Editorial
The little church and it’s big impact
Though several fi refi ghters suffered
minor injuries, no one else was physically
hurt by Saturday’s six-alarm
inferno in the East Village that consumed
a vacant building and the adjacent Middle
Collegiate Church.
But it’s clear that many have been spiritually
injured by the devastating blaze, which
severely damaged a 128-year-old institution
in the neighborhood with a progressive,
loving congregation whose roots date back
nearly 400 years to the city’s colonial period.
Few realize just how important Middle
Collegiate Church is to the history of New
York. Its ancestry began at the southern tip
of Manhattan in what was then the Dutch
colony of New Amsterdam.
Decades after the English took control of
the colony and renamed it New York, Middle
Collegiate received a royal charter from King
William III. It remained a faithful institution
through the American Revolution, and rang
out its bell on July 9, 1776 to mark the United
States’ formal declaration of independence,
signed fi ve days earlier in Philadelphia.
That bell, now known as New York’s Liberty
Bell, has remained with the church as it
moved out of the Financial District to the East
Village back in 1892. It has been rung every
time a new president is inaugurated, or when
a president has died. We hope the church fi nds
a way to ring the bell on Jan. 20, 2021, when
President-elect Biden takes offi ce.
Over the last half-century, Middle
Collegiate Church — following the great
commandment to “love your neighbor as
yourself” — became a beacon of the LGBTQ
movement in New York. When other
religious denominations condemned and
banished, they welcomed the LGBTQ community
with open arms, and joined them in
the fi ght for equal rights.
After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks,
Middle Collegiate Church opened the doors
to those seeking refuge from the devastation.
Amid the ongoing pandemic, they gave of
themselves what they could to comfort the sick
and provide for those economically impacted.
Now, their church lies in ruins — yet the
congregation and its leaders show no despair.
They resolve to rebuild and keep their
mission going, because it is truly greater than
any building could contain.
The faithful community of Middle Collegiate
Church, as proud, loving and necessary
a New York institution as one could be,
deserve your help. Give what you can to their
rebuilding effort.
We encourage you all to donate at middlechurch.
org.
Op-ed
Parent engagement
for a remote world
BY RICHARD A. CARRANZA
As we approach the end of an unprecedented
year, I refl ect on the
past eight months with a deep
sense of gratitude and awe for the unwavering
commitment parents have shown to
their children and New York City. I always
say parents are our partners in everything
we do, and at no point has that ever been
more true than throughout the Coronavirus
pandemic. Each of you has gone above
and beyond during this crisis, and your
continued investment and engagement in
our school communities has been vital as
we move forward together.
As a parent myself, I know how challenging
it can be even in normal times to feel
pulled in different directions simultaneously.
In this moment, it seems as though society’s
expectations of parents has increased
tenfold—and we need you to know we are
here to support you every step of the way.
We are expanding every effort to lift up and
empower parents as our partners for the
good of our children and this city.
In that spirit, I am proud to announce the
launch of Parent University: a new online
platform that offers pre-recorded courses,
live events, and activities to help families
connect and support students at every grade
band, in multiple languages.
We know our families are busier than ever,
and this platform is designed to meet the
ongoing needs of parents through a variety
of on-demand resources that harness best
FILE PHOTO
practices across multiple subject areas and
grade levels. We invite all families across
the fi ve boroughs to create a free account
and register for workshops, attend events,
access trainings, and more through the Parent
University website.
There are currently more than 95 courses
offered through the program that cover a
wide range of topics. From reading strategies
for students with disabilities and help
multiplying fractions to learning how to
use Google Classroom and preparing for
PTA elections, there is something on Parent
University for everyone.
Parent University will also provide even
more ways for us to share important news,
updates, and information with families. I am
so excited that this new platform will take
our efforts to communicate vital information
to parents and guardians one step further
during this crisis and beyond.
Now more than ever, it is critically important
that we fi nd creative new ways to lift
up our families and strengthen our school
communities—and that’s what Parent University
is all about. This crisis has demanded
so much fl exibility and patience from you,
and we are here to meet you where you are.
Our commitment is to empower parents as
partners throughout the learning journey,
and I hope you will take time to explore the
Parent University website, access resources,
and register for an upcoming workshop
athttps://parentu.schools.nyc/.
Richard A. Carranza is the New York
City Schools Chancellor.
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