New York Citiworks Sponsors 1st Annual Foster Care Awards Fall 2003 hosted by Mel Brown & Barbara Brown

New York Citiworks Sponsors 1st Annual Foster Care Awards Fall 2003 hosted by Mel Brown & Barbara Brown

First Annual Foster Care Awards Committee
Contact Person:
Phil Andrews
Public Relations Director
P.O. Box 357
New York, New York 10030
cbbookspr@aol.com

For immediate Release: New York Citiworks Sponsors 1st Annual Foster Care Awards Fall 2003

On October 25th, 2003 New York Citworks will be sponsoring the 1st Annual Foster Care Awards hosted by Mel Brown and Barbara Brown of Brother and Sister Production). The 1st Foster Care Childrens Award will be held at the Cotton Club located at 56 West 125th Street, between Broadway & Riverside Dr., Harlem, New York. The Foster Care Awards Gala will begin at 9:00 P.M. and end at 1:00 A.M.    The Awards dinner will feature a 16 piece orchestra starring The Cotton Club All Stars", Special Invited Super Star Guest, Entertainment with upcoming Super Stars, The Hard Bargain Band, Progress Awards, Upcoming Motivational Speakers Award (Phil Andrews, C & B Books Public Relations Director/Member 100 Black Men of Long Island), Showing the Family New Film starring Akeem Smith form the famous Carl Thomas Video (I wish), and Shawn Nelson from the HBO Special (The Corner. New York CitiWorks (NYCW) was founded in 1980 in the living room of Conrad Eberstein, a corporate lawyer. Along with many forward-looking people at the time, Conrad had done Werner Erhards est" training. In the training, participants underwent experiences that enabled them to re-examine and re-order their lives. In addition to personal transformation, a frequent outcome was the desire and ability to serve others and improve the quality of life for all. One of Werners themes was creating a world that works for everyone."

Conrad was inspired to create an organization dedicated to Acknowledging the Workability (that which works) of New York City." Several years later, Conrad and Preston King, our current Chairman of the Board, collaborated to expand the organizational vision to include Creating a City that Works for everyone." Conrad invited some friends and interested people to his home and discussed the important distinction of acknowledging that which works as a positive reinforcement to good people and good projects that are doing good things that sets in motion a force that will transform New York and the world.

Two important projects in New York Citiworks history are the St. Patricks Day Project and The Subway Project". It was started by Michael Gnat in the early 80s and allied itself with New York CitiWorks shortly thereafter. Like Conrad Eberstein, Michael Gnat was inspired by Werner Erhard, one of The Subway Projects first products was an elegant little button that simply stated, I GET THE SUBWAYS TO WORK." Seldom has there been such a successful tool as this button for conversations about the subways. Michael was an actor and the activities of The Subway Project were to reflect his theatrical leanings, even when he was no longer active in the group.

Unless one actually remembers, it is hard to believe just how ugly, frightening and paranoia-inducing the subways were fifteen and twenty years ago. People perceived the subways as crime ridden and were afraid to travel in them in the evenings. Today, you can travel in the subways at two oclock in the morning, and find a wide range of perfectly ordinary people, apparently with no fear or trepidation. The windows and walls of the subway covers were covered with graffiti, making it impossible to see out and increasing the feelings of isolation and fear. The trains were dirty and it was clear that the transit workers had low expectations of what they could achieve, and took little pride in their work. The announcements were always impossible to understand. Its a quite different story today. While the announcements in the stations still can hardly be understood, the trains, particularly the new trains, have very clear PA systems, the cars are clean and graffiti-free, subway crime is rare, and service has improved. Part of the credit for that turnaround belongs to The Subway Projects merry band, with their consciousness raising activities that focused attention on the problem and emphasized personal responsibility and creative solutions.

The Subway Project invented the De- Trash-A-Train Trip," and pioneered singing in the subways. Today, when entertainers in the subways are practically commonplace, it is worth quoting from The New York Times article entitled Amid Clamor, Carolers Cheer Subway Riders:" ... 35 members of New York CitiWorks -- a citizens group committed to 'the essential workability of New York City -- made their second annual Christmas caroling tour of the subways.... As the sounds of familiar Christmas carols resounded through the subway, riders who normally rush from train to train on automatic pilot stopped and stared in wonderment.... 'I really didnt have Christmas spirit until they came along, ... In his 19 years with the transit police, Captain Moraff said, he had seen many things, but never Christmas carolers in the subways."

