online programming. We are blessed. Continue to stay strong and stay resilient.
“Resilience is very different than being numb. Resilience means you
experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt. You fall. But, you keep
going.” - Yasmin Mogahed |
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Sesame
Carnival joined the West Indian American Day Carnival Association at the
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This is the first time since the
inception of the parade, back in 1924, that West Indian culture has
taken center stage as a feature highlight. It was an honor for us to
have our Carnival Queen on display as well as fall friendly designs from
our costume designer Tracey Clarke. We were proud to present our culture
alongside dancers, moko jumbies, and a local steel pan band. If you
missed the performance, you can catch it here -
https://youtu.be/5hKat4umL90
(our segment begins at 1:08) |
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The
honorable late, great, and former Mayor, David N. Dinkins will be
remembered for his reputation as being a racial reconciler and an
inspiring role model for many. As the first and only black mayor in New
York City, he broke through a barrier that most couldn’t at that time,
to lead the nation’s most diverse city. As Mayor, David Dinkins is
especially known for creating programs that helped the City’s poorest
neighborhoods. During his administration he opened up dozens of Beacon
community centers for kids, teens, and families and many are still
around to this day. There are now 91 Beacon centers across the five
boroughs. Even after his mayoral leadership, he continued his
philanthropic duty and sat on the boards of several charitable
organizations that focused on serving thousands of children. We will
remember what he did for this City and continue to carry on his legacy
of helping children. |
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Neither rain, storm or Covid-19 could stop our annual children’s Christmas party. On Saturday, December 12th 2020, our party with a difference came to fruition at our Cultural Center on Church Avenue in Brooklyn N.Y. Spearheaded by Michelle Mathison our Development Director, in collaboration with the members of Ebonites Club, Sesame Flyers members and staff, this unusual party was well planned and well executed. The children were delighted to have a carefree day of fun and relaxation in lieu of everything that has affected their everyday normal life. This year instead of writing letters to Santa, they had to register on Eventbrite in order to get a gift. This was cleverly done as a way of tracking the number of kids, their ages and sex. Since the unwrapped gifts were being donated by supporters, members and staff, the registration was also used to make sure we had enough gifts for every child. Everyone chipped in to wrap the gifts, decorate a live Christmas tree and prepare for the party. The wrapped gifts were placed on tables covered with red, silk tablecloths. A sign was placed above each table, identifying the ages and sex of the gifts on the table. This helped to direct each child to his/her gift table without having to search for it. The parents and children were also given specific time slots in which to collect their gifts. This was also done in an effort to control the number of people indoors at the same time, as per Covid-19 strict guidelines. Everyone’s temperature was taken as they entered the building and masks were worn by everyone at all times. Light refreshments were served including cupcake and chips. The lights on our beautifully decorated Christmas tree added to the holiday season atmosphere. The seasonal music of parang and carols also helped to ease the stress of the ‘Covid-19 Pandemic” that we are currently experiencing and create a more festive atmosphere. It was a thrill to watch the kids face light up as they were greeted by Santa Claus (Curtis Nelson) and Mrs. Claus (Nyanibah Anokye) as they entered. In the midst of everything, we were truly grateful that Mr. and Mrs. Claus made it all the way from the North Pole to our home on Church Avenue to ensure our kids have a good holiday.
Kudos to all who helped to make this event a memorable one including
Natasha “REDD” Marvell and her crew. It was an unusual but safe party,
in a relaxed atmosphere. We wish everyone could have been there to
experience it, but again, because of Covid-19 and capacity restrictions
it could not happen. We are thankful, gratetful and humbled that we were
able to bring smiles to our children’s faces especially during this
time. We will always, always stay true to our organization’s motto,
“Love A Kid Today and Everyday. May God continue to bless our
organization. Happy holidays to all. |
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We would like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge each and every donor of 2020 for your support, time and dedication. We can’t do this work with out you. It is a joy and honor to partner with you on Loving a Kid Today and Everyday!
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Need a bedtime story to read to the kids? Check out this virtual reading from author Yolanda Lezama-Clark of Jaidyn and the King of the Brooklyn Carnival. This book talks of a riveting young boy who is born and bred in Brooklyn and comes to embrace his culture by learning the history of the Labor Day Parade and Carlos Lezama, the King of Carnival.
Click the
link to read along with Yolanda - |
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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. |