We wanted to share some exciting last minute news for NYC PTA Expo!  

• NYS Senator Martin Dilan is joining other confirmed local elected officials, NYS Senator Daniel Squadron, NYS AM Joe Lentol, NYC Stephen Levn, NYC Antonio Reynoso, BBP Eric Adams, and Deput BBP Diana Reyna at NYC PTA Expo

• 67 exhibitors, gift bag/raffle donors and supporters are involved with NYC PTA Expo.
  

• 56 exhibitors will be available to meet at NYC PTA Expo.

• Project Playdate and All In One Entertainment are providing fun activities for kids!  Crafts, Board Games, Music, DJ, TV, Balloon entertainer, Magician and more!  Loads of fun! Please be aware that this is not a drop off, and a responsible adult from your group must accompany your children.

• Amazing raffle prizes including a school supply kit, trial classes, a chess camp, an annual Y family membership, inflatable bounce house rental, a Youth Environmental Literacy Program, and Brookyn Nets tickets!  

• Almost 50 represented schools have registered online!  Wear your school t-shirts/colors and enter into FREE raffle drawings. Woo hoo!  

 Many thanks to our Silver Sponsors:  All in One Entertainment and CaseNEX-DataCation.

Brooklyn, NY – On Sunday, October 5th (12:00 PM – 5:00 PM), join Town Square as we present New York City’s first ever NYC PTA EXPO at P.S. 250 George H. Lindsay Elementary School (108 Montrose Avenue, Brooklyn, NY).  Confirmed guest speakers/attendees/workshop presenters include: NYS Senator Martin Dilan, NYS Senator Daniel Squadron, NYS Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, NYC Councilman Stephen Levin, NYC Councilman Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, Deputy Borough President, Diana Reyna, PB Project Director for NYC District 33 Lisa Bloodgood, PB Project Coordinator for NYC District 34 Ava Farkas, Co-Founder of PTAlink Rachel Fine, Past-President of Staten Island Federation of PTAs Cathy Carlson, author Jean Joachim, Senior Staff Attorney of Lawyers Alliance for New York Neil Stevenson and more!  www.NYCPTAExpo.com.  Media sponsors include: NYMetroParents/Brooklyn Parent Magazine and WillyPoint Kids.  Silver Sponsors include: All in One Entertainment and CaseNEX-DataCation.

Exhibitors and supporters include: Town Square, ABCs for Smarter Kids, Adventureland, All In One Entertainment, AMC Photo Inc., American Cancer Society, ArtWare Fundraising, Boy Scouts of America, Brooklyn Troop 26, Brooklyn Nets / Barclays Center, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Robot Foundry, Carousel Cakes, Carpingo, CaseNEX-DataCation, Chuck E Cheese's, Community Education Council District 14, Cross County Savings Bank, Deanan Gourmet Popcorn, Direct Promotions, Down to Earth Markets, EDS Presentations, Engineering for Kids, FoodPlay Productions, Franklin Pizza, Gamewright GameNights, Grandma Rose's, Greater Giving, Green Mountain Energy, Greenpoint YMCA, Irvin Simon Photographers, Jean Joachim, Author, Lucky Kats Inc, Makit Products, Miss Chocolate Fundraising Co., Mission Be, Mr. Ellie Pooh LLC, MobilArq, Mulee School Supply Kits, Municipal Credit Union, New York City Chess Inc, New York Family, New York Life, New York Road Runners, NY School Help, NYC Councilmember Levin's District 33 Participatory Budgeting Project, NYC Councilmember Reynoso's District 34 Participatory Budgeting Project, NYC Department of Education, Ofice of SchoolFood, NY Metro Parents / Brooklyn Parent Magazine, Office of Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, PacPlex, Peaceful Playgrounds, Peter Pan Donuts, Planet Aid, Popcorn Palace, Project Playdate, Prudential, Raising New York, Rhode Island Novelty, Sandy Candy by SandCrafters, St. Nicks Alliance, The SMART Playbook, The Wholesale Candy Shop, Trees New York, United Healthcare, United We Stand of New York, and WillyPoint Kids. 

