Norwood News - Police Athletic League’s Tournament of Champions Engages Bronx Kids in STEM Projects

PAL children at M.S. 118 in the Tremont section of The Bronx participate in hands-on STEM challenges on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Photo courtesy of the Police Athletic League

Police Athletic League (PAL) youngsters from all five boroughs of New York City participated in the citywide PAL Tournament of Champions STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Challenge, on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Activities focused on STEM and physical education learning, featuring engineering, design and physics skills building. The 2022 competition was an individual, center-based competition held at each PAL center with participants in Kindergarten through eighth grades working within age groups.

Read full coverage

POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE (PAL) ANNOUNCES CARLOS VELAZQUEZ AS ITS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CONTACTS:

Andrea Kotuk/Andrea & Associates/(212) 353-9585

Lisa Weir/PAL/(917) 848-6683       

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York City – The Police Athletic League (PAL) Board of Directors and President David J. Arena announce the appointment of Carlos Velazquez as the new Executive Director to begin on January 31, 2022. PAL, a nonprofit organization, has served New York City’s youth for over 100 years. Throughout Mr. Velazquez’s 20-year career in public service, he has been dedicated to addressing the needs of underserved youth and cultivating strategic relationships with community partners and government agencies. Prior to joining PAL, he was the Chief Program Officer for the Boys’ Club of New York where he led all aspects of expansion and program development.

Mr. Velazquez has worked with a wide range of partners within the youth development, education, law enforcement and justice systems including NYPD, FDNY, Department of Youth and Community Development and the New York City District Attorney’s Office.  Mr. Velazquez has a Master of Education from Bank Street College of Education, a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University, College of Human Services and Health Professions, and a certificate for Developing Leaders from Columbia University, Executive Education Program.         

“We are pleased to welcome Carlos Velazquez as PAL’s new Executive Director,” says PAL President David J. Arena.  “Mr. Velazquez has a solid foundation of experience in managing complex and multidisciplinary programming for the Boys’ Club of New York and has maintained vital partnerships in law enforcement and youth development.  He also possesses the necessary skills required for the implementation and execution of our strategic goals and initiatives. Carlos has deep roots in the communities we serve, and thousands of PAL children and families will benefit from his leadership and dedication.”

PAL operates 27 youth centers and sites throughout the five boroughs with a budget of approximately $30 million. Young people, ages 3 to 21, participate in a wide array of programs afterschool, evenings and weekends including Early Head Start, Head Start, afterschool activities, summer day camps and play streets, teen centers, Teen Acting program, college readiness, youth employment and juvenile justice programs.

“I am thrilled and honored to lead an organization with a rich history and legacy of serving New York City families,” says Carlos Velazquez, PAL Executive Director. “As a native New Yorker with a passion for helping young people reach their fullest potential, I cannot think of a better place to continue my career in public service.  Our communities are living through a pivotal time, and PAL will continue to be a safe place where youth can build relationships and emerge as leaders.”

Mr. Velazquez was awarded a commendation from the New York City Comptroller’s Office, and the 2018 Community Service Award from the FDNY Hispanic Society, and the 2011 Pasesetter Award from the Partnership of Afterschool Education.

He has previously held leadership positions at the Center for Supportive Schools; Let’s Get Ready, KIPP NYC, Harlem Children’s Zone, and East Harlem Tutorial Program. He was born and raised in East Harlem and currently resides in Brick, NJ.

Mr. Velazquez succeeds Frederick J. Watts as the Executive Director of the Police Athletic League. Mr. Watts announced his plans for retirement in January 2021 and recently passed away on December 23, 2021. The PAL Board of Directors and staff mourn his loss and honor and appreciate his seven years of service to New York City’s children.

Founded in 1914, New York City’s Police Athletic League provides recreational, educational, cultural and social activities to 20,000 children and teens annually. For more information, please visit www.palnyc.org.

### 

Photo Caption: Carlos Velazquez, Executive Director, Police Athletic League

Photo Credit:  Nino Gallego

 

The Passing of Frederick J. Watts

We are very sorry to report that Frederick J. Watts, our extraordinary Executive Director, passed away on December 23rd. We will miss Fred for his warmth, compassion and kindness, in addition to his steadfast dedication and commitment to PAL, its children, families and communities.  

