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Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 21, 2008


NEW YORK CITY GLOBAL PARTNERS' AWARD-WINNING JUNIOR PARTNERS PROJECT HOLDS CELEBRATION

New York City Global Partners, Inc. today celebrated with participants of Global Partners Junior, the award-winning program in which New York City youth age 9 to 13 share thoughts and ideas with their peers in other countries on the internet. Today's event was held at the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center in Manhattan's West Village, and had participants from 18 after-school providers, including nine City Parks and Recreation Department Computer Resource Centers. Global Partners Junior is operated by New York City Global Partners, Inc. The students who gathered at the Recreation Center have been communicating via the internet with their peers in 12 cities: Beijing, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Jerusalem, London, Madrid, Mumbai, Paris, Rome, Seoul and Tokyo. Three hundred and eight New York City students and 383 international students participated on the internet forum this past school year.  They post messages about a common topic and work on a collaborative curriculum.

"This is a very cool way for middle school students to get excited to learn about the world," said Marjorie Tiven, Commissioner of the City Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol and Treasurer of Global Partners. "Global Partners Junior is a gem of a program and we are expanding it by offering it as a content module to after-school providers. The enthusiasm from our 13 new providers has been overwhelming."

"This is an excellent way to scale up a successful demonstration program created in the Mayor's Office and make it available to many New York organizations which can further develop it," said Professor Meyer Feldberg, President of New York City Global Partners, Inc.

The theme of this year's web-based exchanges has been "My City and Myself" focusing on culture, community and history. Participants created mock travel agencies and designed trips to foreign cities. For example, as a tourism promotion, students from Sunset Park Recreation Center in Brooklyn wrote a rap song and video called "What's Bubblin' in Dublin?" They performed the song at today's party.

Both New York City and international students post their projects online. At the party the New York City students are meeting each other for the first time as well as presenting multi-media projects ranging from posters, models, brochures, and videos. International student work is also on display.  Global Partners, Inc. Board Member, Jacqueline Adams, Senior Counselor at Burson-Marsteller, and former award-winning journalist, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

"We are really proud to have piloted this program with Global Partners, and are happy to host students from all five boroughs at the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Besides learning about their joint topic, students also learn about each other's lives and culture. It's terrific to celebrate their accomplishments today."

After-school providers offering Global Partners Junior during the 2007-2008 school year are: CAMBA, Goodwill Industries of New York, Good Shepherds Services, HANAC, Mosholu-Montefiore Community Center, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, New York City Housing Authority, New York Public Library, Police Athletic League, Queens Community House, St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corp., The After-School Corporation, YMCA of Greater New York and United Activities Unlimited.

Global Partners Junior trains staff members to encourage children's natural affinity for technology and make learning and self-expression exciting.  Using educational games, homework help, newsletter clubs, internet scavenger hunts, and digital media projects, after-school students gain a higher comfort level with technology while developing useful academic, professional and social skills. This program won the Sister Cities International 2006 Award for Innovation and Education.

Formerly the Sister City Program of the City of New York, Inc., Global Partners has produced and co-sponsored seven international summits. In 2007, Global Partners was a co-sponsor of the "C40 Large Cities Climate Summit" and produced the summit "Governing a Diverse City in a Democratic Society" in cooperation with Columbia University. Previous summits included "Strategies for Public Art" (2005), "Transforming Government through Technology" (2004), "Meeting the Challenges of Terrorism and Crime" (2003) and "Rebuilding International Tourism" (2003).  For more information about Global Partners and to participate in the Global Partners Junior program, visit www.nyc.gov.



  Contact:
Stu Loeser / Jason Post (212) 788-2958
Jama Adams (Parks) (212) 360-1311
 

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