Over 360 parents and educators representing almost 50 schools have registered so far:  P.S. 16 Leonard Dunkly, PS 17K Henry D. Woodworth, P.S. 26 Jesse Owens, P.S. 31 Samuel F. Dupont, P.S. 34 Oliver H. Perry, P.S. 84 José De Diego School, P.S. 110 The Monitor School, P.S. 114 Ryder ElementarySchool, P.S. 119 Amersfort School of Social Awareness, P.S. 120 Carlos Tapia, ,P.S. 124 Silas B Dutcher, P.S. 128 Audubon, P.S. 132 The Conselyea School, P.S. 140 Edward K Ellington, P.S. 147 Isaac Remsen, P.S. 150 Christopher, P.S. 154Q, P.S./M.S. 164 Queens Valley School of the Arts, P.S./I.S. 165 Ida Posner, P.S. 187 Hudson Cliffs, P.S. 250 George H. Lindsay, P.S. 251 Paerdergat, P.S. 297 Abraham Stockton, P.S. 329 East Elmhurst Community School, P.S. 334 The Anderson School, P.S. 414 Brooklyn Arbor, P.S. 677 East NY Elementary School of Excellence, P.S. 705 Brooklyn Arts & Elementary School, M.S. 67 Louis Pasteur MIddle School, IS 71 Juan Morel Campus, I.S. 285 Meyer Levin School for the Performing Arts, JHS 50 John D. Wells, M.S. 126 John Ericsson Middle School, MS 217 Robert A. Van Wyck, Academy for Enviromental Leadership, Brownsville Ascend Lower School, Bushwick Leader's High School for Academic Excellence, Islamic Cultural Center School, Kings Bay Y at North Williamsburg, Mott Hall Bridges Academy, Nazareth Regional High School, New Heights Middle School, Northside Charter High School, NYC Autism Charter School, The Brooklyn Latin School, The Young Women's Leadership School of Brooklyn, Urban Assembly School of Music and Art, Williamsburg Charter High School and more.

Produced by Town Square, NYC PTA EXPO 2014 presents a fun and informative event with great resources, products, services and information for New York City PA and PTA groups (together “PTA”) while bringing together community members, educators, families, parents and city agencies under one roof. Complete with workshops led by education specialists, business leaders, and past PTA representatives offering advice and fundraising ideas to new PTA members, this expo bridges diverse PTA councils through network sharing and camaraderie. All NYC PTAs are invited to attend. 

• To purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite here.

• For more info, call 347.559.1410, e-mail info@NYCPTAexpo.com or visit www.NYCPTAExpo.com.

  
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NYC has the largest number of public schools in New York State with more than 1,700 public schools serving more than 1 million students. Through the NYC PTA Expo, our neighborhood PTAs can “meet the parents” and share information on projects, plans and development, so that everyone can stay in the loop. Celebrating education by supporting PTA councils throughout New York City, NYC PTA Expo offers community access and support for exhibitors and educational leaders, alike.

NYC PTA EXPO PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

12:00 PM - Exhibit Hall Opens
12:30 – 1:00 PM - Our local elected officials

1:00-1:45 PM -  WORKSHOP I: ABCs FOR PTAs
Cathy Carlson, Past-President, Staten Island Federation of PTAs & Rachel Fine, Co-Founder of PTAlink will cover:
- What is a PTA?
- Chancellors Regulation A-660 highlights in plain language
- What are examples of a PTA's mission, role, and objectives?
- What are a PTA's powers and limitations?
- 45 minute breakout session to follow.

1:45-2:30 PM  - WORKSHOP II: Fundraising 101
Jean Joachim, Past-PTA President of PS 87 and Author of “Beyond the Bake Sale: The Ultimate School Fund-Raising Book” will address vital fundamental considerations for PTA fundraising:
- Important issues to keep in mind when developing fundraising plans
- Development and actualization of effective and successful fundraising strategies
- Her most successful fundraising projects, and what made them so successful?
- 45 minute breakout session to follow.

