When you think of honey, you may see a plastic jar shaped like a bear. You may think of the black and yellow fuzzy buzzing pollinators that create rows of hexagonal containers. 

However, there is a different way of making this sweetener, that may be less known, in Taulabé, Honduras.

Marcela Castellanos, one of the owners of La Casa del Dulce, works hard with her staff and family to provide the citizens of Honduras with sweet treats. 

She sells traditional Honduran breads such as roscias, alborotos – hardened balls of popcorn covered in honey – and batidos, honey that is mixed with other ingredients until it hardens from friction applied. 

When asked by a consumer why the juice she sells was not sour or acidic, Marcela Castellanos smiled.“We call it guarapo. The juice, with time, becomes guarapo,” Castellanos explained in her native language Spanish.

Guarapo refers to the sourness of the juice once it has been sitting for a few days. Castellanos explained that everything in her company starts from the very beginning. 

“We cut everything here freshly. Vendors that have guarapo cut the sugar cane and let it sit for a long time. The cane gets this favor of “chicha,” as we call it here. Not here because it’s fresh cane,” she continued.

La Casa del Dulce starts their process from the very beginning. From planting the sugar cane to harvesting it and crushing out the juice to create some sweet treats.

“The business has existed for 30 years. The business of my father-in-law. My husband and I have been here for about eight years,” said Castellanos.

The company has four workers on her property tending to production, as Castellanos tends to customers in her store right on the property. 

“The store out front is new because we wanted to keep our workers and customers safe during the pandemic,” explained Castellanos.

Every worker has different responsibilities. Some fill models, others make sure the honey doesn’t sit in one bath for too long, others make sure the sugar cane is actually being crushed to extract the necessary juice. 

“I put the cane in this machine called the ‘trapiche’,” said Jesus Sanchez, a worker at the production site. “From here the juice travels through this tube into a pot that heats it up. It has to go through five different pots of different temperatures to then go into the models.”

However, the sugar cane’s use does not end there. After the juice is extracted, the leftover carcass is dried out in the hot climate of Taulabé. From there, it is introduced to the engulfing flames that are maintaining the heat for the boiling sugary liquid. Through a cloud of suffocating smoke that makes your throat and eyes itch, the juice starts to turn into honey.

From being a clear liquid, the sugar from the pressed sugar cane starts to solidify as it moves from pot to pot. When it has reached the right point of solidification, the substance is transferred to a tub where someone is constantly mixing it with a wooden spoon and picked up and placed in a model with a metal shovel.

“We use a shovel because it is a lot of product and the wood doesn’t change the flavor of the honey stick,” said Sanchez. 

With the same shovel, they lift out product from the bath and start placing it in models. Once filled they are placed on a table that is felt to cool and harden. From there they wrap the honey and prepare it for customers to buy.

“We also sell honey to other distributors. So we offer them a space to sell their products because they use our honey. We support each other even though we are different companies,” said Castellanos.

Many customers say they go out of their way to visit La Casa del Dulce.

“The products she makes are really good. When my family comes from the United States they always take things with them,” said a loyal customer Dayanara Torres in Spanish. “ It takes us 45 minutes to get here, but it is always worth it for the sweets.”

On May 10, community members gathered at Franklin and Lexington avenues in Brooklyn to bring awareness about possible bus stop removals. 

According to residents, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York plans to remove the Ryerson/Dekalb and Grand/Lafayette Avenue B38 Bus Stops.

These bus stops are important to the community for the seniors, handicapped, and college students in the area. 

Melva Hatcher, who is a resident of Brooklyn and has health problems, spoke about why she wants to see the bus route continue to operate. 

“I have arthritis, I don’t walk with a cane, thank God, and if I have to get off at Foster Avenue, I feel threatened and I can’t run to any place and if I fall I can’t get up. I’m not as bad as others, but it’s bad enough that if I have to walk all the way to Foster Avenue especially at night, it’s just too long of a distance,” Hatcher said. 

Hatcher shared how a neighbor struggles, as well, and uses a walker, emphasizing how critical the bus route is to the community.

The removal of the bus stop impacts the elderly and handicapped, but also students and community members who rely on public transportation to get them to work, school and appointments. 

Marline Gooding, who is 73 and has lived in Brooklyn her whole life in the same apartment, shares the dangers if the bus stops are removed.  

“Guess where I walk? The bike lane, I rather take my chances with my life walking the bike lane. I wait for the light to change and walk the bike lane and I rather do that than walk pass the other bus stop that is in a dangerous area because you walk on the sidewalk near the bus stop where there is fencing and police cars that are parked perpendicular and I don’t want to be trapped between the cars and the fencing where people would hide and wait to attack and steal from others,” said Gooding. 

