BRONX W www.BXTimes.com EEKLY February 2, 2020 8
Evan Bisnauth of Clason Point reads to a dog at the NYC ACC’s Books with Boroughbreds program.
Photo Courtesy Amanda Persaud
Clason Pt. child’s readings
soothe ‘man’s best friend’
BY JASON COHEN
When most people think of young children,
they picture them playing outside,
getting into mischief or totally glued to the
Xbox or computer.
But, Evan Bisnauth, 10, of Clason Point,
is not your typical youngster.
Since August 2019 Bisnauth has been a junior
volunteer at the NYC Animal Care Center’s
Books with Boroughbreds program.
The Manhattan Animal Care Center is
located at 326 E. 110th Street.
‘Books with Boroughbreds’ began in 2018
and has children, ages 5 and up, read to dogs
at the facility. Some of the youngsters participate
individually, while others are part
of organizations, such as school classes or a
Girl Scout troop.
Bisnauth, who reads to dogs at the center
every weekend, explained his passion for
man’s best friend began when he was a toddler.
He grew up surrounded by three dogs
and today, his pitbull; Milo is his right hand
man.
“I always wanted to work with animals
and dogs,” Bisnauth said. “I think they need
the most help.”
His mom, Amanda Persaud, explained
she saw how much of an impact dogs had
on him and knew he would enjoy working
alongside them.
Since he joined the reading group he has
become a better reader and the dogs are
more relaxed.
Bisnauth noted that sometimes it takes
30 minutes of reading before a dog calms
down.
Being he has a pitbull at home, he is comfortable
with all types of dogs at the facility.
“It takes a lot of patience and time if
you’re working with a really hard dog and
they’re really scared,” he said.
During the recent holiday season he and
his mom decided to give back to the ACC.
They launched a fundraiser where they
sold T-shirts and sweatshirts and raised
$1,000.
To keep people informed about what Bisnauth
was doing, Persaud uploaded photos
and videos to Facebook and Instagram.
Bisnauth explained that it’s a rewarding
experience, not only for the dogs, but for
himself. He makes the dogs happy and best
of all, the dogs can’t criticize his reading.
“They can’t judge me,” he stressed.
“They’re not able to give feedback.”
He noted that the one sad part about being
a volunteer is when you learn a dog you
were working with was euthanized.
The youngster explained that when he
started going to ACC he wasn’t looking for
attention, but rather wanted to give back to
man’s best friend.
He is glad he has been able to make a
difference and hopes to continue doing so
through high school.
According to Bisnauth, he is a science
fan and his favorite book to read to the dogs
is ‘Jurassic Park.’
He encourages other youngsters to volunteer
or donate supplies or blankets for
the dogs.
“I would like to get more kids involved,”
he said. “I want people to know that (shelter)
dogs need help.”
First Latina woman to head
major Bronx development NFP
BY KYLE VUILLE
A Bronx native was named the fi rst
Latina woman to head the South Bronx
Economic Development Corporation,
otherwise known as SoBro.
Lourdes Zapata, 54, who originally
hailed from Prospect and East 156th
Street has returned to her home borough.
She took SoBro’s leadership reins in
August of 2019, She has a long history
working with other nonprofi t organizations.
Zapata was a director of community
development in 1997 and worked on several
major affordable housing developments
in the south Bronx and Harlem.
After moving to the suburbs, Zapata
further honed her skills in Newburgh
as a community development director
and then returned to SoBro for a second
time.
Before accepting her third SoBro stint
Zapata worked as a chief diversity offi cer,
which she said has helped with her role
as CEO at SoBro.
“When the former CEO stepped down,
they asked me once again if I would be interested
in returning to SoBro,” Zapata
said.
Since her return to SoBro, Zapata
said she has been getting back to living
and working in the Bronx.
“It’s been a lot of reintroducing myself
to the community and putting my ear to
the ground,” Zapata said. “I want to get
my Bronx game on.”
Zapata has lots of plans for the future
and has been working strategically to
put the Bronx where it should be developmentally
and economically.
She explained that during the 50 years
that SoBro has been in business, the corporation’s
objectives are to look at things
like community development, business
programming, workforce issues amongst
others.
“We’re not just trying to provide a service,”
Zapata said. “We’re interested in
providing the best quality service.”
Zapata said she plans to strengthen
partnerships, reestablish partnerships
and support all the great things going on.
She touched on examining redevelopment
and housing in the area as well. She
is astonished at the growth in the number
of emerging artists and musicians in the
area.
With regards to her position at an economic
development fi rm, as well as coming
from an low-income family, she has
taken a neutral stance between community
growth and gentrifi cation.
She made reference to the gentrifi cation
that happened in Brooklyn over the
past ten years, where people who work
in Manhattan, pushed out lower income
families.
“Growth is a good thing, but it needs to
be responsible,” Zapata said. “We have an
opportunity to avoid those problems if we
do it the right way, we need to listen to the
dialogue and the social discourse.”
She emphasized there’s a need for luxury
housing and low-income housing.
“There’s room for it all,” Zapata added.
Though she deals with the complexities
of the community, Zapata mentioned
a bumper sticker she has in her offi ce that
says, ‘You’re always from the Bronx.”
“There’s a certain pride in the borough,
and that’s part of the reason I enjoy
working at SoBro,” Zapata said. “And I’m
honored to play an integral role in all the
great things we’re going through and I’m
excited to see those advancements.”
Lourdes Zapata poses for the camera at the 21st annual Bronx Business Opportunities Expo at the
Metropolitian College of New York back in September. Zapata was appointed CEO/President at SoBro,
an economic development corporation back in August. Photo courtesy of Lourdes Zapata
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