The Belle Center 104 Maryland Street · Buffalo, NY 14201 · www.thebellecenter.org · 716-845-0485

A Publication of the Erie Regional Housing Development Corporation

www.thebellecenter.org

Books, Books, Books! Nestor Hernandez-executive director of the Belle Center, agreed to accept and arrange the pick-up of 14,646 books to give away to families in the Buffalo community free of charge through Project Flight, a non for profit organization. Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps made 3 trips with a box truck and vans to pick-up and unload all 14,646 books for distribution to the community. Many popular titled chil-

dren's books were given away such as “Planets by Ellen Hasbrouck and Caldecott hon-ored book- “Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss. Project Flight’s acquiring of these brand new books came as a result of an out of town publishing company’s plans to de-stroy over run copies of these wonderful children's story books in an effort to control sale prices. However, much the Buffalo community’s advantage, Project Flight agreed to accept the books in Buffalo. The books are free and already 10,000 books have been given out over with more to spare! Evelyn Pi-zarro, former principle of school #3 and the current director of the 21st Century Learning Program at The Belle Center serves as a board member on the Project Flight Organization and has been a vital instrument in assuring that books are reaching not only the families that attend The Belle Center but families at other nearby community centers and churches as well. Through the free distribution of these age appropriate books, children in the Buffalo community can enhance their literacy skills while reading brand new books of their own.

Evelyn Pizarro-21st Century Learning Program direc-tor distributing donated books from Project Flight.

SPRING 2009

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2

Inside this issue:

The Belle Center’s Own Honored

2

Leadership Buffalo Visits The Belle Center

2

Grad Watch 3

21st Century Unit-ing Families

4

Marine Drive 5

Neyrian Carlo-Belle Center After School student reading.

Page 2

Nobody can do eve-

rything, but every-one can do

some-thing. ~ Author

Unknown

Riddle: What seven letters did Old Mother Hubbard say when

she opened her

cupboard?

Answer is on page 4.

On March 12th, 2009 the Western New York Women’s Hall of Fame inducted two Belle Center natives: 21st Century Learning Program director-Evelyn Pizarro and Buffalo LeaderShape Ameri-Corps member-Magdalina Fernandez. “The Western New York Women’s Hall of Fame was created to honor in perpetuity those women who have worked in a public spotlight as well as those who have quietly enriched the community and inspired others.” Evelyn Pizarro is the first Hispanic female principal in Buffalo’s pub-lic schools and has spent the vast majority of her 30 year career advocating for thou-sands of Spanish-speaking pupils and their families. She was honored as a 2009 Inductee in recognition of her significant contribution to society. Magdalina Fernan-dez, an intelligent honor roll senior at Lafayette high school was honored among many other outstanding high school students in the region for the 2009 Outstanding High School Girls award.

The Belle Center hosted the Leadership Buffalo Class of 2009 meeting. While Joseph J. Abdullah- Executive Director of Leadership Buffalo was addressing the class of 2009 he had these words to say about The Belle Center: “When I was a young man growing up on the Lower West Side of Buffalo, this was my community center….….What you see at The Belle Center today is a tremendous revitalization of an organization that has

suffered tremendous adversity over the past twenty-five years; due to the passion, energy and investment of time, talent and treasure from the board of directors, the professional team and the community!” The mission of Leadership Buffalo is: "Leadership Buffalo develops and unites leaders from diverse backgrounds and per-spectives to increase their knowledge and understanding of community issues, broaden their vision, and enhance their individual and collective ability to lead."

The Belle Center’s Own, Honored!

Leadership Buffalo Visits The Belle Center !

Joseph J. Abdallah-Executive Di-rector of Leadership Buffalo.

