CitizensNYC Honors Rhina Valentin, First Latina to be named “New Yorker for New York”
Nonprofit offering $1M in grants, available for New Yorkers responding to COVID crisis
NEW YORK – Citizens Committee for New York City (CitizensNYC,) one of the nation’s oldest micro-funding organizations, has a longstanding history of celebrating and supporting civic leaders. This month, CitizensNYC will honor Rhina Valentin as The Creative.
Nicknamed “La Reina del Barrio” Rhina is a native New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent and a television host focused on lifting human-centered stories with an eye towards fostering empathy and community bridge-building. A beloved spokesperson for her community, she is making a mark in New York City’s entertainment industry for her unique approach to advocating for and celebrating diversity.
In lieu of the organization’s in person gala fundraising event, and to raise awareness about the $1M in funds that is currently available to the public, CitizensNYC has launched a five-month-long virtual fundraising campaign – The New Yorkers for New York which will honor five extraordinary women who are working to rethink, rebuild, and reimagine New York City.
Born in East Harlem, Rhina, a long-time community resident is widely known for her work since 2006 as the host of BronxNet’s OPEN Friday. A recipient of The 2020 All Inclusive Change Maker Award, and a 25 Bronx Influential Women of 2015 Award, Rhina is the founder of La Reina del Barrio, Inc. A fervent practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, Rhina is an active supporter of the arts, and believes that the underpinning of the economic health of a community requires support for small and local New York businesses. She also uses her platform to shine a light on pressing social issues such as domestic violence and holistic mental health needs. Presently, she is part of a fundraising initiative for S.T.E.A.M. educational children’s programs in Puerto Rico, Colombia, and West Africa.
Rhina explains, “I was raised with the belief system that we treat each other as we want to be treated. The beauty of being born and raised in New York is that you get to experience different cultures in your upbringing. I liken this experience to the Caribbean dish sancocho. The beauty of sancocho is that it’s a slow-cooked dish which harmonizes distinct flavors and unique ingredients to become something irresistibly delicious. What’s better than that?”
Each month The New Yorker for New York campaign will highlight one of the five honorees, each of whom have committed to rolling up their sleeves to help the city recover from the pandemic including one of it’s grantee partners, Nicole Lee, as well as Frida Polli, Ph.D., Sue Suh and TIME, and Rhina Valentin. The showcase event is set to take place on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
CitizensNYC is calling on New Yorkers to pledge their support for essential, community-led projects throughout The New Yorkers for New York campaign. The organization aims to raise funds this year in order to make the grants possible. To support the work of the organization and its grantee partners as they work to rebuild New York City, donate HERE.
CitizensNYC is also now accepting applications from community leaders for its All in Neighborhood Grants program, which provides micro-grants of up to $10,000 for neighborhood improvement projects in the arts, health, environmental justice, beautification, tenants’ rights, or projects that are designed to meet urgent needs amid the COVID-19 crisis.
About Citizen Committee for New York City:
Citizens Committee for New York City’s mission is to help New Yorkers - especially those in low-income areas - come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Residents are uniquely situated to define and act on the issues affecting their communities. When provided with modest support, neighborhood and school groups can effectively mobilize with the assistance of grants, skills-building workshops, project planning assistance and an equipment share library. In 2020, CitizensNYC provided 402 projects with nearly $1.2M in direct cash grants, impacting more than 87,685 residents in 122 neighborhoods across all five boroughs. Since 1975, we have promoted the spirit of volunteerism, local engagement, and social justice that drives our work. Go to citizensnyc.org to learn more.
Additional Information:
Webpage: https://www.citizensnyc.org
Social Media: Twitter @citizensnyc | Instagram @citizenscommittee | Facebook.com/citizensnyc