Safety at the bus stops are also top of mind for many commuters. 

“Anybody who’s maybe hiding between any of these cars can come out and hurt me or kill me and guess what the police won’t even know I’m dead or hurt until it’s too late,” saidGooding. 

Bus stops in the area see high traffic. Removing some would likely cause overcrowding at other stops. 

Marry Olf, who is in her 80s and a resident of the apartment near the bus stop, says that the MTA need to hear the residents’ voices.   

“The transit needs to do better than what they’re doing and they’re thinking about the wrong things. Removing the bus stops will serve no purpose for the people and I’ve never heard anyone say we should remove the bus stops. Don’t take it away from the start because you have all these elderly people and handicapped people here that depend on the bus stops,” said Marry Olf. 

After much anticipation, the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation, a new part of the American Museum of Natural History announced in 2014, opened on May 4. 

Scott L. Bok, Chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees, shared what the new building has to offer. 

“We are thrilled to open this magnificent new resource and facility, especially as the city is more fully emerging from the pandemic period and people are eager for opportunities to learn, to be amazed, and to be inspired,” he said. 

The center is 230,000 square feet in size, with the project itself costing $465 million. The building features seven floors in total, including six above ground and one below ground.

The building itself was designed by Studio Gang, and features architecture inspired by canyons of the Southwestern United States. 

Jeanne Gang, the founder of Studio Gang, shares about how the design is meant to connect with visitors. 

“The Gilder Center is designed to invite exploration and discovery that is not only emblematic of science, but also such a big part of being human. It aims to draw everyone in—all ages, backgrounds, and abilities—to share the excitement of learning about the natural world,” she said. 

Gang also explained how attendees can experience the center at their own pace.

“Stepping inside the large day-lit atrium, you are offered glimpses of the different exhibits on multiple levels. You can let your curiosity lead you. And with the many new connections that the architecture creates between buildings, it also improves your ability to navigate the Museum’s campus as a whole.” 

The Gilder Center houses the Susan and Peter J. Solomon Family Insectarium, which highlights the importance of insects on the planet. Eighteen species of live insects, digital exhibits, models, and pinned specimens are on display, demonstrating the vitality of insects in different ecosystems, as well as their evolution and ways in which they benefit humanity. 

Additionally, the center features the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, a space containing 1,000 live butterflies of 80 different species and information about them. 

Hazel Davies, an expert on butterflies who has worked at the museum since 1995 and been its director of living exhibits since 2005, discusses what the vivarium has to offer. 

“The butterfly vivarium is a really immersive space for the visitors, you come in and you walk around a room full of butterflies, so it’s a really great opportunity to have a personal experience interaction with an insect, and butterflies make great ambassador insects because they’re so popular,” she said. 

Davies went on to describe the necessity of maintaining the vivarium’s conditions.

“The room is kind of like summer in New York, it’s about 75-78 degrees, it’s quite humid. All of the butterfly species we have are from farms in more tropical areas, and so we are approximating their natural habitat, and butterflies generally need to be warm to fly, that’s why you don’t see butterflies flying around in New York in the winter.” 

Davies also talked about the importance of butterflies and what the exhibit can teach people about them. 

“This is a great opportunity to learn a lot of different information about butterflies and insects in general. One of the great things about the space is that we have a wonderful crew of staff and volunteers who are here to answer questions and help you get more out of your visit. We also have a lot of interesting graphics where you can read bits of information to find out more about butterflies,” she said. 

According to Davies, the vivarium serves as a way to observe what butterflies do in their ordinary habitat.

“It’s great that you can see butterflies here doing lots of different behaviors that you would naturally. You can also learn about threats that butterflies face. It’s great for people of all ages, because kids can learn just about their senses, and how they have all the same senses that we have, but in different parts of their body.” 

The Gilder Center is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and is included with admission to the museum. The butterfly vivarium is an additional cost.

The latest fashion exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum examines the legacy of fashion designer Thierry Mugler Couturissime with his innovative and fashion-forward design. 

While celebrities and luminaries packed the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1 for the annual Met Gala uptown, guests packed the Brooklyn Museum for the fashion exhibit. 

With the excitement surrounding the Met Gala that week, there was much talk surrounding fashion at the Thierry Mugler exhibit, making Brooklyn Museum’s new Thierry Mugler exhibit right on time for fashion lovers and critics who couldn’t make it into the Met Gala this year. 

Mugler is an iconic French designer known for creating daring and innovative designs of the late twentieth century. His bold silhouettes and one-of-a-kind material set him apart and set the precedent for what designer fashion will later be known for. 

