Raccoon Community Building Space Project, Queens, New York City: History of Events

prostor
718/575-4500 ext.4567
fax: 718/784-1858
a n n o u n c e m e n t s

January 2008

Due to lack of funds, there were no special events in January 2008.

February 2008

Raccoon's health care workshops are back in February 2008 in cooperation with NYC HHC.

February 22 25 participants of Raccoon snowboard camp on Igman in 2006 and 2007 will attend a weekend snowboard outing on Igman and/or Bjelasnica under auspices of our partners Krila Nade.

March 2008

March 4 Focus group on access to health care for the Albanian speaking individauls in The Bronx. The findings will be presented to the New York City Council and the Mayor of New York City. From noon until 2 pm at Two Star Restaurant located on 718 East 187th Street, in The Bronx. If you are Albanian, live in The Bronx, and you don't have health insurance, this is for you. Each participant will get a $20 reimbursement. Please RSVP to Indira at 646.275.2142.

March 26 Women's Group meeting at 6 pm at Turkuaz, 2637 Broadway (at 100th St.), New York, NY 10025. RSVP Nada Khodlova.

March 31 Start date for the new Raccoon's children workshop Ringe Ringe Raja. The main idea behind the "Ringe-Raja" workshop is for kids to gain knowledge and friends while playing in our language. Among other things we plan to read them popular fairytales from back home, to broadcast cartoons in our language, and, while playing, to teach them the letters and basics of reading and writing. The program of the workshop will be adjusted to the participant's age. All interested should e-mail Marija. Let us know the age of your children, what would you like them to learn, and if you and your children can attend on Mondays from 3.30pm to 5.00pm. Depending on interest and availability we may be able to change the day and/or time.

April 2008

April 12 Collecting signatures for popular referendum about Republic of Croatia joining NATO alliance ends in Croatia and among Croatian citizens abroad. If you are a Croatian citizen living in US or Canada and want to sign the petition requiring Croatian government to hold referendum before making the decision about joining, please, click here.

April 23 Free health screenings! this Wednesday, 12pm - 4pm, at 600 W. 168th St. at Broadway (take A or 1 train to 168th Station). RACCOON is helping to spread the word about some of the great things going on at the Washington Heights Child Health Center. In celebration of National Infant Immunization Week, next Wednesday April 23, 12PM - 4PM, the Child Health Center is having a special event with FREE health screenings for adults and kids, including:

Blood pressure
HIV testing
Dental screenings
Nutrition information
Pregnancy health information

If you are in the neighborhood, drop in and check out this clean, friendly clinic that has a lot of great services to offer!

May 2008

May 3 Family Resource Fair on Saturday, in collaboration with the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation and Washington Heights Child Health Center to be held on 600 West 168th Street, Manhattan, from 10am to 4pm (subway A,C at 168st).
Find out where to go for critical services, such as free or low cost health care Get important health, employment and educational information Enjoy plenty of fun activities and games Come bring your family - kids and adults
For further information contact Indira at 646.275.2142

May 17 Rainey Park (Vernon Boulevard and 34th Ave, Astoria, NY) will be host to a waterfront celebration and community visioning forum from 1-5 p.m. on this Saturday. The day's activities will include fishing, kayaking, live music and more.
The celebration and forum, sponsored by Partnerships for Parks, Greenshores, NYC and the Astoria/Long Island City Catalyst Project, is meant to introduce community members to the exciting programs Astoria has to offer. The event will be a way for visitors to learn about, and join in, the work of various organizations and individuals who aim to participate in the stewardship of their parks. Everyone is encouraged to come out, meet new people and take part in the shaping of the Astoria community.

June 2008

June 26 Women's Group: scouting the location for Raccoon's Srebrenica massacres 13th anniversary commemoration in New York: Knitting Factory; 6 pm

June 28 Free Health Fair and Neighborhood Celebration in Astoria, Immaculate Conception Large School Parking Lot (on 31st Street, across from Queens Library at Steinway 21-63 29th St, Train: N, W / Bus: Q19A, Q102) Saturday, June 28 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

July 2008

July 12 Please, join the RACCOON Women's Group, the Advocacy Project, and BOSFAM together in commemoration of the 13th anniversary of the Srebrenica Massacre.
We are honored to be presenting the Srebrenica Memorial Quilt - (the first time in NYC!) - and to be learning about the important partnership between the Advocacy Project and the Tuzla-based NGO BOSFAM, whose women knitted the quilt.
This women's group knits and weaves traditional kilims and other products which they then sell online. Most of the women affiliated with BOSFAM are widows due to the atrocities which took place in Srebrenica, and subsequently became internally displaced persons in Tuzla.
We will be hearing about the quilt as an important tool of advocacy and commemoration for the victims of Srebrenica and their families, as well as highlighting the great work that BOSFAM is doing in Tuzla in terms of sustainable income generation and reconciliation.
Advocacy Project is excited to have the quilt in the US and would like to use it to promote BOSFAM's work as well as advocate for the arrests of Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic.
BOSFAM works in partnership with other women's groups in the Balkans, and is affiliated, in particular, with the Women in Black in Serbia.
If you are interested in being part of the planning committee or are planning to come please contact Nada Khodlova.
Quilt presentation

July 18 Child Health community outreach event this Friday at Astoria Health Center Playground (corner of 14th St and 31st Rd) starting from 11 AM.

