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Community Corner

🌼 Students Pledge To Graduate + Books Unbanned + The Last Bodega

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Brooklyn.

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Hi all, happy Friday. New Brooklyn Daily here. Check out what's going on.

Thousands of New York City students have pledged to graduate high school. Starting with a promise at Brooklyn Collegiate High School in Brownsville, students from more than 200 schools across the boroughs are participating in an "I Will Graduate" pledge. Week 1 of a 6-week program ends today, one that aims to help students stay on track in school. With tensions boiling over about the uncertainty of selective admissions returning for NYC public schools, the graduation pledge is a positive affirmation for the 2022-23 school year. (CBS News)

And here's what's bringing us into the weekend:

  • Students take the NYFW runway.
  • A bodega wins a film award.
  • Free library cards for teens.
  • Businesses are saying "YES."

First, today's weather:

🌤 Hazy sunshine. High: 77 Low: 64.

Friday's Top Stories:

1. Students from in Sunset Park were supermodels for a day. International Institute for the Brain (iBRAIN) is a specialized school for kids with brain injuries and disorders. iBRAIN parents and faculty know that limits are arbitrary for their student, and the iCAN Do Anything fashion show to kick of New York Fashion Week proved just that.

Brooklyn Paper

2. The "Last Bodega in Brooklyn" received national acclaim at the Atlanta-based Bronzelens Film Festival for BIPOC filmmakers, directors, and actors. Directed by New York City's Mosiah Moonsammy, "Last Bodega in Brooklyn" was named Best Web Series at the festival and grew naturally out of the director's intimate connection to bodegas throughout his life. Read more from Moonsammy's interview at the link.

WABE 90.1 FM

3. Brooklyn Public Library launches "BooksUnbanned" and is issuing free electronic library cards to teens across the country who wouldn't otherwise have access to thousands of books. In April, the Brooklyn Public Library launched its UnBanned campaign to combat nationwide censorship and the growing number of book bans in schools and public libraries. To date, the library has issued over 5,100 electronic library cards.

CNN

4. The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce gathered in Williamsburg's Wythe Hotel on Wednesday to discuss the borough's business and civil leadership. On the docket was post-pandemic recovery, and while the city is getting back on its feet, there's still a lot of work to be done. Weekday subway ridership is still down 35 percent since 2019, unemployment is up 5.7 percent to 2019's 4 percent, and tourism remains 10 million annual visitors short. Mayor Eric Adam's vision for New York, a "City of Yes," loomed large. Will officials be able to manage a comeback that adheres to equitable opportunity and sustainability standards?

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Today in Brooklyn:

  • Meet some owls & Eagles at Raptor Fest, Prospect Park, Sunday @ 12 p.m. | Details
  • Family-Friendly Yoga, Little Sprouts, Today @ 4 p.m. | Details
  • Brooklyn Comes Alive, the Brooklyn Mirage, Saturday @ 6 p.m. | Details
  • Doobie @ Elsewhere, Today @ 6 p.m. | Details
  • Kweendom Comedy, Pete's Candy Store, Today @ 7 p.m. | Details
  • Coney Island Film Festival, Opening Night Party, Today @ 7:30 p.m. | Details

🐝 Brooklyn Buzz

  • The school drop-off outfit is proving pretty important for city moms, at least according to Alyssa Shelasky from "Big Little Lies." Err, I mean The New York Times.
  • After a three-alarm fire that gutted the building, Morgan's Brooklyn Barbecue is reopening. Read more at The Business Journals.
  • Staring your weekend with some well-researched beer, wine, and spirits. Don't worry, Shanken News Daily already did the heavy lifting for you.
  • Art for all: "Creative Aging Spotlight: Senior Artists at Tompkins Park Senior Center Explore Traditional Crafts At Tompkins Park Senior Center, BAC Teaching Artist Ming Liang Lu helped seniors learn new skills by sharing traditional Chinese crafting techniques." (Brooklyn Arts Council via Facebook).

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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