The exhibit featured over hundreds of different looks and designs, sketches, videos, photos, and outfits. His classic gowns have recently been worn by Beyoncé, Cardi B, Lady Gaga, and Kim Kardashian. Proving Mugler’s influence is still prevalent today despite his recent passing in 2022.

“Each room it’s like walking to multiple different worlds,” says fashionista Mable Loimer, who came to the exhibit on May 1. 

Every room you go into has a new story that makes the exhibit feel as if you were going on an adventure. With his multiple iconic red carpet looks his work was truly unorthodox in creative materials. 

“Clothes give us an opportunity to describe to other people who we are,”  says Meli Phet, creator and designer of Measure Life clothing brand who attended the exhibit on May 1. 

Mugler’s imagination was shown through his work. Many said he understood how to put his personality into iconic looks. 

“I’m actually on break and decided to explore this exhibit. I do this often as my form of escapism to give me a break from the real world and step into this fantasy world,” sayid Linda Renolds, a help desk manager working at the Brooklyn Museum.

There is a beauty of nature in the Bronx, but sometimes, over policing and silencing the ones who speak out against environmental racism is unfortunate.

This was where the CUNY Graduate Center stepped in, collaborating with the Futures Initiative for their recent event – Why can’t we breathe? Fighting environmental racism in the Bronx, which explored environmentalism and intersectionality.

The event on May 3 was hosted by the Futures Initiative founder Cathy Davidson of the CUNY Graduate Center.

The panel acknowledged how striving to better the scenery for the Bronx has come with extreme backlash from authorities of these marginalized groups. Panelists shared how environmental alternatives can better residents’ lives in the Bronx. 

This sentiment was echoed by Odalys Burgoa, member of Bronx Land Trust, who spoke on the panel about how environmental racism has affected various communities in the Bronx. 

“There is an activeness in creating these changes in Hunts Point, Bronx from the people of self gentrifiers,” said Burgoa. “I analyzed the situation between self-gentrifiers of Hunts Point  and the people that have to breathe the after effects of their actions, with the more companies that come in the less amount of alternatives can be served to the underprivileged.”

Guests were excited to see this part of the meeting to hear from leaders actively working on the nature side to help their community to combat the wrongdoings of environmental racism.

“Seeing amazing people like Odalys Burgoa, someone who’s father worked for truck federation finally speaking out against the atrocities that affect her neighborhood is spectacular,” said Everett Davidson, an event attendee. “ Having people like her on the forefront of  these concerns can give hope for a better future.

Panelists shared the narrative of pollution and how it affects marginalized communities. “The most powerful predictor of where the most industrial pollution is – race is the most potent predictor,” echoed panelists. 

According to TeachforAmerica,org, The South Bronx has some of the nation’s worst levels of air pollution. Asthma is routine for students of  Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School, designated area in the south Bronx 

 “In the Bronx, everyone knows people who have asthma and it should not be that way at all,” writes Jasmine Pena in the article.

The concept of environmental racism and community members’ non profits in the Bronx being aware of pollution and infrastructure issues to marginalized communities was confirmed by  Cathy Davidson

“As us as the inhibitors of the earth, we as its subjects must be able to help the other inhibitors of the earth as well and make sure they have the means to survive especially in this impoverished community,” said Cathy Davidson.

At the end of the meeting, Burgoa acknowledged the beauty of community meetings like these.

“Being a guest speaker at this event is a beautiful thing to see and be a part of,” said Burgoa.

Davidson echoed a similar message.

“Community matters, we can’t do it alone,” she said.

On May 4, LOOK Cinemas opened a new flagship movie theater in New York City. The theater opening comes after one of the most profitable weekends for movies this year, a trend that continues to rise. 

The movie industry is set to make its biggest comeback since the end of the pandemic as more people begin to move back into movie theaters countrywide. 

The opening of the LOOK Cinema came during a very busy weekend, with it being the first week of the new Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 movie and the continuation of the profitable Super Mario Bros movie. It is fair to say that the theater was busy. 

“It was a busy weekend for sure. I think we had a lot of people who had never been to a dine-in theater come and experience it for the first time,” said Katherine Genetile, who works at the new LOOK cinema. 

This was a great weekend for movies, but it was also the perfect storm for the new cinema as a lot of things came together for the opening. 

“I think there was a lot that played into it. You have the nice weather and two movies that everyone is really excited about, and I think it is not everyday you get to see a new movie theater,” said Genetile. 

LOOK Cinemas was not the only movie theater having success this weekend, as the Alpine Cinema in Brooklyn was also busy. 

