Community Programs & Resources

25 Jubilant Photos from Columbia University Public Safety’s ‘Back-2-School’ Drive

The annual event inspires youngsters to return to their classrooms with a sense of self-confidence.

By
Henry Danner
Neighbors Team
September 13, 2022
Children at Columbia Public Safety and the 26th Precinct’s 7th Annual ‘Back-2-School’ drive. Photo credit: Henry Danner

When it comes to empowering youth, it takes a village. Ahead of the back-to-school season, Columbia’s Public Safety department teamed up with Manhattan Community Board 9 and the 26th Precinct’s Community Affairs division to host its 7th Annual ‘Back-2-School’ drive for youth in the local community. From backpacks filled with binders and books to fresh braids courtesy of the Harlem-based La Gazelle Hair Salon, the event was hosted to inspire youngsters in Upper Manhattan to return to their classrooms with a sense of self-confidence and self-efficacy.

During the celebration, the Zuckerman Institute’s BioBus gave attendees a glimpse into STEM exploration and youth brought their dance moves to the event’s main stage. Families were also equipped with resources to help their children thrive academically this school year. With the support of Columbia Community Service, Columbia’s Government and Community Affairs department, and the West Harlem Development Corporation, more than 700 students received supplies through the drive. Check out 25 photos from the fun-filled afternoon!

Once all of the school supply donations are unpacked and sorted, volunteers load them into backpacks. The backpacks are filled with a variety of materials appropriate for different age groups. The bags are then tagged with colored wristbands to distinguish between the age ranges. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Ricardo Morales, Assistant Director of Crime Prevention at Columbia University’s Department of Public Safety in his office in Low Library. Morales has been at the university for 37 years and has been in charge of coordinating Public Safety’s participation in the school supply drive for the last seven years. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Members of Columbia University’s Public Safety department loading backpacks en route to the back-to-school drive. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Detective Johanna Ureña of the 26th Precinct’s Community Affairs unit has been on the force for over 20 years. She oversees the school supply drive and the back-to school event where the supplies are distributed. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Youth from the 26th Precinct’s Explorers program unpack boxes of school supplies. The organization of the donations is an all-hands-on-deck effort that lasts for days prior to the annual back-to-school block party. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Community Affairs Officer Anna Cardenas organizes school supplies at the 26th Precinct. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Deputy Inspector Alexandra Sarubbi, Detective Johanna Ureña and youth from the 26th Precincts NYPD Explorers program after a long day of unpacking and sorting supplies for the annual back-to-school event. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Children play in a bouncy house during the annual back-to-school event in West Harlem. The event is hosted every year by the 26th Precinct, Community Board 9, and the West Harlem Development Corporation, and is made possible by donations from a variety of partners including Columbia University. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Public Safety Officer Amin Torres speaks to some community members during the annual back-to-school event in West Harlem. Torres works alongside Ricardo Morales who says that the Department of Public Safety and the 26th Precinct officers’ participation in community events helps community members to view law enforcement members as a valuable resource. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Attendees at the back-to-school event check out Columbia University Zuckerman Institute’s BioBus—a retrofitted Airstream trailer that serves as a science lab on wheels. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
A young child peeks through a microscope on board the Columbia University Zuckerman Institute BioBus during the back-to-school event in West Harlem. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
A group of girls participate in a dance competition during the back-to-school event in West Harlem. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Attendees focused on the live entertainment at the back-to-school event in West Harlem. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Attendees at the West Harlem back-to-school event watching a dance competition. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Public Safety officers Ricardo Morales and Amin Torres enjoying a dance competition at the West Harlem back-to-school event. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
A child celebrates being selected as the winner of a dance competition during the back-to-school event in West Harlem. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Bry’ton Mack at the back-to-school event in West Harlem. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Columbia University Public Safety officers Ricardo Morales and Amin Torres take photos of youth as they pose with a cardboard cutout of McGruff the Crime Dog. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
A girl gets her hair braided by a volunteer hairstylist at the back-to-school event in West Harlem. The hair braiding was provided at no cost and was one of many free resources at the annual event. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Mia Castillo and her mother Sandra strike a pose after Mia received a complimentary hairstyle at the back-to-school event in West Harlem. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Attendees at the back-to-school event line up to receive backpacks filled with school supplies. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Attendees at the back-to-school event receive backpacks filled with school supplies. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Attendees at the back-to-school event receive backpacks filled with school supplies. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Detective Ureña greets a parent after she was given a backpack for her child. Photo Credit: Henry Danner
Tags
Community Youth Education