2:30-3:30 PM - Free time

3:30-4:15 PM - WORKSHOP III: Participatory Budgeting, A Great Funding Source for NYC Schools!
Lisa Bloodgood, PB Project Director for District 33, CM Levin & Ava Farkas, PB Project Coordinator for District 34, CM Reynoso will discuss:
- What is Participatory Budgeting and how can it help your school?
- How does PB work?
- Examples of successful PB school projects: technology upgrades, bathroom renovations, playgrounds, etc
- 45 minute breakout session to follow.

4:15-5:00 PM - WORKSHOP IV: 501(c)(3) Basics
Neil Stevenson, Senior Staff Attorney of The Lawyers’ Alliance will walk you through:
- What is a 501c3?
- Is a 501c3 right for our school’s PTA?
- What are the pros and cons?
- What are the ongoing reporting requirements of a 501c3?
- If you choose not to become a 501c3, what are other options available?
- 45 minute breakout session to follow over refreshments during Tequila Time!

CONTINUE NETWORKING AT SWEET SCIENCE!
As NYC PTA Expo ends, join us to mix and mingle over PTA Expo Happy Hour specials at Sweet Science (135 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn).

SPEAKER BIOS: Elected Officials

NYS Senator Martin Malavé Dilan is serving his fifth term in the 17th Senatorial District representing the North Brooklyn communities of Bushwick, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Cypress Hills, City-Line, East New York, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Brownsville. Senator Dilan currently serves as the Assistant Minority Leader for Policy and Administration in the Senate’s Democratic Conference. Senator Dilan’s leadership in the conference began in his first term as Assistant Minority Leader of Conference Operations. He has since held the posts of Chairman of the Minority Conference and Senior Assistant Majority Leader. Senator Dilan grew up in the community of Bushwick where his first foray into public life came in 1965, as a volunteer in a mayoral campaign before graduating from high school and going on to Brooklyn College. As the Senate Democratic appointment to the Legislative Task Force on Demographic research and Reapportionment (LATFOR)—and former Co-Chair—Senator Dilan has fought for the formation of a non-partisan redistricting process that guarantees objective and transparent redistricting that maximizes public participation and ends the drawing of New York’s legislative districts to disenfranchise any one-person or community for the sake of political gain.

NYS Senator Daniel Squadron is serving his third term representing New York's 26th Senate District, which includes the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Vinegar Hill, DUMBO, Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Columbia Waterfront, and the Manhattan neighborhoods of Tribeca, Battery Park City, the Lower East Side, Chinatown, the Financial District, Little Italy, SoHo, and the East Village. In the Senate, Senator Squadron has worked tirelessly to reform Albany; strengthen affordable housing; promote comprehensive, community-empowering economic development; enhance regional transportation infrastructure while improving pedestrian and road safety; protect the most vulnerable in our society; and secure parks and open space for all communities. At the heart of these priorities is Senator Squadron’s ability to bring diverse parties together to find practical solutions that make government work better for people and communities. Public transit and complete streets are critical to New York's success and Senator Squadron has been a driving force on both. www.nysenate.gov/senator/daniel-l-squadron.

NYS Assemblyman Joseph Lentol has represented North Brooklyn in the New York State Legislature since 1972. He is a lifelong resident of New York City, whose father and grandfather both also served in the New York State Legislature. In his community, Assemblyman Lentol has fought to preserve and enhance the waterfront and provide for public access. He has spearheaded efforts to improve tenants’ rights and affordable housing. He has initiated many programs to deter crime, help our youth, and revitalize the commercial corridors in each of the communities he represents. Respect for all people, their beliefs and customs is a defining principle of his public life. Mr. Lentol’s North Brooklyn Assembly District is one of the most ethnically diverse in New York City. It has long been home to generations of Polish-Americans, Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, German-Americans, and Americans from the Island of Puerto Rico. North Brooklyn boasts a large population of Orthodox Jewish-Americans and Hasidic residents from many parts of Europe. It has recently become the new home of families and individuals from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Central and South America, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. People from all over the world have found harmony and acceptance in this community. Assemblyman Lentol considers it an honor to represent such a diverse constituency. He is extremely well known in New York for his personal attention to solving problems and for his dedicated public service. For over three decades, he has worked to improve the State’s quality of life and the well-being of its residents. http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Joseph-R-Lentol/