 “Yeah, it was great to have a lot of people here again… I think this is one of the better weekends since the end of the pandemic for sure,” said Gian Alioto, a manager who works at Alpine. 

The Alpine Cinema is one of the oldest movie theaters in Brooklyn, as they are celebrating their 103rd year of being open. 

But like a lot of movie theaters, they had a lot of trouble during the pandemic and even struggled after the pandemic was over but the past two years have seen a resurgence in people going to see a movie  and the Alpine is coming back strong, as Alioto explains.

 “It was tough for a while after the pandemic you know not a lot of people felt comfortable leaving their houses… but now I think what is happening is that there is that charm of going to see a movie again and I think like a lot of things it was something that people missed because of the pandemic,” said Alioto 

It is not only employees of movie theaters who are excited to be back, but also moviegoers are just as, if not more excited to be back.  

“It’s a fun way to spend the day, you know… going to see a movie with your friends and family is just something fun to do,” said Jessica Schiavo, a moviegoer who just saw the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie. 

“I think that it’s not only so much different when you’re watching a movie at home than when you watch it in a theater…It was nice to see people in the movie theater again,” said Schiavo. 

Movie theaters are posed for a lot of action during the summer months as new and fan favorite movies are set to come out. As more people seem more willing to see them not from their couches but from a theater chair.

On April 24, organizers of the “We Protect Us” movement gathered participants at the Mayday Center in Bushwick to prepare for an upcoming grassroots feminism event on May 4. Participants ranged from current CUNY members to public supporters. 

The event on May 4, happening at the CUNY Graduate Center, is a rally meant to bring attention to sexual abuse and the victims of the past and present. The “We Protect Us” movement was created by CUNY members and alumni looking to stand against sexual harassment.

“Often, when a victim speaks out against abuse, they are ignored while their abuser is protected from allegations and discipline. We stand up for those that universities won’t, so ‘We Protect Us’ is our way of taking a stand for those who have been silenced,” said Kelsey Chatlosh, a CUNY professor and co-organizer of the event.

During the event on April 24, participants were taught a chant inspired by the Chilean feminism group, LASTESIS, called “A Rapist in Your Path.” The chant is meant to be a rallying cry that calls out the oppressive systems and patriarchy responsible for allowing sexual abuse against women, non-binary, and trans people.

“This chant was a pillar of the ‘Me Too’ movement from 2019, and it’s become a global feminism war cry, it’s a powerful chant that makes it so that everyone that hears it is forced to think about these heavy topics and the reality that there are institutions that hurt us,” said Aqua Ruis, DJ and co-organizer of the event. 

According to RAINN, “most college-age victims do not report sexual violence on campus. This is especially the case for college-age women. Only about 20% of female college students report sexual assaults to authorities.”

This is the reality that many sexual assault victims face, even when they do report their abuse to authorities there are little to no repercussions for their abusers. In most cases, institutions such as colleges fail to report rape statistics.

According to RAINN, “By law, U.S. colleges and universities must file annual reports that include statistics for sexually based crimes — but not all do. The American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) 2016 analysis of the Clery Act found that 89% of 11,000 colleges failed to disclose rape statistics.”

Movements such as the “Me Too” movement and “We Protect Us” serve as efforts to make these attempts by institutions to cover up sexual assault cases, come to light. 

“No one was doing anything to help these people get the justice that they deserve, so we decided to be the platform that could help them,” said Chatlosh. 

CUNY members and alumni hope that these efforts are heard by those that have the power to make a change.

“I love what they [We Protect Us] stand for, it’s great to see a group that helps people like me and my CUNY community,” said Brianna Carrion, an alumna of John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

On April 19, the Sheepshead Bay Public Library hosted artist and instructor Oleg Ovcharenko and his hand puppet class. The session is a multi-week class aimed to provide arts and crafts time to adults with disabilities.

The arts and crafts class was exclusive to a group of adults with special needs from, AHRC NYC Stephen B. Siegel (Adult Day Services). This group, composed of people who are neurodiverse, were gathered in a private workshop room where they were able to read books, use library computers, and engage in Ovcharenko’s hand puppet class.

The participants were tasked with brainstorming what their ideal hand puppet would look like before ultimately constructing it out of provided materials, and sharing their final products with the rest of the class. It was an engaging and entertaining experience for adults with disabilities, but it represents more than just fun.

“It’s an opportunity for our students to express themselves and to have a creative outlet,” said Robine Philippe, a Community Support Professional with, AHRC NYC.

Many of these adults with disabilities are regular attendees of the program that come from homes and environments void of the opportunities presented to them through the program. Sometimes, these experiences are their only time to access amenities such as wifi and computer access – things taken for granted by many.

