Grants

FUND FOR COLUMBIA COUNTY GIVES AWARD

Haitian Community Development Project (HCDP) received $2000.00 grant for consultancy.

Haitian Community Development Project in Niverville has received a grant of $2000.00 to support its music, art & cultural awareness and other programs from The Fund for Columbia County, a fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Announcement of the grant was made by Jennifer Dowley, President of Berkshire Taconic, whose Board of Directors approved the grant on May 2008.

Carline Seide-Murphy, Coordinator of HCDP, said the grant would be used to support a 2 hour period for 15 week music program. The program is at the First Presbyterian Church Hudson every Saturday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. For the past 2 years Ms. Cathy Morris has been instructing mostly from Haitian families a class of 5 to 10 students every week. Their parents are French/Creole speakers with some limited English skills. Cathy's patience and ability to communicate with the students and their parents in a respectful manner, her generous contribution of free one on one time with students who required extra attention had made the program very accommodating to the needs of these families. Transportation when needed and weekly refreshments are also provided.

The Fund for Columbia County was established in 1998 by a group of Columbia County citizens to help nonprofit organization in northwest, central and southern Columbia County, with capacity building projects that better enable them to carry out their mission. For more information please contact Berkshire Taconic at 271 Main Street, Suite 3, Great Barrington, MA, 800-969-2823, info@berkshiretaconic.org or visit www.berkshiretaconic.org.

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A grant of $1,500.00 was received August 2007 from Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

HCDP was also informed of the approval of a grant in the amount of $980 from the Columbia/Greene Council on the Arts: Twin Counties Cultural Fund. This grant helps HCDP covers in part expenses related to the annual International Dinner that takes place at the First Presbyterian Church in Hudson, NY. and other events.

HCDP was recently informed of the approval of its request from the New York State Council for the Humanities for a grant in the amount of $2,500 to cover, in part, the cost of these proposed events.

A grant of $750.00 was awarded from the Fund for Columbia County of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation to the Haitian Community Development Project, Inc or HCDP to fund its music/Piano program. Announcement of the grant was made by Jennifer Dowley, President of Berkshire Taconic, whose Board of Directors approved the grant on May 3, 2006.

This grant will cover, in part, the expenses incurred during a 30 week period which include instructor’s fees, refreshments and supplies. Cathy Morris, a Julliard graduate and violinist, has been instructing a group of Haitian/American children two hours a week at the First Presbyterian Church on Warren Street Hudson for the past 6 months. Carline Murphy, Program Coordinator and the members of the organization, had selected Ms. Morris as her ability to communicate in French had helped the children with limited English skills tremendously. In addition, she donated her time to meet these children on a one on one basis to cover areas where they need extra help. This particular music program was requested by the parents of these children. These families are members of the Haitian Community and participants of the ESL class who want their children to learn to read music, and to perform in church related activities. Culturally, most of the children attending this music class are not allowed or their parents are not comfortable in a more secular environment for them to take part in other programs available in the community. This program will help prepare them with the basic skills, and it will help develop their confidence as they mature and assimilate into the larger community while maintaining their cultural identity.

The Rock Apostolic Church meets every Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church on Warren Street, Hudson, with Reverend Eddy Bazaar its pastor officiating in French and Creole. The participants of this music program will be performing this fall for the church fifth anniversary.

The Fund for Columbia County was established in 1998 by a group of Columbia County citizens to help nonprofit organizations in northwest, central and southern Columbia County, with capacity building projects that better enable them to carry out their mission. For more information please contact Berkshire Taconic at 271 Main Street, Suite 3, Great Barrington, MA 800-969-2823, info@berkshiretaconic.org or visit www.berkshiretaconic.org.

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The Greene County Council on the Arts and the Columbia County Council on the Arts are pleased to announce the recipients of regrant awards through the Twin Counties Cultural Fund Decentralization Program. The 2 counties have been awarded $40,600 in funding support of cultural programming and activities for 2006.

Among the recipients is the Haitian Community Development Project (HCDP) for an International evening with culinary, visual arts, dance and music.

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Presbyterian Committee Awarded Grant to Haitian Community Development Projects

We are thankful to the Presbytery Committee of Albany for the grant. The First Presbyterian Church in Hudson has been to cornerstone for the Haitians in Hudson and surrounding areas for many years.

Under the guidance of Reverend Leif Erickson and the support of Reverend James Mosher, a grant application was submitted to the National Committee of the Self-Development of People (SDOP) for funding on behalf of the Haitian Community Development Project (HCDP). An award of $9,350 was granted to the HCDP to help its effort in becoming a non-profit organization.

On behalf of the Hat ian Community Development Project, I would like to thank Tom Froese and other members of the Fourth Down Association for their generous donation.

As a newly formed organization with the support of the First Presbyterian Church, the Council on the Arts and other organizations, HCDP would like to continue its efforts to reach out to the immigrant population in this area.

I and Karen Frishkoff, Captain Medina of the Salvation Army and the diverse ethnic groups that participated this year in the fourth annual International Culinary Art and Cultural Festival are grateful for the support received from the local merchants on Warren Street, Price Chopper, Shop-Rite and other local farmers, the Hudson Area Library, Twin County Cultural fund and so on.

Regardless of the struggles encountered in our everyday life, the goodness in people will shine through from time to time if the opportunity of given. I would like to say a special thanks to Hank Greenhouse for his recent donation and to Nina Sklansky. Twice a week she is at the First Presbyterian Church on Warren Street with me teaching English as a Second Language to the Haitians. As a volunteer she is putting her French skills to good use which is very helpful to this population. At the same time, in addition to French, she will also acquire knowledge of another language: Creole.

As one can see someone somewhere is always ready and willing to let their goodness shine. However, more help is needed. Whatever you can do or give or make available to this organization will be greatly appreciated and welcome.

Carline Murphy
Hudson

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On behalf of the Hat ian Community Development Project, I would like to thank Tom Froese and other members of the Fourth Down Association for their generous donation.

As a newly formed organization with the support of the First Presbyterian Church, the Council on the Arts and other organizations, HCDP would like to continue its efforts to reach out to the immigrant population in this area.

I and Karen Frishkoff, Captain Medina of the Salvation Army and the diverse ethnic groups that participated this year in the fourth annual International Culinary Art and Cultural Festival are grateful for the support received from the local merchants on Warren Street, Price Chopper, Shop-Rite and other local farmers, the Hudson Area Library, Twin County Cultural fund and so on.

Regardless of the struggles encountered in our everyday life, the goodness in people will shine through from time to time if the opportunity of given. I would like to say a special thanks to Hank Greenhouse for his recent donation and to Nina Sklansky. Twice a week she is at the First Presbyterian Church on Warren Street with me teaching English as a Second Language to the Haitians. As a volunteer she is putting her French skills to good use which is very helpful to this population. At the same time, in addition to French, she will also acquire knowledge of another language: Creole.

As one can see someone somewhere is always ready and willing to let their goodness shine. However, more help is needed. Whatever you can do or give or make available to this organization will be greatly appreciated and welcome.

Carline Murphy
Hudson

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HCDP WILL USE GRANT TO START COMMUNITY CENTER

Funds totaling $20,000 received from the Presbyterian Committee on the Self Development of People will be used to create a center to be used by the Haitians and other groups.

Up until now, the HCDP has been using the church basement for their activities including, immigrant services, ESOL, advocacy and cultural activities. The advantage of having a community center is that people won't think that the HCDP is restricted to church members.