Under his leadership, PAL increased its engagement in the communities that we serve and strengthened connections with New York City law enforcement.  Above all, he will be remembered by the PAL children whose lives he touched and changed forever.  

On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff and PAL children and teens, we offer our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to Fred’s family. 

Fred's Obituary

Silive.com Coverage - ‘A bridge between community and NYPD’ -- Police Athletic League’s ‘Street Games’ a rousing success at Stapleton Houses

Street Games.jpeg

The Police Athletic League has long been a fixture in the youth sports community across New York City, but the organization has been particularly endearing to Stapleton in recent years. The PAL conducted its “Street Games” program on Thursday at the Stapleton Houses as part of its anti-gun violence initiative in New York City Housing Authority neighborhoods.

Read full coverage

PAL PLAYSTREETS, Summer camps and Street Games

corrected+pallogo (1).png

THERE ARE LOTS OF EVENTS HAPPENING THIS SUMMER AT THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE.

Written by Ingrid Gendler.

Nothing is better than getting outside to play in the summer months, and PAL is looking to help the city’s families do just that with our popular Street Games programming. Check out this blog post for some more information about the program, and how you can get involved.

Since our founding in 1914, sports programming has remained at the core of PAL’s work keeping kids active and safe throughout the city. PAL’s Street Games, launched just last year, are weekend events held throughout the neighborhood of New York City where families can come and play! 

The goal of Street Games is to keep youth between the ages of 10 -18 active outdoors in the summer months, and to encourage a bit of friendly competition. Youth can join in team sports such as basketball, dodgeball, arts and crafts, and classic street activities such as double-dutch or chalk-drawing. Staff and NYPD participants are there providing encouragement, support, and ensuring that all are safe and having fun! 

See the list below for a list of PAL’s upcoming events plus dates and locations. We hope to see you this summer!

Street Games (updated Jul 22, 2021). Please note that these are subject to change because of weather or other issues beyond our control.

  • Patterson Houses – 7/12 - Bronx

  • Queensbridge Houses – 7/19 - Queens

  • Bushwick - 7/20 - 12pm - 4pm - Brooklyn

  • Wagner Houses - 7/22 - 2pm - 6pm - Harlem

  • VanDyke Houses – 7/30 - Brooklyn

  • Tompkins Houses – 8/5 - 12pm - 4pm - Brooklyn

  • Wagner Houses - 8/7 - 12pm - 4pm - Harlem

  • Polo Grounds Houses - 8/7 - 12 pm - 3pm - Upper Manhattan

  • Ingersoll Houses – 8/9 - Brooklyn

  • Boulevard Houses – 8/28 - 1pm - 4pm - Brooklyn

PLAYSTREETS

  • 124th Street and Marcus Garvey Park – Harlem

    • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

    • July 12 - August 19 - 11 am - 4pm

  • 196th Street and Bainbridge Avenue - Bronx

    • Fridays – July 9 -August 12 - 11 am - 4pm

  • Polo Grounds - Upper Manhattan (3005 Frederick Douglass Blvd)

    • Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

    • July 5 - August 12 - 11 am - 4pm

  • Hinton Park - Corona, Queens (114th Street)

    • Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

    • July 20 - August 23

Headstart Daycare

  • Western Queens – 10-26 41st Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101

  • Woodside – 50-37 Broadway Woodside, NY 11377

  • Arnold and Marie Schwartz – 452 Pennsylvania Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11207

  • World of Creative Experiences – 280 Livonia Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11212

Summer Camp

  • Webster Center – 2255 Webster Avenue, Bronx NY 10457

  • Harlem Center – 441 Manhattan Avenue, New York, NY 10026

  • Polo Grounds Cornerstone – 3005 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10039

  • Edward Byrne Center – 116-25 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. Queens, NY 11434

  • Breukelen Cornerstone – 715 East 105th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11236

  • Michael J. Petrides – 715 Ocean Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301