Editor’s Note: The following is an updated version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.

 

Bronx Buccaneers presented their case for getting kids more involved in sport during the March meeting of Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) Education, Youth & Libraries committee. The local sports group are of the view that sports ultimately help students advance along their educational path and do all they can to support kids on that journey.

 

Keith Spivey Jr., president of the Bronx Buccaneers Youth Football Program, spoke at length about the group’s football program. He thanked the committee for helping his program obtain permits to train at Williamsbridge Oval Park and provided some background information on his football team.

 

The Buccaneers have existed for over 20 years and are a full-tackle organization open to children ages 5-14. “Our main goal is to get kids in the high school of their choice and hopefully to get them a free education to college,” Spivey Jr. said. To accomplish this, the group has partnered with high schools such as DeWitt Clinton, John F. Kennedy, and Cardinal Hayes. An important focal point of the program is academics. To participate, kids must have at least an average GPA numerical grade of 80. However, Spivey Jr. said that they do give kids the opportunity to make up their score.

 

He also shared that the Buccaneers have just sent their first wave of kids to college. “We have two kids attending Alfred State College on full scholarships,” Spivey Jr. said. “We have another kid that just signed his offer to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Those particular kids all have a 90 [GPA numerical grade] average in school. They are doing what they have to do as young men and they are going to be productive members of society.”

 

The coach later opened up about the challenges COVID-19 had presented to the running of the program. “Normally we would recruit kids through school,” Spivey Jr. said. “Unfortunately, because of COVID, we haven’t had the opportunity to be in schools and actually present ourselves. So, we are trying to reconnect with a lot of schools that are in our neighborhood.” Another challenge his football program faces that isn’t related to COVID is affordability. “With prices going up and everything else going up, like our insurance, for example, we have to go up on our fees as well,” Spivey Jr. said. “We are trying to maintain affordability.”

The coach concluded his talk by highlighting the impact of youth sports. “I think a lot of people overlook the educational component of youth sports because it is not predominantly academic,” Spivey Jr. said. “It goes across life; we teach them responsibility, accountability. We teach them that they need to rely on their teammates and friends.” He added, “Youth sports provide kids with a better chance of being a productive member of society instead of being in the street with nothing to do and getting themselves in trouble.”

 

When Acosta later opened the floor for questions, Nora Fleury, a committee member, asked Spivey Jr. if the group was funded. He shared that their funds come directly from parents and that they do very little fundraising. However, he acknowledged that one of their biggest expenses is a specific Department of Education (DOE) expense. He said the group pays about $700 a month to practice on DeWitt Clinton’s football field. “That eats up a large chunk of our budget,” Spivey Jr. said. “I was hoping someone from DOE would be here so we could figure out a way to get a discount to use their facilities.”

 

After hearing this, Feury suggested reaching out to Councilman Eric Dinowitz’s office to find out if Bronx Buccaneers would be eligible to receive funds through participatory budgeting, a program that allows community members to have a direct say in how they would spend $1 million if they had input into such a decision. Norwood News contacted both Dinowitz’s office and the DOE for comment and a DOE spokesperson suggested that if not already done, the group should submit a formal request regarding funding.

 

Another presenter on the night was Gladys Gomez, community engagement manager at Fordham and Kingsbridge centers of LINC Literacy Inc. As previously reported, the organization is based citywide, advocates for children’s literacy, and is committed to ending the literacy crisis. In New York City, nearly two out of three children affected by systemic poverty cannot read at grade level.

 

Gomez shared that the organization had some great programming for its youngest readers aged zero to five. To register for upcoming events, readers can visit the website, https://www.lincnyc.org/. She also mentioned that LINC Literacy Inc. was running an upcoming program in conjunction with the Bronx Library Center. Acosta asked Gomez if she was satisfied with attendance at their Bronx centers or if the organization was looking for more community engagement.

 

“We always love to reach out to more families,” Gomez said. “We do see how social media is playing a role in that. What we are going to do is have just one page where we post all of our events to see if that gets a better algorithm. We are trying to go ahead and consolidate that to just one.” Regarding attendance, she said the organization wanted to increase regular attendance by residents at follow-up events. “Enough families show up for one,” Gomez said. “We want families to keep coming to more events.”

 

Acosta wrapped up the conversation by inviting Gomez to attend the CB7 general board meeting. Before the education meeting concluded, Acosta gave Sirio Guerino the opportunity to speak to the committee. Guerino asked if there had been any progress made on the use of the swimming pool at DeWitt Clinton campus, a point raised at a previous meeting.

 

Guerino had mentioned that the school used to have a pool for students for gym and other activities but didn’t use it anymore and he wanted to look into why it was not usable and see if that could be changed. “It would be beautiful if those 800 kids can attend and use that pool,” Guerino said. “My sons have been there for four years and haven’t been able to use that pool.” Acosta promised to get back to him once he had done his homework.

 

Before the meeting got underway, resident, Tayna Peña, had asked if there had been any further conversations held about utilizing the vacant space the Old Fordham Library, located at 2556 Bainbridge Avenue in Fordham Manor, used to occupy. Norwood News previously reported that the City’s department of administrative services (DCAS) had proposed converting the second floor of the vacant building into a new computer-based testing and job application center (CTAC).

 

Ischia Bravo, district manager for Bronx CB7, shared that the issue had been discussed during the CB7 Housing, Land Use & Zoning committee meeting, since the building is no longer used as a library. She added that the center was indeed on track to become a job center.

 

During her prepared district manager’s update to the committee, Bravo reminded attendees, once again, of the New York Yankees Community Council Leadership Award deadline. As previously reported, The New York Yankees partner with various Bronx community boards to provide five scholarships to five community residents in each district each year. Winners receive a stipend of $750 and are recognized on the field during a pre-game ceremony at Yankee Stadium.

 

“Unfortunately, the deadline was today at noon, and we have only received two applications,” Bravo said during the March 2 meeting. “I requested an extension.” As reported the deadline was subsequently moved to March 16, and was later extended a second time to Monday, April 4, at noon. Acosta asked Spivey Jr. if he could recommend any kids for the Yankee Scholarship, and he said he had a few kids in mind and would follow up.

 

As there were no representatives in attendance from the Department of Education, from The New York Public Library, or from the Community Education Council District 10, the meeting drew to a close. For more information about some of the educational programs on offer at local public libraries and community centers, check out our latest Neighborhood Notes feature.

 

The New York Public Library’s second annual World Literature Festival (www.nypl.org/worldliteraturefestival) kicks off, Monday, April 11, in honor of Immigrant Heritage Week. The festival highlights the library’s World Languages collection which features books in over 60 languages, available online and at branches throughout The Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. The collection reflects the many cultures and languages of NYPL’s patrons. Books are available to download using the library’s e-reader app, SimplyE, or they are also available for checkout at local branches. The festival will run through the end of the month. More information about the festival can be found here.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.