NYC Councilman Stephen Levin was elected in 2009 to represent the 33rd District in the New York City Council, which includes the diverse communities of Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Boerum Hill, Vinegar Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, and Bedford–Stuyvesant. As a Councilmember, Stephen has proven to be a leader on education and early childhood issues, and an advocate for increased open space in our communities and transportation safety initiatives. He has passed legislation requiring the Department of Education to notify families and teachers about potential PCB contamination, and has sponsored resolutions calling for mandatory kindergarten and breakfast-in-the-classroom. In addition to serving as Chair of the Committee on General Welfare, Council Member Levin serves on the Cultural Affairs, Education, Environmental Protection, Land Use, and Transportation committees, and the Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses. http://council.nyc.gov/d33/html/members/home.shtml

NYC Councilman Antonio Reynoso represents the 34th District in the New York City Council, Antonio wants to create an environment conducive to a better quality of life for residents of Bushwick and Williamsburg in Brooklyn and Ridgewood in Queens. He understands that success in his district starts with strong schools, the fundamental access to affordable housing, and economic growth. Leveraging his years of experience as Councilmember Reyna’s Chief of Staff, where he oversaw and advanced progressive policies and legislative reforms for affordable housing, economic development, job creation, education, and public safety, Antonio is an experienced leader who knows how to cultivate diverse coalitions and is focused on delivering and maximizing the necessary programs and services to the diverse populations in the 34th District. http://council.nyc.gov/d34/html/members/home.shtml

Brooklyn Borough President, Eric L. Adams was born in Brownsville and is a proud product of the New York City public school system, graduating from Bayside High School in 1978. He received his Associate in Arts Degree in Data Processing from New York City Technical College and his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice; later, he received his Masters' Degree in Public Administration from Marist College. After a distinguished 22-year career in the New York City Police Department, Eric served for four terms in the New York State Senate, representing the 20th State Senatorial District, covering Borough Park, Crown Heights, Flatbush, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace. Eric worked on issues that mattered to his constituents, including affordable housing, educational funding and preventative health. He became a champion on statewide matters such as good government, workers' rights, quality of life concerns and public safety. In particular, Eric effectively organized support against the NYPD's controversial stop, question and frisk policy and on behalf of gun control. Eric has also served on the board of the Eastern District Counseling Service, an organization assisting former substance abusers to live productive lives without dependency on drugs or alcohol. In 2013, Eric was elected by Brooklynites to be the first African-American to serve as Brooklyn Borough President. http://www.brooklyn-usa.org/pages/Eric.html.

Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna.  Since 2001, Diana Reyna has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to her community through government service and advocacy as New York City Councilmember for twelve years. She is the first woman of Dominican descent elected to office in New York State. During her tenure she has garnered citywide attention for her tireless efforts powerfully and successfully championing for her district on issues like affordable housing, improving education, expanding youth and senior services. Diana Reyna was Chair to the Committee on Small Business and served as committee member on Finance, Land-Use, Sub-Committee on Zoning, Economic Development, Community Development. As Deputy Borough President, Diana Reyna will join Borough President Eric Adams to build sustainable communities focused on jobs; maintaining industrial and manufacturing economies and keeping neighborhoods affordable, safe and secure to continue to work together for a better Brooklyn. She envisions an innovative new park by decking the Brooklyn Queens Expressway expanding open space and reconnecting divided communities. She attended the Transfiguration School, St. Joseph's High School, and Pace University in Pleasantville, New York. http://www.brooklyn-usa.org/pages/Diana.html.

SPEAKER BIOS: Workshop Presenters

Ms. Lisa Bloodgood has worked as a community liaison and environmental advisor for Council Member Stephen Levin since 2011. In 2012 Levin enrolled the district in the NYC Participatory Budgeting Project and tasked Lisa with coordinating the project's inaugural year in the 33rd district. With three cycles under her belt, Lisa is one of the most senior Participatory Budgeting coordinators in the New York City Council. She sits on the Participatory Budgeting City Wide Steering Committee and the Coordinating Council Committee.