July 28 This month's RINGERAJA kids workshop will take children to the museum of Natural History. Free entrance and a private tour conducted in our language will be provided by RACCOON. If interested, please let us know by Wednesday July 23rd which day and time would work the best for you and your little one. Please e-mail Marija or call the office at 718.784.9121 Vidimo se u muzeju!

July 30 Womens Group: We will have the quilts from Srebrenica again on display in NYC, Alison from the Advocacy Project will be there to present, and we will be viewing a poignant video on the BOSFAM weavers. Wednesday, 6 to 8:30 pm at Nada's Home in Inwood-Right near the A train-200th/Dyckman St. RSVP to 646-633-8052 or mokosh@nyc.rr.com.
Women from Srebrenica talk to people of Serbia in a video by a group dedicated to non-violence and B92.
Quilt presentation

August 2008

August 1 Health Care for Immigrants community outreach event in the Serbian Club 72-54 65th Pl., Glendale, NY at 8 pm. RSVP to Marija at 718.784.9121.

August 13 On Wednesday August 13 2008, RACCOON will organize community outreach event at the Farmers Market, in front of Child Health Clinic in Astoria (12-26 31st Avenue, corner of 12th St.) Please join us. We will be there from 11am until 2pm. Thank you!

August 26 Do you have questions about: Health insurance for you or your children? The health needs of your family? Concerns about high blood pressure, nutrition or cholesterol? Specialized medical attention? Be informed! Come and meet community organizations that can help you, enroll in public health benefits, and get more information about your health, nutrition and your well being.
Family Health Fair, 11:00am - 2:00pm, Wooodside Child Health Clinic, 50-53 Newtown Road, Woodside, NY 11377; (between Northern Blvd and 50th St); E,G,R,V trains to Northern Blvd or Buses Q66,Q104

September 2008

September 6 Saturday, 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM, at CHC Clinic Manhattan, 600 W 168th st., N.Y 10033: RACCOON, Inc. & Metro Plus Health Plan are preparing children for the 2008-2009 school year.

October 2008

October 4 Join Raccoon, Inc. on Saturday, 1 pm - 5 pm, for our Community Visioning Fair in Astoria Park (Astoria Park at 19th Street & 23rd Avenue). Come enjoy a day in the sun -*FOOD, DANCE,* *MUSIC, GAMES* and more - while learning about the amazing programs offered in Astoria. Meet organizations and individuals who are doing fun, interesting work and join in the *CREATION OF A VISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY! Help us celebrate Raccoon's successes and shape our future community work!* Participating groups include Metro Health Plus, NYPD Community Affairs, and others.
Sponsored by: The Astoria/Long Island City Catalyst Project of Partnerships for Parks, a joint program of CityParks Foundation and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.
Take N,W to Astoria-Ditmars Blvd; walk one block south to 23rd Avenue & 31st Street; walk west (towards the river) on 23rd Avenue to 19th Street (approx. 12 short blocks) or catch the Q69 @ Ditmars Blvd to 21st Street.
Click here for pictures from the event.

October 10 Womens Group: Bellyqueen Show, at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center 199 Chambers Street (between Greenwich and West Streets); 7:30 PM. RSVP to Nada Khodlova @ 646-633-8052.

November 2008

November 7 Womens Group: Friday at 6:00pm at The Abbey Pub, 237 W 105th, near Broadway. We are looking forward to having Nadja Tesich, writer, professor of film and filmmaker, joining us. Please RSVP.

November 12 Dialog session Trauma and Healing Work in Croatia and Bosnia with Dr Charles Tauber of Vukovar's Coalition for Work with Psychotrauma and Peace and Antigona Kukaj, Tuzla's Landmine Survivors Network fellow, at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, 420 W 118th Street, Room 270B, 12-2 pm, Wednesday.

December 2008

Decemer 6 Ringe Raja Group at WINDOWS OVER HARLEM on Saturday, December 6, 2008 from 10:30 to 2PM (163 West 125th Street / A,C,B,D,2,3 Subway to 125 St). Presents from Santa Claus, and learning about ways in which access to your child's health can be improved. For more information please see the attached flyer and RSVP Marija.

December 13 Womens Group: We are looking forward to having Nadja Tesich, writer, professor of film and filmmaker, joining us at our December Women's Group on Saturday, December 13th, 4:30pm at The Abbey Pub, 237 W 105th Near Broadway. Please RSVP me and let us know if you will be coming. Peace, Nada

map and driving directions
Mailing address: RACCOON, Inc., PO Box 20554, New York, NY 10021 Subway directions - take to Kew Gardens