“Our students look forward to trips to the library. Many of them don’t have computers at home, so the library provides them with the ability to express themselves in the specific ways they want,” said Philippe.

The ability to provide these special needs individuals with a sense of purpose and independence is what makes these efforts worth it to those involved.

“What I teach them is simple – let your heart inspire your art. Look around at what they have been able to create,” said Ovcharenko, as he pointed around the room at various artworks. 

Ovcharenko does more than just lead this hand puppet class. He is also the lead instructor of other arts and crafts programs done with the support of the Brooklyn Public Library such as “Face and Flowers,” where participants learn to create flower paper panels and other art decor pieces. 

While Ovcharenko is busy with the multiple arts and crafts programs he teaches, he doesn’t see it as a burden.

“He works with them side by side, he is super creative and even helps them to learn basic skills outside of art such as reading, writing, and basic manners and etiquette,” said Philippe.

Ovcharenko’s influence is evident once you step into the Sheepshead Bay Public Library. His artworks and those of his students adorn the walls of the workshop rooms, proudly. 

Beyond that, the students are always happy to interact with him.

“He teaches us how to have fun with the art, and I love to play the games,” said Omar Atieh, one of the class participants.

For many like Atieh, programs and services that allow individuals such as himself to express themselves, are priceless.

NYCFC overtook Nashville FC to win 2-1 on Saturday, April 15 at CitiField in Queens, New York. The comfortable early lead and the roars of the crowd made it a night to remember for the ‘Boys in Blue.’ 

With a season high game, NYCFC goalkeeper Luis Barraza was beaming after the match, as he played a crucial role in the win. Barraza faced the most shoots against him – six – and saved five, with three saved just within the first half.

“One of our toughest games so far,” said Barraza. “But we managed to keep our cool and find the back of the net, which is what we have been working on this week. Just happy to get the result.” 

Coach Nick Cushing has emphasized that the team sees victory when they stick to their attacking play, which he attributes to the win against one of the harder teams in the conference. 

One thing you can guarantee a constant for these NYCFC home games is the home team crowd that consistently fills the stadiums with their cheers and chants, and the combination of these two factors is what Cushing said gave his team the edge of the night. 

“I definitely feel the atmosphere. Like I said in the dressing room before [the match], we know our crowd here feeds off our attacking play,” said Cushing after the match. 

NYCFC Midfielder Keaton Parks and Defender Maxine Chanot both scored their first goals of the season in record games for the pair.

Parks scored his first goal of this season in the tenth minute and Chanot had a high stat game, with one goal in the twenty-fifth minute, a 93% pass accuracy rate, four accurate long balls, one tackle won, and two ground duels won. 

After those two goals, NYCFC were up by two within the first 25 minutes of the game, forcing Nashville to make the extra effort to catch up and attempt to overcome their lead

Overall, the team kept the pressure for the remainder of the game, only allowing one goal in the eightieth’ minute from Nashville FC’s midfielder Hany Mukhtar, a key player in Nashville’s attack. 

Keaton Parks emphasized that, with the pressure that the home team maintained, the game was able to end the way it did. 

“Whether we were suffering or playing well with the ball, everybody gave their all the whole time. We deserve these three points,” said Parks after the match, proud of what the team accomplished at home.

Satisfied with the win but looking towards the future, Cushing said he was happy with the result but maintains his stance on how crucial it is to establish a dominant presence on the field and take any opportunities to be up by larger margins. 

“We get that type of game and the crowd feeds off it. That is when we are at our best. The only disappointment was that we should have been three or four up before we conceded the goal,” said Cushing in the post match conference. 

This win moves the NYCFC side up to fifth in the Eastern Conference and keeps their hopes alive of fighting for the MLS Cup. Their next match up is Saturday, April 22, continuing their home game streak at Citi Field.

The New York International Auto Show returned to the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, from April 7 to 16. Car brands from around the world displayed their newest models for the American market, giving people the opportunity to take a closer look at vehicles that they are interested in. 

This year’s incarnation of the auto show had a significant focus on electric vehicles. On the lower level, there was an EV test track, which was one of the larger spaces in the show, and allowed people to experience and get the feel of what it’s like to drive an EV. 

Lynne Smith, a media relations specialist at the show, explained some of the benefits of electric vehicles. 

“Electric vehicles keep the air cleaner, they keep pollutants off our roadways, they make our communities more pleasant places to live, and make for a cleaner environment. They’re also more fun to drive, and they accelerate easily,” Smith said. 

Smith also discussed what the future could look like with regards to electric cars. 