Led by Jorie MacKinnon and Neera Goitein, with the able assistance of comedienne and actress Fran McGee, among others, The Subway Project spread the word that riders can make a difference, that the subways can improve, and that all it takes is for individuals to accept responsibility and exercise a little imagination. The de-trash trips encapsulated all the ideology, practical wisdom and determination to enjoy themselves while doing good deeds that motivated those involved. A fun destination was chosen that could be reached by subway (for example, the first trip was to the Transit Museum in Brooklyn). Participants armed themselves with gloves, trash bags and good cheer, and headed out. They took their time going by subway to their destination. In each carriage they entered, they picked up the trash, handed out buttons, and explained to the completely mystified passengers that their purpose was to make the trains cleaner and to make people aware that individuals have the power to create change and improvement. As the group become more sophisticated, they made up special jingles (We dont want your trash, we just want your cash"), flyers (Ten Ways I Get the Subways to Work"), and special de-trash trips suitable for the season, with appropriate props and costumes (e.g., Halloween, Valentines Day, and of course, St. Patricks Day). They participated in the Halloween Gay Parade as a train, and composed subway-improvement related songs. Several de-trash trips worked on the graffiti problem -- with the assistance of people in the know and special chemicals. The Subway Project promoted and demonstrated the truth that public problems are not insoluble and those private individuals can make a difference.

A major function of New York CitiWorks has been to support budding ideas. By making its expertise and not-for-profit organizational status available, as well as providing the emotional, intellectual and manpower support necessary, many an impossible dream for the betterment of New York City has been realized through and under its auspices.

The kinds of concerns and visions that people have brought to New York CitiWorks have varied greatly. Although all have in common the wish to make a positive contribution to the wellbeing of the city, thats almost all they have in common. The late Ingrid Thobin, a one-time marathon runner and psychotherapist, was stricken by muscular dystrophy and confined to a wheel chair. Though Ingrid was incapable of any physical activity, yet, with the help and support of New York CitiWorks, she created the West End Healing Center," where people would come together each month to hear about an innovative healing method and be inspired. Ingrid provided an environment where participants could heal themselves of their emotional and physical problems. In Ingrids space, they self-generated wellbeing, and in the safe space of her living room, the group experienced safe healing energy.

Some of the ideas that people brought to New York CitiWorks seemed extremely unlikely or farfetched and yet come to fruition. Anna Passari wanted to use art to end world hunger. She had a dream of getting the worlds best known artists to each paint a picture on the theme of ending hunger, and donating the painting to an exhibition that would tour the world, raising money and consciousness to accomplish the end of hunger in the world. CitiWorks listened to her, helped her, encouraged her, and allowed her to use its not-for-profit status. Within several years, her dream became a reality and Artists to End Hunger was touring the world, raising money and consciousness for the end of hunger.

THE HUGGING PROJECT is the brainchild of Fran McGee, president emeritus of New York CitiWorks. The Hugging Project was featured in We Care About New Yorks street fair and on a fine Sunday afternoon, twenty blocks on Madison Avenue saw tens of thousands of people join Fran & her band of merry huggers in experiencing the therapeutic and pleasurable aspects of hugging. The Hugging Project has become a staple item in CitiWorks monthly gatherings, and to see the galvanizing effect of hugging on practically comatose people at the end of a long meeting needs to be seen in order to be believed. Once seen, however, it cannot be forgotten. Under the right circumstances, hugging instantly de-alienates and energizes. And it is perfectly in tune with an underlying requirement of CitiWorks from all its projects: hugging is not just good for the individual and good for society, it is FUN.

Like many volunteer organizations, New York CitiWorks has tended to concentrate on areas and approaches that represent the positions of the people that are active at a particular time, rather than espousing one single course of action. Creating a New York City that works for every one and the harmonious working together of divergent groups can take us in many directions. Preston King, Jr., chairman of the board, is a master of bringing diverse people together; of dealing with the top corporate leadership while still maintaining his contact with grass roots and concepts or projects in their infancy. He is also a great supporter of musicians. Under his leadership, we have increased our connection with other (larger) organizations such as 100 Black Men, The Business, Labor and Community Coalition of New York; and we Care about New York, to name just a few.

Here is what Preston King had to say about New York CitiWorks in his open invitation to join us:

If theres one thing weve learned after over a decade of service, its that New York City works better than most of us realize. When individuals come together with a commitment to better the city and pledge to demonstrate that commitment, the results are not only tremendous, they are transforming. Little by little, New York CitiWorks is making a difference in the issues that face this city. We create and foster projects that impact areas ranging from litter and crime to hunger and homelessness. Utilizing the talents of our members, we have launched a multitude of successful projects that have become permanent non-profit ventures. From The New York Times to Crains Business, the media has recognized our contributions and our mission. Simply put, we believe in New York City' bright future. In fact, we are actually taking responsibility for making that bright future happen."

Our current Board of Directors is composed of Preston King, Chairman; Neera Goitein, President; Caroler Van Duesen, Vice President, and Toby Liebowitz, Treasurer and Rodney Gittens. For Ticket information and reservations to the upcoming 1st Foster Care Childrens Award you may contact People First Management at 718. 405.6042 or call 718.991.8248. For directions you may call the Cotton Club at 212.663.7980. Reserve Early! To contact New York Citiworks you may contact us by calling Neera Goitein at 212.982.2035 or Preston King at 212.714.8055 for more information concerning 1st Foster Care Childrens Award.