Ms. Cathy Carlson has volunteered many hours supporting her children’s schools and was active on those schools’ Parent Teacher Associations and School Leadership Teams. She has served in the capacity of PTA President or Treasurer at each of her children’s Elementary, Intermediate and High Schools. Additionally, Cathy has been a representative to the D31 District Leadership Team, Staten Island High School Presidents Council and the Citywide DLT High School Subcommittee. From 2011–2013 Cathy served as President of the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations (SIFPTA), an organization whose mission is to act as a liaison and channel communication among Staten Island Parent Teacher Associations, families and the education community. This organization provides information, training and support to every Staten Island Public School PTA, and awards over $30,000 in scholarships for high school seniors each year. Cathy currently acts in an advisory role to the SIFTPA, and chairs their 501c3 committee. Cathy also serves as a Board of Director of the Bruce G. Geary Foundation, an organization that grants financial assistance to many local non-profit organizations that advocate for and enhance the health of animals. Cathy holds a B.S. with a concentration in Accounting from Wagner College.

Ms. Ava Farkas is the director of community organizing for council member Antonio Reynoso. Prior to joining the council she worked as a community organizer on a city-wide living wage campaign.

Ms. Rachel Fine is the co-founder of PTAlink, a web-based resource center dedicated to improving the quality of education for all children in the NYC public school system by making PA/PTAs stronger and more effective. She developed PTAlink, which launched in September 2013, to facilitate the growth and success of the parent organizations and create a collaborative community across the city’s public schools by providing parent leaders with information and tools, as well as the opportunity to share experiences and best practices.
Rachel has extensive experience empowering NYC public school parent organizations to engage parents and improve education. At P.S. 321 in Brooklyn, she served as PTA co-president, was involved with numerous school committees and initiatives, co-developed and ran one of the school’s largest curriculum-enhancing and community-building events, and was an elected parent member of the School Leadership Team (SLT). Since 2011, she has been involved with the city’s Participatory Budgeting process – as an Education Committee facilitator and a District Committee member in City Council District 39, and as a member of the PBNCY Citywide Steering Committee, focusing on education and equity issues.  A former staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society and a former Assistant General Counsel at the Administration for Children’s Services, Rachel holds a B.A. from Columbia University and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. PTAlink.org

Ms. Jean Joachim is a wife and a mother of two sons and a rescued pug. Her first book, "Beyond the Bake Sale, the Ultimate School Fund-Raising Book," was a smashing success based on her 15 yearT of experience as an engaged NYC mom and past-PTA president at PS 87. The fund-raising events and activities in this book reflect fifteen years experience and fifteen years of making money and fifteen years of saving money. "We have made plenty of mistakes in our fund-raising efforts, but we never got discouraged. I have learned that it takes a year or two to really get an event to run smoothly. You have to have patience, be creative, listen to other people, and be open to suggestion. We started small with bake sales and grew over the years to huge events that made up to $60,000. But it didn't happen overnight." Since then, Jean has written non-fiction and fiction novels. Now she spends her days in New York City in the company of her characters, with a cup of tea and a secret stash of black licorice. Connect with Jean through email: sunnydaysbook@gmail.com, blog: http://jeanjoachim.blogspot.com or www.jeanjoachimbooks.com.

Mr. Neil Stevenson, Senior Staff Attorney, Economic Development Initiative, Lawyers Alliance for New York, 2004 – present. Columbia University School of Law, LL.M., 1982. University of Glasgow School of Law, LL.B., joint honors (law and economics), 1980. The Legal Aid Society, 2003 - 2004; Eaton & Van Winkle, 1982 - 2003. Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. Our network of pro bono lawyers from law firms and corporations and staff of experienced attorneys collaborate to deliver expert corporate, tax, real estate, employment, intellectual property and other legal services to community organizations. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, we help nonprofits to develop affordable housing, stimulate economic development, promote community arts and operate and advocate for vital programs for children and young people, the elderly, recent immigrants, and other low-income New Yorkers. NYS Attorney Registration #: 1887587. www.lany.org/