Dear friends and colleagues,

This winter has been incredibly productive for us here in the office and for the Added Value community as a whole. As we look to the Spring and a new season of growth and learning, I invite you to read below and then pause for a moment, reflect on all that we have collectively accomplished and dream about what great things are to come.

If the stories strike a new chord for you, reach out, let us know how you’d like to contribute to growing creating a stronger, healthier, more just Red Hook.

Whether your hoping to donate time or resources, looking for an internship or work, we’re interested in hearing from you. That’s right, Added Value currently has a number of positions open and we are looking for a few dynamic individuals to join us. Please read on, at the bottom, you’ll find links to a number of job announcements.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Warm regards
Ian


THE BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

Our Teens
This week we began our Spring Youth Leadership Institute. This marks AV’s seventh year of youth programming. With a solid curriculum established we feel like the teens will be “digging deep”–developing their skills and knowledge—while “reaching out” to educate and motivate others to build a more sustainable South Brooklyn.

We have seven youth participants enrolled in our leadership training. Twice as many as last year, and three times our 05 class. This is a strong group of teens: they are creative, committed, and concerned. This afternoon we completed a day filled with communications exercises, visioning games, laughter and paper work. Tomorrow we will be doing much of the same while also cooking a bit. We will be meeting three times a week until June. From there it is on to an intensive Summer Program training.

We are only seven because after four years of farm work, managing the market, and attending conferences Denia Cuello has decided not to return to the leadership institute. Denia is very focused on graduating high school on time and holding down a second job to help pay her rent. I am happy to say that beginning next Wednesday, Denia will be joining us here in the office once a week to strengthen her computer skills while supporting us through data entry, photo cataloging, basic correspondence, and doing some community outreach.

While we are always looking forward, it is important to be able to see where we have come from. We are lucky that many of our alumni want to maintain a connection to this organization. In fact during the week alumni have be coming through the front door, emailing, and calling. Below you’ll find a just a small sample of the joy that I have as these “old timers” share their lives with us.

Monday: Tyquon Scott, a member of our ‘02 and ‘03 team, has been coming through once a week to update me on his music production and work life. In addition to pursuing work as a delivery driver, Ty has begun working with AV, doing farm maintenance every Monday afternoon.

Tuesday: John Wright, a member of our ‘03 team, came and said hello. He is working up in Albany and applying for college at SUNY. Also Elizabeth De La Cruz, (‘03-‘06) completed applications to college and shot me the second draft of several applications for scholarships. She is living with her boyfriend, providing care to her 4-month-old daughter, Jezbel, and doing well in all of her high school classes.

Wednesday: Tevon McNair is in his second semester of college and is playing NCAA Division I junior college basketball for TCI. On Monday he asked the staff if we would come to the final game of his season. His plan is to obtain his associates and get picked up by a Division I four-year program and complete his BA.

Interestingly while heading out to Tevon’s game, Alex Henriquez rolled into the office, just stopping by on his way back to Sullivan County Community College. He’ll be finishing his associates in 8 weeks. He will be looking for an apprenticeship with a Carpenter here in the City for the summer.

While walking to Tevon’s game Jose Felix got in touch by phone. He is doing well in his second semester at BMCC while holding onto his Pharmacy job. He and I will be getting together for lunch next week to discuss an alumni gathering.

Thursday: In addition to the current youth starting our Leadership Institute, Elizabeth just kept emailing me ideas for scholarships… what a wonderful young woman….

Can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds.

Our Staff
Monday the 19th was a particularly special day for me in that it was two years ago that day that Caroline joined us. As I said to her that day, Added Value’s success over the past two years was made possible because of her commitment to the ideals of our work, her love of people and food, and her great personality. I am so excited about the possibilities for this new year, in large part because I have such an incredible person to work with. Please if you have a moment, drop her a note of thanks and congratulations.

Importantly, in just a few weeks Cristina will also mark her second year of joyous commitment to the lives of the children Red Hook. Cristina’s presence in the hallways of PS 15, on the streets of Red Hook, and on the Farm has been and continues to be transformative. Even at Tevon’s Basketball game, Cristina was spending time with parents, teaching children, and making us all feel valued.

We’ll be gathering to celebrate these milestones and the beginning of Spring, sometime in the early weeks of March. I’ll let you all know the whens and wheres.

Our Board.
Seven years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Hurwitz. His deeply held values, his clarity of purpose, and his ability to make all feel welcome, worthwhile, and important has transformed my life and the life of all those in the extended Added Value community. His friendship is one of the things I hold most dear in this world. When he left AV I was unsure what would happen. While attending Law School, getting married, and buying a home he maintained strong ties to me and to this organization.

It is with great respect and the deepest admiration that I share with you the latest news in Michael’s life. On Tuesday morning Michael became the newest director of the New York City GreenMarkets Program. Beginning Monday the 26th, Michael will be managing the nation’s largest network of farmers’ markets and supervising the New Farmer Development Program. This honor is truly a testament to Michael’s character, his strong skill set, and wonderful demeanor. I can only say congratulations. You worked hard for this. You deserve it. Should you need support, have questions, or just need a rest from all those big city responsibilities, don’t hesitate to call on the Added Value community or just roll onto the Farm.

Sometime in the spring of 2000 the seeds of Added Value were planted. Together we have grown a organization that is affecting positive change in the lives of our teens and the children we seek to empower, the community in which we see and feel so much potential, and in our friends and colleagues who we value.

As we enter a new season of the calendar year, and a new year of programming I celebrate each of you.

With a warm heart


Ian Marvy

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