SWYM - NYC

ALL POSITIVE VIBES 🗽 New York Knicks 🏀 parade was PHENOMENAL ‼️ I had a great time , was in a great area, not packed at all. Got to see everything ! I did not see anything negative on the side I was on. Real New York Love & Energy. Here’s a full recap of the parade. Tag who you know !

Legendary to start the parade off with Walt "Clyde" Frazier ! New York Knicks 🏀

Of course Spider-man got the best view at the parade ! New York Knicks 🏀

It’s pandemonium in NYC New York Knicks 🏀

Was digging through Instagram trying to learn more about the creator tools and stumbled across something I hadn’t really paid attention to before.

Instagram has a section that shows branded content opportunities and matches creators with brands based on the type of content they make.

You can see:
• What the brand is looking for
• What they want you to create
• The deadline
• How much they’re offering

If you’re interested, you can submit your profile and the brand decides whether they want to move forward.

I thought this was a solid gem, especially for creators who are growing their pages and looking for different ways to potentially make money from their content.

Even if you don’t get selected, it’s interesting to see what kinds of opportunities are out there and what brands are looking for.

Figured I’d share because I know a lot of people in NYC are building businesses, brands, podcasts, community pages, and creator accounts from the ground up.

Go poke around your Professional Dashboard and see if it’s available on your account.

Have any of y’all actually gotten a deal through this feature yet?

Most people don’t realize New York City has a program that may help families cover funeral expenses when a loved one passes away.

Through HRA’s Office of Burial Services, eligible families may receive up to $1,700 toward funeral costs.

Key things to know:

• Assistance may be available for burial, cremation, or burial of cremated remains.
• Funds may be approved before a funeral or used as reimbursement for eligible expenses already paid.
• The deceased must generally be a low-income NYC resident with limited resources available to cover funeral costs.
• Applications must be submitted within 120 days of the date of death.
• HRA reviews each case individually to determine eligibility.
• Help is available by calling 718-557-1399.

If you’re currently dealing with a funeral and aren’t sure where to start, contact your local City Council Member’s office. They may be able to help you navigate the process and connect you with the appropriate agency.

More information:
https://www.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/burial-assistance.page

Share this with someone who might need it. Information like this can save families thousands of dollars during a difficult time.

Parents, quick heads up.

You may have heard about the Summer EBT program that provides $120 per eligible child to help families buy groceries while school is out.

But here’s the part most people don’t know:

If your child is eligible and you haven’t received your Summer EBT benefit yet, don’t just sit around waiting all summer.

Reach out to your local City Council Member’s office.

Council offices can often contact HRA and the appropriate agencies directly to check the status of your case, identify issues, and help move things along before half the summer is gone.

A lot of people don’t realize their elected officials can help with benefit issues like this.

More information about Summer EBT:
https://otda.ny.gov/programs/summer-ebt/

https://summerebt.ny.gov

If your child is supposed to receive Summer EBT and you’re still waiting, start making calls now. The earlier you address an issue, the better chance you have of getting it resolved before the summer is over.

Tag a parent, guardian, grandparent, aunt, or uncle who should know this.

Some people spend decades in public office and never build a real connection with the people they represent.

Today felt different.

At the Knickerbocker Puerto Rican Day Parade in Bushwick, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez stepped off her float and into the crowd. No barriers. No distance. Just neighbors, families, elders, and community members showing love to someone who has spent more than 30 years representing Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.

As the music played, she danced salsa in the street, greeted residents, took photos, shared hugs, and soaked in the energy of a community that has been part of her journey for generations.

With this being her final term in Congress, there was something deeper in the air today. A sense of gratitude. Reflection. Legacy.

Whether you agree with every vote or every policy, moments like this remind you that public service is ultimately about people. About relationships. About showing up.

You could feel a chapter slowly coming to a close while another begins.

And as she prepares to pass the torch, she’s made it clear who she believes should carry that work forward: Antonio Reynoso. Antonio Reynoso

Today wasn’t just a parade.

It felt like a celebration of a legacy, a thank you from the community, and a reminder that leadership is measured not only by the offices you hold, but by the people who still stop to embrace you after all these years.

Bushwick showed a lot of love today. ❤️🇵🇷