• Expanding access to early childhood education – We’re expanding access to early childhood education to even more families across the city. Through our historic $100 million plan, we’re bringing affordable, high-quality child care to even more New Yorkers, and investing in targeted outreach to communities with traditionally low application rates to develop a sustainable system that meets the needs of all New York City families. 
• Building even MORE affordable housing – We announced next steps to bring hundreds of affordable homes to Manhattan’s West Village. The development at 388 Hudson will transform an underutilized site into a vibrant community with public space, a state-of-the-art recreation center, and more affordable housing — a plan we’re hoping can be replicated throughout the five boroughs.
• Making historic investments in cultural institutions – We awarded a historic, nearly $60 million to more than 1,000 nonprofits to continue investing in good-paying jobs for New Yorkers and supporting our city’s vibrant cultural organizations. This record-breaking investment in NYC’s Department of Cultural Affairs will uplift a wide variety of local nonprofits, including theaters, dance ensembles, music festivals, museums, and more. Check out the full list of awardees. 

↳ Three things to know this week:

1. The deadline to apply for the popular Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is next week on Friday, February 28! SYEP connects young New Yorkers (ages 14-24) with paid work experience and career exploration opportunities in sought-after fields. Apply now!
2. Off-Broadway Week is back with 2-for-1 ticket deals to 29 entertaining productions, including a hip-hop dance show, a musical parody of Titanic, and an interactive bubble show. Take a look at the full lineup, then get your discounted tickets! 
3. The iconic Central Park “Gates” have been reimagined with an immersive augmented reality (AR) experience! Now through March 23, you can see the stunning saffron gates all over again when you download the free Bloomberg Connects app and open “The Gates” AR experience while between East 72nd Street and Cherry Hill in Central Park. 

↳ FREE events this weekend:

...NYC public high schoolers had a runway show at New York Fashion Week? The talented students at New Design High School collaborated with a New York-based brand, AREA, for an inspiring display of creativity, sustainability, and community. Not only did the students design all the show’s looks by upcycling AREA’s denim, but they also walked the runway and produced the show’s soundtrack themselves. The show was on the official Fashion Week calendar, and it’s just one of the many innovative ways our students get invaluable, hands-on learning experiences in our world-class public schools!

🧵 🪡 ✂️