“Electric cars will be normal, people will be buying electric cars, and there won’t be gas guzzling cars on our roads in the same way they are today, because starting in 2035, in New York State, there will be a rule that only electric cars can be sold,” she said. “So while there will still be some gas cars on the road for a while, the movement will be to electric. It’ll be a different world.” 

There were many other highlights at this year’s show, some of which were described by Mike DiPaolo, a publicist for the NY Auto Show. 

“We actually have five ride-and-drive events this year, you can go out to the Camp Jeep which is always exciting, you get to test the off-road capabilities, [and] the Ford booth has got their own little exciting ride-and-drive,” he said. 

DiPaolo went on to talk about availability in connection with the cars of the show.

“Aside from that, we’ve got nearly a thousand cars on the floor that you can come and check, if you’re looking to buy a car you can get in and handle and see what the options are for you,” he continued. 

Exotic cars were also on display, including models from Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, and Koenigsegg, among others. 

Additionally, cars from films were included as well, such as the DMC DeLorean from Back to the Future and the Aston Martin driven by James Bond in Die Another Day. 

However, there was still more to do and see at the show than just check out cars. Toyota’s booth had interactive games with driving simulators, as well as a section with basketball hoops. Subaru had an area with dogs that people could pet, play with, and spend time with, making for an experience that demonstrated the show went beyond the sole purpose of displaying cars. 

Recently, GM-owned car brand Chevrolet announced the controversial decision to discontinue the Camaro, its popular muscle car known to rival Ford’s Mustang. A product specialist for Chevrolet at the event, offered some insight. 

“I was surprised by the decision to discontinue the Camaro, as we have a lot of Camaro lovers. I don’t know exactly what went into the decision, but this isn’t the first time the Camaro has been discontinued, so it might not be the last,” she said. 

The New York International Auto Show will return in 2024 from March 29 to April 7.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, The Cooper Union collaborated with author and speaker Gloria Steinem On March 18 for their Great Women Live at the Great Hall series, which highlights the progress of women and how to address the contemporary issues hindering progress of women. 

The theme for the panel was overt, acknowledging the progress of women and addressing the issues that inhibit that progress. Laura Sparks, the first woman president of The Cooper Union, moderated the Q+A event.

This sentiment of women’s progress being in dire need of more attention was echoed by the speaker herself, Steinem, at the panel.

“In the beginning of the Women’s movement, we had a history of reinventing what women’s rights meant for us, being more than just a housewife or going into the working field,” said  Steinem.

Guests were excited to be in the presence of feminist global changemakers. 

“Seeing feminist icons like Gloria Steinem feels so surreal to me,” said Laura Stromer, an event attendee. “Having women like her be on the forefront discussing these issues with women like us feels impactful.” 

Many say the “future is female,” but in the history of the world, men have always been at the forefront of social change and women have been largely left out. 

Even within the political sphere for social change, the women always are behind in political representation. According to U.N women.org, there were only 10 women Heads of State and 13 women Heads of Government across 22 countries.  

The concept of women finally being recognized in the different spheres of social change was also confirmed by Sparks, who acknowledged the many voices of great women at the Great Hall, one who ran for  president of the United States in 2016.

“With the many greats who evoked their presence here at the Great Hall in Cooper Union, Former Secretary Of State, Hilary Clinton really left me in awe,” said Sparks. “Her giving us this note of gratitude, during the height of journalists and reporters censorship during Trump’s presidency really gave us as women conviction to speak out against wrongdoings of the world.”

There was this  underlying flicker of hope during the panel, which was the progress of women’s rights, and the tangible things people can do to show support for the women’s movement that both Sparks and Steinem recognized.

“Being president of the Cooper Union feels like I have a duty to my fellow sisters to make sure spaces for women exist,” said Sparks. “Whether it be holding panels, spoken word or dance recitals all in the name of women’s representation, I’m here for it.” 

Steinem acknowledged that in meeting situations, a circle for women is more beneficial than a hierarchical structure. 

“Well anything that is in a circle is better than a hierarchy, because instead of a hierarchical  board room, we have this circle, metaphorically, to speak about our grievances as women,” said Steinem. “Revolutions are like trees, not built from the top down but built bottom up.”

Steinem also stressed this idea that what we all do can have consequences. She made sure that was reverberated in the last moments of the panel.

“Just remembering that and everything we do matters, which is very helpful, otherwise, it seems impossible to think of the end result,” said Steinem.

On Tuesday, March 21, the Brooklyn College Women’s Center hosted an event empowering women entrepreneurs to connect with one another. This event gave entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet inspiring women entrepreneurs. 

