By Gregg McQueen

The New York City public school system is expanding access to Gifted and Talented programs, making them available in every school district for the first time.

At a press conference on April 14, Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor David C. Banks announced that the Department of Education (DOE) would add over 1,000 additional Gifted and Talented slots for the 2022-2023 school year.

“For far too long, we had districts in our city that did not have gifted and talented programs,” said Adams. “We are giving every child in every zip code a chance that has been denied too often.”

Adams said the city DOE will also make it easier for parents to enroll kids in the program, by providing two entry points in elementary school – kindergarten and third grade.

In expanding the program to all 32 school districts, the DOE will bring the total number of seats citywide to 2,500.

“In the past, some of our families felt they might have to fight tooth and nail to even get access or be considered for these programs. Then, if they were invited to attend, they were told that their children would have to travel a long distance because there was no program available in their home district,” Banks remarked.

Among the communities to receive new Gifted and Talented slots are Soundview in the Bronx, East Flatbush in Brooklyn. Far Rockaway in Queens, and Port Richmond in Staten Island.

Read more: Gifted and Talented program expanded | Manhattan Times

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The post Gifted and Talented program expanded | Manhattan Times first appeared on Washington Heights, Inwood & Harlem Online | The Uptown Collective.

* This article was originally published here

Talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor Oprah Winfrey is set to delivery the undergraduate commencement address at her alma mater, the historically Black Tennessee State University (TSU). The ceremony will take place on May 6 in Nashville at Hale Stadium.

“Commencement is always a special time for our students and their families, as it marks a major milestone in our students’ lives and a sign of success for them,” said TSU, Dr. President Glenda Glover. “To have Ms. Winfrey as our speaker will be a life changing moment for graduates and the University. She is someone who has walked the TSU campus as a student, sat in some of the same classroom, and knows first-hand the value of a TSU education.”

Winfrey attended (TSU) on a full scholarship, majoring in communications. While at TSU, Winfrey landed a job at Nashville’s WLAC-TV (now WTVF-TV), where she was both the youngest news anchor and the first black female news anchor. Despite being one credit short of her degree, Winfrey decided to leave school and Nashville to pursue her dream of being a broadcast journalist. However, in 1986, she returned to submit her final paper and officially graduated from TSU.

The commencement ceremony will be live streamed. Click here for more information.

TSU was founded in 1912 and is the only state-funded historically Black university in Tennessee and has over 8,000 students.

The post Oprah Winfrey to deliver commencement address at HBCU alma mater appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

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Jamel Shabazz is one of the greatest street photographers of all time. You know his work even if you might not know his name. His stirring images of everyday people on the streets of New York lovingly capture the vibrancy and resiliency of his subjects. With that said, make your way to The Bronx Museum of the Arts (1040 Grand Concurse) ASAP to catch this expansive and joyous exhibit.

The exhibition, on view through September 4, features over 150 photographs by the legendary photographer. This is the largest retrospective of the artist’s work to date. Don’t miss it!

For more: Uptown Art Alert: Jamel Shabazz: Eyes on the Street @ The Bronx Museum of the Arts

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The post Uptown Art Alert: Jamel Shabazz: Eyes on the Street @ The Bronx Museum of the Arts first appeared on Washington Heights, Inwood & Harlem Online | The Uptown Collective.

* This article was originally published here

I don’t like wearing masks. No one does. I love seeing people laugh and smile. But I will never understand how a measure to protect your health and others became a major flashpoint. The price of freedom is high. And it isn’t wearing some cloth over your face.

— Dan Rather (@DanRather) April 19, 2022

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The post The Tweet of the Week: #Facts first appeared on Washington Heights, Inwood & Harlem Online | The Uptown Collective.

* This article was originally published here

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La Lupe was a force of nature. It was with good reason that the Cuban Afro-Latina songstress from the Bronx was known as the “Queen of Latin Soul.” La Lupe was absolutely unforgettable and in her heyday graced the stage of Carnegie Hall, headlined at The Garden and even starred on Broadway. Genias in Music: La Lupe, by Latino USA, is a fascinating deep dive into the life and career of this important but often misunderstood giant of Latin music. Enjoy!

Check out: Genias in Music: La Lupe

We invite you to subscribe to the weekly Uptown Love newsletter, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter & Instagram or e-mail us at UptownCollective@gmail.com.

The post Listen: Genias in Music: La Lupe first appeared on Washington Heights, Inwood & Harlem Online | The Uptown Collective.

* This article was originally published here