Summer 2018 Newsletter Issue 33 Self Advocates Newsletter Don t talk about it, be about it. www.yai.org CPC: YAI Central Park Challenge! The perfect day by Ismael Nunez What event? The annual YAI CENTRAL PARK CHALLENGE. What went well? Everything! No bad news was seen anywhere! Three reasons why: 1) Weather. The temperature was in the low 80s. A perfect day for a run and walk, that day this reporter and the other Self Advocates walked. We called our group, We are the Champions. Later, children participated in the running events. They were so happy! Not only because they all received medals, it was also they saw the love and support of long time CPC supporter, Channel 7 Newscaster, Bill Ritter. Ritter talked to the kids he said, Are you guys ready? Make sure your shoes are tied, no matter what happens you re all winners, including your parents. Every child that day had a smile. 2) Entertainment. Two dance groups provided the entertainment. The dance group Ayojam Zumba Dance Group and NY Cheer. For the first time, Ayojam Zumba Dance Group participated at CPC and they made a great impression. They made everyone part of their dance group. For both the run and walk they performed a rap/hip hop song and dance which really helped motivate the crowd. The dance group even invited the crowd to participate. People started dancing, playing the instruments, they brought their Congas and Drums and shouted, C mon play have fun, dance and feel at home. To add to it, they gave an awesome dance performance on the Central Park Bandshell. Afterwards they proudly took pictures and participated in selfies taken by the audience. One can hope they ll be back Page 1 of 6
next year! NY Cheer Cheerleading also participated. What can one say about them! Red, White, and Blue, they wore it, and performed proudly with these colors. Every year when children and adults see them perform they bring out a smile in everyone. They posed proudly in photos with everyone and encouraged everyone to participate. Everyone did! They seemed to have as much fun as the people participating in CPC. 3) A perfect day all around for a walk, run, and the perfect park, Central Park in Manhattan. Everyone was well behaved, no injuries just plain fun, people from all nationalities enjoying each other s company! That s the three! CPC well done! Interviewing the ABC News Icon, Bill Ritter by Car Melo Grau-Puig On June 2, 2018, at this year s YAI Central Park Challenge, it was a sunny day and the weather cooperated with everybody. While I was busy seeing familiar faces that I haven t seen for a long time, I also got the privilege in first introducing and interviewing one of the most famous, recognizable faces of an ABC News legend and an emcee, and I m talking about Bill Ritter! Ritter has been an emcee to this event for over 20 years and he s always giving back to YAI. He explained about his late son Alex Ritter (who was born with a severe disability) and how he always is honored to participate in YAI s Central Park challenge and be interviewed. He was on point in explaining the R word, he discussed its history and that it s a hateful word, and discussed trying to level the playing field. He talked about giving back to this organization and supporting people with different abilities. He explained that many people with different abilities have changed their courses and embraced their abilities. He says that one of his favorite moments was participating and supporting YAI. He said it was rewarding to celebrate pride, the run, the walk, respect, and getting together to take the opportunity to get the message out and support people having their voices heard. He said that it was an honor to be interviewed by me!!! He explained some great memories from the Central Park Challenge and said he enjoyed coming to this event and seeing people and kids with different abilities walk, run, dance, and get together once a year. Continuing to see people embrace themselves in acceptance Page 2 of 6
and continue to defy the odds, he feels proud in seeing what this organization is all about. Check out the video of Car Melo and Bill Ritter s interview on yai.org! Central Park Challenge by Rene Ruiz I am walking, I am dancing, I am having a great day. I am with Steven and Janice and Allan and Ismael and Carmelo, and we have a wonderful time listening to music. Central Park Challenge by Kenneth Youngblood We went to the Central Park Challenge in Naumburg Bandshell at Central Park from Manhattan. On Saturday June 2, 2018 at 7:30 and at 12:00pm. I went to the 3K walk. They had a run and walk for people with disabilities, and face painting, tattoos, t-shirts from YAI. We took pictures, listened to music, ate food, and drank. I am happy it feels like we are the champions. I was walking in the 4 mile, did the Zumba African Dance Group, New York Cheer and the 3K run. We took the C train to stop at 72nd Street. Rainbow by Kenneth Youngblood I saw the rainbow in the sky on Flatbush Avenue in downtown Brooklyn after the thunderstorm on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. They got red, blue, green, purple, orange and yellow. Because of the colors it look so beautiful in the sky. The Pride March by Kenneth Youngblood We went to the Pride March on 17th Street between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue, we can walk together. I told the volunteers about the YAI group. We were marching with the YAI group from 8th Avenue and 17th street to 25th street and 6th avenue. The pride march started in 1969. Because we have a good time. Page 3 of 6
The colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple like the rainbow. I met people like Jace, Car Melo, and Sarah. We say, don t talk about it, be about it. We will be about it and YAI. YAI LGBTQ+ Pride March - The Rebirth and Continuation by Car Melo Grau-Puig On June 24 th, 2018 I had experienced the opportunity to once again march in the YAI LGBT Pride Parade and it was the rebirth and, for me, the continuation because last year there was no march but finally we did it. Me, Michelle, Noam, Jace and other people took part of it. Before starting the march, me and Michelle got to do an In My Shoes skit and let everybody know that it s all about acceptance and to always treat each other with love, honor, dignity and respect as human beings. We wore the YAI Pride shirts to represent the organization and we stood proudly on the ground in this hot weather, but you know what? We had such an amazing time and, believe it or not, there was a delay because of the traffic in the parade. We waited patiently for an hour and a half until one person gave us the signal to continue to march and all of us were chanting, YAI, YAI, YAI, and also, YAI for You and I. While we continued to walk in the parade, me and several other people started passing out candies, T-shirts. We were cheered like celebrities and I had the chance to show my dance moves in voguing and wishing the members of the LGBT community, as a straight ally, a wonderful Happy Pride, and gave a couple of people a big hug and high fived everybody. I loved every moment of it because when I get asked to do something for the agency I take it and go with the flow and to this day I continue to embrace the art form in the community and my message to the LGBT community is, Y all don t talk about it, y all be about it and let y all voices be heard, all is love. 2019, don t sing it just bring it. Final note: I humbly want to take this opportunity to thank one person that has worked tirelessly and very hard putting together this wonderful opportunity to march in the LGBT parade, also having these wonderful T-shirts and he did such a phenomenal job, and I m talking about Jace Prokupek. Jace, I want to say thank you so much for being the man you are today, you always give YAI 175%, it s always a pleasure to see a person who puts a smile on my face and you re an amazing human being and I look forward to the next YAI event so please keep up the great work you re doing!!! Page 4 of 6
Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Council Gives Awards by Allan Fraser On the morning of June 25, the Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Council, a part of Heartshare, had its awards ceremony in Downtown Brooklyn. The award was given to people who, overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles (that) earned them greater independence. I was proud and happy to get one of these awards. About ten of us got an award. Like the certificate said, I was proud to be called, an inspiration to us all. I was also happy to meet Ernie McNutt, Chairperson of the Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Council. The Importance of Accessible Public Transportation by Michael Howard I m going down to 2 Broadway for Access-a-Ride reform. I m going to speak my piece, I m one of the people that got denied by Access-a-Ride. Hopefully I can re-apply. Instead of me riding the subway all the way from Rockaway to Washington Heights, it takes me 1.5 hours or a little bit more. I go there for the Dominican Pride Parade and to meet new people. This is why I m involved with NYC Transit meetings and PCAC. We discuss making sure all stations are accessible. Sometimes we people with disabilities have problems taking the stairs up or down and we ll need elevators and ramps. And hopefully we ll get more, newer busses. More low floor busses would be much better. That s why when July 15th comes, our voices need to be heard in the Disability Pride Parade. The Alaskan Cruise Ship with Leisure TRAX by Janice McPhillips When we went to Juneau, Alaska I went on a Hatchery Tour where I saw salmon being born, and saw Mowden Hall glaciers. They were beautiful. The next day we went to Skagway, Alaska. We went to the Jewell Gardens, to me, it was like Botanical Gardens. I saw a lot of beautiful flowers and how they plant them and the history of the place. We also had some treats like scones and tea, we had days for cruising. I got to see some shows, play trivia, and eat on the cruise. I also went into the hot tub as well. Then we went to Victorian British Columbia, it was beautiful. We went on scenic bus tours, saw beautiful houses with flowers on the house and around the houses. We walked around the town and had lunch out. It was really beautiful there. We also had two formal dinners, where we got dressed up and ate at the Page 5 of 6
Captain's table. I also went to a disco and danced until 1 am in the morning, had two drinks on the cruise. In all, I had a great time and cannot wait until next year and 2020. Leisure TRAX is a great program and the staff was great. Chris, Dominick, Jessica, and of course, our great Lauren, the leader of the trip. Coney Island by Jennifer Naftelowitz I went to Coney Island to see the hot dog eating contest and I saw Joey Jaws Chestnut eat down 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes, winning his 11th championship yellow belt. He beat the other contestants. After that my friends and I stayed in Coney Island to watch the Brooklyn Cyclones at MCU park lose the game. But I had a great time. Then we watched the fireworks in the sky and I loved the colors. I went to the concert last night with my mom and my two friends named Staci and Sheldon. We went to see Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at the Ford Amphitheater in Coney Island Brooklyn. But before we did that we all went out to eat at IHOP for dinner. We were all dancing and singing to the songs from the original Jersey Boys with Frankie Valli in it. I got to meet Frankie Valli after the show. Page 6 of 6