Beep partners with Spectrum
to host backpack giveaway
BROOKLYN GOES BACK TO SCHOOL: Parents and children were treated to free backpacks, school supplies, performances and more at the borough
president’s fi nal “Summer Wednesday,” co-hosted by Spectrum and Kings Plaza. Photos by Caroline Ourso
COURIER LIFE, SEPTEMBER 17-23, 2021 25
BY LEOCCIANO CALLAO
Going back to school in
style!
As kiddos geared up for
a new school year, Brooklyn
Borough Hall partnered with
big-name businesses to host
a big back-to-school bash in
Downtown Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Borough President
and Democratic mayoral
nominee Eric Adams joined
Spectrum and Kings Plaza
to co-host the fi rst “Welcome
Back Brooklyn Summer
Wednesday Back to School
Event” on Wednesday, Sept. 8
— one week later than originally
scheduled due to Hurricane
Ida. The afternoon affair
concluded the borough
president’s weekly “Summer
Wednesday” extravaganzas.
The Wednesday afternoon
giveaway was made possible
by generous donations from
the Diana Bagrationi Foundation
and Target, which also
donated school supplies to fi ll
the bags. At the end of the day,
more than 400 bags were distributed
to local students, who
also received school supplies,
including crayons, pens, spiral
notebooks, glue sticks,
folders, pencil sharpeners,
colored pencils, and more.
Brooklynites gathered at
Borough Hall Plaza at noon
and enjoyed live music and
free backpacks given by Spectrum.
Vice President Rodney
Chapel and Group Vice President
Camille Joseph-Goldman
from the State of Government
Affairs were also present at
the event, as well as various
Spectrum and Borough Hall
representatives.
“This year’s back-toschool
distributions signal a
welcome return for New York
City students, who have been
forced to endure so much during
the COVID-19 pandemic,”
Adams said in a statement.
“These events will help set
students up for success in the
coming school year as they return
to in-person classes.”
“We are proud to partner
with Spectrum, Kings Plaza,
the Diana Bagrationi Foundation,
and Target on this
year’s backpack distribution,
and look forward to continuing
to support our students
amid such an unprecedented
school-year,” he added.
The event also featured a
mobile vaccination van, offering
free shots of the Pfi zer
vaccine to New Yorkers aged
12 and up, hosted in partnership
with the NYC Test &
Trace Corps.
The beep’s “Summer
Wednesday” program featured
cooking demos, health
fairs, live music, and more.
At the back-to-school bash,
young artist-activists from
Ifetayo performed dance, poetry,
and spoken word.
“We were so excited to
join the Brooklyn Borough
President’s Offi ce to help welcome
NYC students back to
school,” said Ifetayo Cultural
Arts Academy Executive Director
Naima Oyo. “At Ifetayo
we start with the question,
‘How are the children?’
These celebratory events
will help to ensure that our
young people are kicking off
the year surrounded by love
and joy.”