For the last five years, Manhattan College has worked to expand fair trade to campus as part of the College’s commitment to social responsibility, and as a result, will be the first college in New York City to receive Fair Trade College status.

On Thursday, Feb. 16, a steering committee from Fair Trade Colleges and Universities in partnership with Fair Trade USA will honor Manhattan College with a certificate of achievement at a gathering on campus at 3:30 p.m. in Café 1853.

“Campus ministry and social action, along with the student group JustPeace have been raising awareness about fair trade since 2007,” said Gwendolyn A. Tedeschi, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics. “But this year, working with a great and diverse group of people across campus, including Gourmet Dining and the eFollett Bookstore, we’ve brought our fair trade campaign to a new level.”

The Manhattan College community is dedicated to globally reducing poverty and building sustainable businesses by carrying fair trade products within all campus dining halls, restaurants, cafes and the bookstore. The majority of fair trade-certified products in the United States are monitored by Fair Trade USA, a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization that manages transactions between U.S. companies and international suppliers. Through a regimented process, Fair Trade USA ensures farmers and workers receive fair prices and wages, work in safe conditions, and provide tools, training and resources to help a community thrive.

“Fair trade practices respect human dignity and are committed to social justice, important elements of our mission,” said Lois Harr, director of campus ministry and social action and adjunct instructor of religious studies. “As a Fair Trade College, we can put our values into action everyday in clear and concrete ways.”

Along with making students aware of fair trade, the College hosted a faculty development session on the topic in October. As a whole, the College has conveyed the message of fair trade through several channels, such as the student-run newspaper, the alumni e-newsletter and social media channels.

“Catholic Relief Services (CRS) congratulates Manhattan College in its achievement of Fair Trade College status, and we at CRS have been gratified to witness the deepening commitments the College has made to fair trade principles as a demonstration of Lasallian tradition and engagement with CRS programming,” said Jackie DeCarlo, manger of CRS domestic programs. “By involving students, administrators and faculty in a series of awareness-building and learning activities, as well as working steadfastly on procurement policies that focus on farmers, the College has distinguished itself both as a Catholic educational institution and important CRS ally.”

Grace Outreach is offering an opportunity for college preparatory services for Fall 2012 enrollment for women who are G.E.D. or High School Diploma recipients, ages 18 and older.

Located at 378 East 151st Street on the 5th Floor (of the Immaculate Conception School), in the Bronx, Grace Outreach is helping candidates prepare for CUNY Skills and ACT entrance exams, and also offering assistance on how to apply for financial aid, including the (FAFSA) Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The services will be offered until June 21st 2012, and will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 12:45 to 4:00 p.m. Registration is ongoing; interested applicants are to call Ms. Carol Williams at 718.328.0580 for more information.

Sustainable South Bronx has announced the launch of FabLab (SSBx FabLab) After School, offering two unique opportunities for Bronx high school students this spring in its fabrication laboratory: Green Solutions Lab and Entrepreneurship Lab.

Green Solutions Lab engages 9th- and 10th-grade students in solving small-scale community problems through sustainable design. Students will use technical design software and their own imaginations to engineer green projects in Hunts Point. Possible projects include creating "living" signage along the South Bronx Greenway, and building nesting boxes for migrating birds on the Bronx River. This program meets Thursdays and Fridays from 4 – 6:30 p.m.

Entrepreneurship Lab engages 11th- and 12th-grade students in designing, building, and marketing their own sustainable products. Students will use design software, a laser cutter, and salvaged materials to make products that they can sell on Etsy, an online global marketplace. This hands-on program helps students develop valuable job skills, such as public speaking, resume building, and budgeting. This program meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 – 6:30 p.m.

There are 10 spots available in each program and SSBxFabLab is looking for great candidates. FabLab After School begins March 5th and runs through June 29th.

For more information and an online application, visit: http://www.ssbx.org/our-programs/fablab-environmental-education/ or call 646.400.5430.

BronxWorks will be offering free tax preparation services to qualifying Bronx residents at two different locations: The BronxWorks Morris Innovative Senior Center (ISC) at 80 East 181st Street by the Food Bank of New York or Ariva at the CheckSpring Bank building at 69 East 167th Street. 

The qualifying income cap is $18,000 for individuals and $50,000 for families.

Hundreds of people used the services last year, according to Evelyn Rodriguez, director of BronxWorks’ Access to Benefits program.  The BronxWorks Morris ISC was one of the busiest free income tax prep sites in New York City in 2011 and demand this year is  expected to be even higher.

“Through our partnership with the Food Bank and referrals to organizations like Ariva, we can offer thousands of low-income Bronx residents access to high quality, credible, and highly skilled tax preparers,” says BronxWorks development director Ken Small.   “These are the best alternatives to for-pay services that often steer low-income individuals or families into taking refund anticipation loans, which can cause folks to lose as much as a quarter of their refunds.”

 Small noted that taxes at the BronxWorks Morris ISC or Ariva are filed electronically.  Refunds are received within two weeks in most cases.  They can be placed directly into bank accounts, which eliminates the need to receive a check in the mail.  “These services are all about making things convenient,” he says.

In addition to tax prep help, Ariva offers financial counseling and information on asset building.  For more information on their services, please call 718.292.2983. 

To learn more about tax prep services at the Morris ISC, call 718.933.5300.

BronxWorks Morris Innovative Senior Center tax prep hours: Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ariva Headquarters tax prep hours: Monday and Thursday, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Residents must bring: Photo identification, Social Security card, W-2 forms from all jobs, documentation for child care credits, and any other tax documents.  If married couples are filing jointly, both must be present.