Summer 2022: Bringing Community Together After 3 years of Pandemic.

Since the community raised money to implement new backboards back in 2019, members of the community have sparked great change to ensure that more activities are taking place on a seasonal basis in the community. From basketball tournaments to school supply drives, green space activation, and park cleanup, we have actively gotten neighbors in the community involved. Since then, there has been a growing number of youth members inspiring the next generation in sports and have mentioned the profound impact these community events had on them. It's important that although we have been consistent, that we remain diligent in creating new ways to bring the community together.

It's why we are raising $10,000 to continue these events with more professionalism and autonomy. These funds will enable us to plan ahead and ask the community, what events they will like to see in order to grow the community. We hope that each donation enables us to grow the community.

All donations will be matched via Con Edison matching fund programs. When you donate $10. IOBY will match and make it a $20 donation. Matching donations are up to $5,000 therefore, we should act quickly.

Let's look forward to finding ways we can grow the community for the Summer of 2022 post-pandemic. Let's continue to be the change we want to see in the world.

Once Organizer; Joel Guerrero, receives the collective funds from the community, he will create surveys in-person to ask what new events community members will like to see in the park. Afterward, the funds will be allocated across a series of 6-10 events that will be planned for every weekend for the remainder of the Summer. These events may include; Basketball tournaments, carnivals, yoga, meditation, roller-blading, green space activation, and more.

July 1st - Plan 2 basketball tournaments for the month, a meditation event, yoga, and weekly outdoor fitness workouts. (4 events)

July 15th - Plan a carnival for the end of July. (1 event )

Aug - 5th - Plan gardening events for the community and neighborhood cleanup events. ( 2 events )

Aug 20th - Plan end of the summer basketball tournament (boys and girls). (1 event )

August 30th - Plan back to school drive, book drive. 

Our neighbors make our neighborhood, they are comprised of GenZ and young parents looking to be more socially integrated with things happening in the community. Since the pandemic, social isolation has played a profound impact on everyone's mental health. Consequently, it created an unusual divide amongst people who are suffering loss and those who have not been impacted at all. Hence, it's imperative that we bring the community together; that way, we can pour our positive energy into one another and create longer-lasting relationships with each other. Our events make an impact. We have seen it happen year after year, people making new friends, parents meeting new parents that empathize with one another or relate in some way shape, and form. These are the kind of relationships we wish to continue to foster through our events and it is why we need you to be part of this ever-growing impact.