Page 3

Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps is there name and public service is their game! The AmeriCorps are continuing to show themselves as a force to be reckoned with, as they lend their time, talent and energy towards making the Buffalo community a better place for its residents. The plague of local aban-doned green space is being combated by AmeriCorps members as they target given abandoned areas, mobilize the Corps members and revitalize debris

littered areas. Public Service is what the Buffalo Lead-erShape AmeriCorps is all about ; lending a hand in the community to enrich and make it a better place.

Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps To The Rescue!

Dominique Davis is attending Bible College at the Dream

Center Masters Commission of Fort Myer, VA. (Buffalo Leader-Shape AmeriCorps 07-08)

Joshua Davis is attending Bible College at the Dream Center

Masters Commission of LA. (Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps 07-08)

Michael Hernandez is in the ARMY stationed in Fort Lee,

VA. (Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps 07-08)

Sabrina Hopkins received her GED and attends ECC. (Buffalo

LeaderShape AmeriCorps 07-09)

Callie Johnson received her BA in Communication with a

minor in Sociology from the University at Buffalo and is attend-ing Graduate school at Daemen College. (Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps 07-09)

Tomaine Jordan is attending Bible College at the Dream

Center Masters Commission of LA. (Buffalo LeaderShape Ameri-Corps 07-08)

LaKendra Joyner received her GED and plans to pursue

higher education. (Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps 07-08)

Penny Rappa received her MA in Education (ESL) from the

University at Buffalo. (Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps 07-08)

Joshua Rivers received his HS diploma and is attending ITT

Tech of Rochester. (Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps 07-08)

Daliana Rosada received her BA in Elementary Education

from D’Youville College and is attending Graduate school at D’Youville College. (Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps 07-08)

Ashlea Smith received her HS diploma and is attending ECC.

(Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps 07-08)

Jessica Smith received her GED and plans to attend ECC.

(Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps 08-09)

Haslin Torres received her HS diploma and is attending Buf-

falo State College. (Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps 07-08)

Briana White received full tuition to, and will attend Oral

Roberts University. (Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps 08-09)

Melissa Winiarski received her AS in Physical Education

from ECC and is attending Liberty University. (Buffalo Leader-Shape AmeriCorps 07-08)

Page 4

ANSWER: O I C U R M T.

On Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 the 21st Century After School Program sponsored a parent dinner where parents came out to support their children as they received their individual hand-crafted tool boxes. 21st Century Teacher Aide-Nicole Bigouette and the 21st Century cooking students from Grover Cleveland H.S. and school #76 Herman Badillo prepared the dinner. After the dinner, students

that made tool boxes during the Tooltime Basic Home Repair class were presented with their individual tool box and 4 free tools (hammer, measuring tape, phillips screw driver & regular screw driver) provided by Home Depot on Elmwood Avenue. In all, 20 tool boxes were given out to the joy of students and parents making the parent dinner/Tooltime Basic Home Repair tool box presentation a successful event.

21st Century Learning Uniting Families!

Young students reading skills are being en-riched at The Belle Center’s after school program through a wide array of books to read, complements of Project Flight. Although, at the Belle after-school program running, jumping and playing is important, it takes a back-seat to the emphasis that is placed on homework and the understanding that a good education is the key to a successful future.

Young Readers To Excel At The Belle!

Zaida Resto-Buffalo LeaderShape Ameri-Corps member with Neyrian Carlo- Belle After school student reading.

The YEP-Youth Empowerment Program is molding young minds at The Belle Center through the use of the latest modern technology. Production Arts course instructor Mike Makee is teaching students to learn how to write and produce music as well as, create video productions; which is all centered around community awareness. These bright middle school students in the YEP pro-

gram are indeed making it happen as they enhance and further their scholastic development while attending the after-school program for homework tutorial and a host of other educational/team building course exercises.

Y.E.P. We’re Making Thing’s Happen!

YEP students in Productions Arts class with instructor Mike Makee.

