Committee backs letter of support for Veronica Arts Media; sends recommendation to full board

The Education, Culture and Youth Services Committee voted to recommend that the full board approve a letter of support for Veronica Arts Media, a Bronx-based nonprofit offering free arts and media programming for high school students.

The recommendation, moved by Chairman Alex Lisonbee and seconded by a committee member, passed with no opposition during the committee’s meeting. The committee chair said the letter will be sent to the full board for a vote at its October 23 meeting.

Veronica Arts Media’s presenter identified herself in the meeting in two ways: committee chair Alex Lisonbee introduced “Marita” as the organization’s founder and CEO, while the presenter said, “My name is Volki.” The presenter described Veronica Arts Media as “a 5 0 1 c 3 nonprofit organize that was founded in The Bronx” and said the organization “provides free arts and college and career programming to undeserved youth” across the five boroughs. She asked the committee for a standing letter of support that would strengthen future funding applications.

Alexis Cardo, introduced as an intern with Veronica Arts Media and a student at the SEO Scholars program, told the committee that the internship allowed usually-quiet students to “express themselves authentically” and cited improvements in leadership and public-speaking skills.

Committee members asked about program locations and partnerships. The presenter said programs take place in multiple Bronx sites, including Young Women’s Leadership of the Bronx and Girls Inc., and that Veronica Arts Media has run sessions at Baruch College for SEO Scholars. The presenter said the group has partnered with Bronx Council of the Arts, NewYork–Presbyterian, Common Schools and others, and that its flagship programming has trained more than 200 young people in filmmaking, podcasting and digital storytelling.

Committee members offered outreach help and suggestions for school and community-center contacts; one member suggested sharing flyers with parent coordinators, and another suggested contacting Bronx House. The presenter agreed to provide a digital link to her presentation for the committee to share.

The committee approved a motion “that our committee submit this letter to the full board and recommend that the full board vote in favor of this letter of support for Veronica Arts Media.” The motion passed with no objections. The chair said the full board would consider the recommendation at its October 23 meeting.

The committee’s approval is a recommendation only; the full board retains final authority to adopt the letter of support at its next meeting.