Recognizing the success of women in a male-dominated job market is relevant and important in this day and age. As the women set up their pop-up shops, the exchange of friendly banter lightened the atmosphere. This was a safe environment for these women to connect with one another and understand their plight and sacrifice that the entrepreneurial journey entails.

Sixty-seven-year old Brooklynite Edith Barnes, a Jamaican immigrant, finds herself styling hair on Flatbush and Church Avenues.  

After 33 years at her parlor Barnes reminisces while finishing up her clients hair. 

“My family and friends question why I haven’t retired, ” said Barnes. “My work gives me a sense of purpose and I look forward to getting ready to go to work everyday.” 

Barnes’ success  story is a goal many entrepreneurs aspire to tell someday. Although Barnes has been successful with her hair styling business, she has faced many hardships along her career path. 

Brooklyn College junior Tabitha Brown finds herself juggling school and her hand-made soy candle business. The 22-year old aspires to use her Business Administration degree as a guide post to reaching the success she wants to see for “Scented by Tabitha.”  

“Entrepreneurship is a full time job, I make it look good but sometimes I have sleepless nights,” says Brown. 

In a report by Hello Alice, “Standing in the Gaps: A Roadmap to Redesign the Capital Continuum for Women Tech Founders,” 2,000 tech entrepreneurs were interviewed about their entrepreneurship.  . 

“Fifty-three percent of women business owners say they have unmet financing needs, with loans and credit cards cited as the most common forms of financing sought,” the report states. 

Brown, along with many other women entrepreneurs, are struggling financially and are swimming in debt despite the myriad of loans available to women entrepreneurs.

“These scholarships and grants give a lot of us false hope, they’re extremely selective and difficult to receive,” Brown responded.”

Her transparency about her struggling to keep her business afloat is a testimony to challenges many women entrepreneurs face. 

It’s a struggle Brooklyn College Professor Tequila White is also familiar with. 

White runs a PR company, while also teaching public relations at Brooklyn College. Understanding how she juggles being a professor and entrepreneur brings a lot of insight and inspiration for those considering taking a similar path as White.

“The future of Black women in entrepreneurship has shifted over these past few years. There has been a push for more support of small black- businesses. We just have to keep that trend going,” said White.

Brooklyn College hosted a composers concert which played original musical pieces by composers. Taking place at the Atrium of the Tow Center, shared their thoughts behind the original music they made and explained the meaning to what they created.

Speaker Gidong Kim opened up how this would be the second time this event is being hosted.

“This is the second one after the pandemic,” Kim said. 

The musician, who announced himself as “Z,” is a piano performance, music composition major, and jazz musician. As part of the band Chicken Combo, “Z” shared the meaning behind his music. 

“I’ve been composing a piece for each of the twelve Chinese zodiacs. Basically, I just kind of figure out different methodologies of legends from Chinese culture and as part of my heritage. I just compose a piece based on any instrument I want and then I put it together with my band. This is the year of the rabbit so I composed a rabbit piece,” “Z” said. 

Eduardo Palacio shared how he ended up learning to play the guzheng instrument, which he performed. It is a Chinese instrument that is a hollow flat wooden base andis composed of many strings called Dunhuang. 

“Well I play a lot of instruments like piano, guitar, base, cello, and then eventually during my time at Brooklyn College I got to meet a lot of Chinese students that are interested in the culture and the language. Then eventually after learning the language I was interested in the music and then I picked up this instrument,” Palacio said. 

Palacio shared  how he started performing at Brooklyn College and what his favorite part is about using a guzheng. 

“I came to a concert at Brooklyn College and the president of the composers invited me and said, ‘oh you should join us,’ and it was very exciting for me because, during the pandemic I couldn’t perform at all,” Palacio said.“My favorite thing about the guzheng is expressiveness because it’s not like the piano where all the pitches are fixed while the guzheng you can bend the pitches and that’s what makes it very expressive.” 

After Palacio finished his performance with the guzheng, Kim concluded the event with an announcement talking about future plans for more composer concerts. 

On Saturday, March 25, the New York City Mural Arts Project (NYCMAP) organization hosted a pop-up art event with a mental health discussion at the Brooklyn Public Library in Crown Heights. The focus of the event was to discuss a forthcoming mural in the community, as well as improving the discussion around mental health issues. 

According to NYCMAP – an organization that works with community groups emphasizing mental health –  one in five New Yorkers have a mental health condition, but most are unaware of it because of the stigma around mental health.  

“The reality is there are many people who are afraid to access these services…there are real consequences for people who don’t get the resources that they need,” said Carlos Perez, the Executive Director at Kingsboro Psychiatric Center. 

