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.