Page 5 Volume 2 Issue 2

Marine Drive Apartments used to be known as Dante Place. That was the original name given to the complex when it was developed by the Buffalo Housing Authority in 1951. The money used to build Marine Drive Apartments came from the State of New York, with the condition that the buildings be used to provide affordable housing for low income persons. The complex is now watched over by the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) and provides affordable housing to a variety of residents whose diverse cultural, age, family composition and backgrounds provide an almost mini-city atmosphere.

Throughout its history, there have been various management companies and concepts, but currently Marine Drive Apart-ments (MDA) is administered by a nonprofit professional property management group - Erie Regional Housing Development Corporation (ERHDC). ERHDC started providing professional building management in 2007 and has overcome a number of issues that have plagued the land MDA sits on and the structures, themselves, for decades. (sewer, water main, electrical, occupancy, etc.)

However, MDA is a great deal more than just affordable housing. Much of the history of the area that defines our waterfront, currently under redevelopment, took place on the very ground MDA is located on.

This was an area known as the entry point for thousands of immigrants that had come west on the Erie Canal. It seems fitting that many of the residents of Marine Drive have recently experienced immigration to the US and reside, again, in this area.

Today, there are no original buildings left in the area once known as Buffalo's "Canal District," a five-sided area, almost completely surrounded by water between the Commercial Slip and the Evans Ship Canal, stretching from the Buffalo River to the Erie Canal. Instead, that legacy of new residents to our country, along with pro-ductive citizens’ lives on at Marine Drive Apartments.

Marine Drive Apartments: Call Today 716-8565871

MARINE DRIVE!

Join Us At The Belle Center

For Our Senior Wellness Program! Transportation Is Available! Just Call 845-0485 Ext.18.

Page 6

At The Belle Center we are working to individually, systematically and collectively utilize economic, educa-tional and personal development strategies to improve lives, create opportunities and foster self-sufficiency. We offer a broad range of programs and services at our facility and for more information about how you can join us call 716-845-0485. Locate the extension you would like to reach below or visit our web site: www.thebellecenter.org.

21st Century Learning Program Ext.-13 or 32 Adult Learning Center (GED, ESL & Culinary) 716-843-4023 AIDS Testing Service Ext.-10 Buffalo LeaderShape AmeriCorps Ext.-29 or 28 Counseling Services Ext.-22 Department of Social Services Ext.-15 Facility Usage-weight room, game room, gym, pool, computer lab, rental & etc. Ext.-10 First Hand Science Ext.-27 Food Pantry Ext.-18 Senior Wellness Program Ext.-18 The Belle After-School Program for grades K-8 Ext.-23 The Belle After-School Program for 14-21 year olds Ext.-23 The Belle Summer Camp Ext.-10 YEP (D’Youville Youth Empowerment Program) Ext.-17

Belle Center After-School student.

“DO BETTER!” JUST CALL 843-4023 AND GET ON THE ROAD TO

ATTAINING THE FUNDAMENTALS YOU NEED TO CRE-ATE A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE AT THE BELLE CENTER

104 MARYLAND STREET BUFFALO, NY 14201

Congratulations To All The Adult Education Graduates!

Page 7

We would like to Thank the following Foundations and Funders for their continued support.

Government Funds–Grants

Erie County Youth Development & Delinquency Prevention

City of Buffalo Community Development Block Grant

Erie County Department of Social Services

Erie County-YES

Primetime

Corporation for National and Community Service

NYS Department of Health-Latino Health Outreach

21st Century Learning Center Grant

City of Buffalo Division of Citizens Services & Department of Commu-nity Services

Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority

Private Foundations

M&T Charitable Foundation

The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation

William G. McGowan Charitable Trust

Buffalo Bills Youth Foundation

Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Dates To Remember

Page 8

The Belle Center

104 Maryland Street

Buffalo, NY 14201

Phone: 716-845-0485

Fax: 716-845-0486

www.thebellecenter.org

Erie Regional Housing Development Corporation - The Belle Center

104 Maryland Street Buffalo, NY 14201