The Kingsboro Psychiatric Center works hand in hand with NYCMAP, as they also want to end the stigma attached to mental health. One of the ways in which they do that is through community, and one of the ways in which they build a community is through art.  

“Over the past five or so years I’ve seen this group grow bigger and bigger,” said Damian Oritz, a volunteer who was working at the event. 

Ortiz has been at many of these pop-up events over the years and has seen first-hand what this organization has done for people with mental health issues and the community. 

“My biggest takeaways from this project are that it is not about the art that is made but rather the people that go into it… we’ve built a really nice community that has helped people in many ways… I think people that just talk to people about their issues help,” said Ortiz. 

People with mental health issues are often lost or afraid of speaking out for fear of being judged or ashamed of their condition. This was the case for Nicole Kokkinos, who, just a few years ago, got diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, but for her, finding this organization helped her out greatly.

“Just being able to speak about this condition with someone who is going through what I am going through and meeting people and hearing how they have struggled but came out the other side was really important to hear… it made me realize that I wasn’t alone and that was comforting,” said Kokkinos.  

Kokkinos helps when NYCMAP is near her just to give back to what the organization has given her. 

People who suffer from mental health issues are often unaware of what they are dealing with and rarely get diagnosed, but for those who do, it is often a lonely world and one in which there are often more questions than answers. 

The NYCMAP organization has given an avenue for people to reach out and be a part of this community. Their  is to support as many people as they can, and the art is the beacon to those who still are in need of help. Talking to someone and sharing, participants said, can be a great first step. 

“Don’t be afraid to talk to someone if you are feeling unwell. Just asking for help is one of the bravest things you can do,” said Kokkinos.  

New York City FC  fans gathered at Yankee Stadium for the second home game of the season on Saturday, March 18. The home team hosted D.C. United in a game that ultimately led to NYCFC’s triumph, with a 3-2 finish. 

Both teams came into the match with a 1-1-1 record hoping to improve their spot on the table and gain three points. NYCFC entered the match with 0 injured players and a full squad available to play. 

Within the first 11 minutes of the game, D.C. had committed three fouls that led to an eventual yellow card for D.C. United midfielder Russell Canouse. NYCFC created many chances, and forward Talles Magno was able to find the back of the net in the 17th minute, with an assist from Braian Cufré. 

First ruled offside, Magno’s disallowed goal call was overturned after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check that confirmed he was onside, giving NYCFC the early lead.

D.C. United’s defense kept NYCFC at bay until the 37th minute when Santiago Rodríguez took the ball from a fast break, assisted by Gabriel Pereira, and opened up his tally with a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner. 

The first half closed with D.C. United leading NYCFC in fouls, 6-3, and trailing in score 2-0. 

The clean sheet didn’t stick for long, as D.C.’s head coach Wayne Rooney even admitted, “I don’t think I can repeat the language I used,” when asked about his halftime locker room talk.  

Within the first 40 seconds of the second half, D.C. United forward Christian Benteke opened his tab with a header after a cross from Mateusz Klich, which would bring the team’s hopes alive of a comeback. 

D.C. United’s Victor Pálsson received the team’s second yellow card shortly after for a bad foul and the match intensified as D.C. trailed in the second by one. The first yellow card to go to NYCFC on the night was shown to Rodriguez for shoving Klich on the sidelines after a tackle in the 53rd.

The NYCFC super fan crowd cheers became more intense each time D.C. United attempted to approach the net, which Head Coach Nick Cushing said played an important role in the win. 

“We have a real responsibility and expectation to win in front of our fans whether it’s here or Citi Field, because the atmosphere is so good, again I can’t praise our fans enough,” Cushing said.

Thiago Andrade was subbed in for NYCFC in the 80th minute, and eight minutes later, put the team up by two goals with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner assisted by Santiago Rodríguez. 

D.C. United tried to respond by scoring a late goal by Steve Birnbaum assisted by Klich from a corner and had opportunities to tie the game with nine additional minutes added, but were unsuccessful. 

The NYCFC side played consistently in the first half with a few weak points in the second but ultimately came out victorious. Man of the match, Talles Magno, credited that to the team’s chemistry and spoke about how the match was special for him as he scored his first goal of the season. 

“I’m very happy, my family is here so I’m happy to score in front of them and happy to score my first goal of the season,” Magno shared post-match in the locker room. 

NYCFC look to improve their record on the road against Houston on March 25, and keep the momentum from this match’s win. 

“We have to go on the road and win football games if we want to be a winning team,”Cushing said, emphasizing the importance of the team’s push in away games and how crucially they affect the season.