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Our New Segment in Talking Politics , from The War in Iran to my co host Robert Press.
Sunday, April 5, 2026
BRAC - April 2026 Newsletter
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Here's What's Happening In
APRIL 2026
at the Bronx River Art Center
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Let your creative spirit bloom this spring! Registration for BRAC's Spring 2026 Art Classes is now open, with courses in painting, ceramics, drawing, and more! Visit our education page for more information, including dates, descriptions, and pricing.
Those who wish to register for our art classes but require financial aid to do so can also also apply for one of our BRAC Community Access Scholarships, which offers partial and full scholarships to our weekly classes, plus other discounts.
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BRAC Innovators
Free Afterschool STEAM Program for Pre-Teens & Teens
Ongoing | Rolling Admission
Learning isn't just about science and math. It's about art, too! With our afterschool initiative, BRAC Innovators, participants will explore all the ways that science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics all combine and relate to each other to fuel creative new ways of thinking.
BRAC Innovators is broken up into two programs: MSCreate, a middle school (plus fifth grade) program for ages 10-14, and Teen Project Studio, a high school program for ages 14-19. Click the program logos below to learn more about each.
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We'll continue to have informational sessions for those curious about the BRAC Innovators program. Keep an eye out for upcoming dates for these events.
Gallery
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BRAC is pleased to present Chronicles of Grace: Exploring the Aging Body, a group exhibition confronting cultural perception of aging head-on, offering a reimagined and celebratory view of aging as an integral and beautiful part of the human experience.
Through an array of mediums such as photography, painting, mixed media, and installation, the featured artists — ranging from ages 40 to 85, represent diverse cultural backgrounds and identities — explore the complexities of aging, addressing topics such as menopause, greying, mortality, and the physical, mental, and emotional changes that accompany age.
The exhibition will be on view until April 25th.
Visit Our Gallery Page
Events
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BRAC Spring Open House (April 18th at 12pm)
Join us for our quarterly open house event. Check out the unveiling of our new community room, create beautiful flower prints with teaching artists Tammy Wofsey and Matthew Burcaw, visit the studios of our artist residents, and learn about other community organizations as you vibe to music and enjoy some snacks. Save the date and stay tuned for more information.
Chronicles of Grace — Artist Talk (April 18th at 4:30pm)
An artist talk for our current exhibition (Chronicles of Grace: Exploring the Aging Body) will give attendees the opportunity to learn more about the artistic process and themes of these works from the artists themselves. RSVP here.
Earth Day Workshops (April 24-25th)
Among the many community events happening as part of Earth Week in West Farms, BRAC is offering a handful of art and nature-based workshops that share the goal of enhancing our awareness of self and connection to nature. Save the dates and stay tuned for more information.
ReelAbilities — Dream Touch Believe Film Screening (April 18th at 2:30pm)
BRAC and ReelAbilities are holding a special screening of Dream Touch Believe (2023, 85 min), followed by a live Q&A with director Jenna Naranjo Winters. The film is an intimate and powerful documentary following Michael Naranjo, an Indigenous sculptor who became blind and lost the use of one hand during the Vietnam War. Through resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to his craft, Naranjo develops adaptive sculpting techniques and continues to create deeply expressive work — on his own terms. Purchase tickets here.
Chronicles of Grace — Closing Reception & Tai Chi Workshop (April 18th at 5:30pm)
As part of the closing reception for Chronicles of Grace: Exploring the Aging Body, visitors will be able to partake in a Tai Chi workshop. This workshop will introduce participants to a Chinese martial art that imbues practitioners with better balance, flexibility, and a sense of relaxation regardless of where they are in the aging process. RSVP here.
Teaching Artist Spotlight
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Community Shout-Out
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BRAC Opportunities
Call for Volunteers
Join Us as a BRAC Volunteer!
Invest your time and talents in a vibrant arts community where every contribution makes a difference. Whether you love helping behind the scenes, supporting education programs, or sharing your skills in fundraising and communications, we have a place for you!
We’re getting volunteers together for park cleanups along the Bronx River, studio and gallery prep, and more!
Get involved, meet creative people, and help us keep the arts alive in the Bronx.
Keep Creativity Alive
Donate to BRAC!  |
Your gift fuels workshops, exhibitions, and youth programs in the Bronx!
For 37 years, BRAC has been a creative home where art sparks connection, nurtures young imaginations, and amplifies the voices of Bronx artists. Every workshop, exhibition, and community project we offer is made possible by friends like you who believe in the power of the arts to inspire and transform. As we look ahead to our next season of bold programs, your donation—big or small—helps us keep our doors open to all and ensures that creativity continues to thrive in the Bronx. Join us in shaping the next chapter of BRAC’s story—make your gift today.
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Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association General Community meeting on Tuesday April 14th at 7:00 pm
The PPNA General Community meeting on Tuesday April 14th at 7:00 pm with special guests Senior Mgmt. from the US Postal Service. If you have any issues or problems with the Post Office/Mail then this is the meeting to attend! The meeting is at Bronx House 990 Pelham Parkway South. We look forward to seeing you.
River Apartments II Breaks Ground At 1185 River Avenue In West Concourse, The Bronx
Construction has broken ground on River Avenue Apartments II, an affordable housing project at 1185 River Avenue in West Concourse, The Bronx. Developed by Community Access and Blue Sky Bronx, the $225 million project will deliver 292 apartments for households earning up to 80 percent of area median income (AMI). The project follows the completion of the nearby 245-unit River Avenue Apartments I in March 2024. The property is located between East 167th and McClellan Streets.
Apartments will be offered in configurations ranging from studios to three-bedrooms. Of the total, 173 apartments will be set aside as supportive housing for veterans with disabilities, formerly homeless residents, and people living with mental illness. Community Access will provide on-site services including counseling, group activities, harm-reduction support, medication management assistance, and referrals for health care, mental health care, and employment services. The project will also include 15 units for residents with mobility impairments and six for residents with sensory disabilities.
The all-electric development is designed to meet Energy Star Multifamily New Construction ERI Path standards and will incorporate air-water heat pumps, LED lighting, and low-flow fixtures. Planned amenities include rooftop green space and an urban farm, a children’s play area, outdoor exercise equipment, a meditation walking path, and cellar-level commercial space intended for a grocery store.
State financing includes low-income housing tax credits expected to generate about $90 million in equity, $60 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal, and $9.8 million from the state’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program.
The site is positioned along the River Avenue corridor near Yankee Stadium. The closest subways from the property are the 4, B, and D trains at two 167th Street stations.
Illegal Alien Sends Two ICE Officers to Hospital After Attempt to Dangerously Evade Arrest
On, April 2, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers attempted to arrest an illegal alien with a final order of removal, but the illegal alien chose instead to dangerously evade arrest—endangering himself, law enforcement, and the general public.
On Thursday afternoon, ICE officers conducted a targeted operation to arrest Ever Omar Alvarenga-Rios, an illegal alien from Honduras with a final order of removal from a judge. Officers tried to conduct a vehicle stop, but instead of complying with law enforcement, this illegal alien drove recklessly through the streets of Baltimore.
The illegal alien slammed on his brakes, causing a multi-car pileup. Alvarenga then attempted to flee on foot and continued to disobey law enforcement commands. ICE law enforcement followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to make the arrest.
Alvarenga and the two officers involved were transported to a local hospital for treatment including a concussion. Alvarenga remains in the hospital in ICE custody.
Obstructing law enforcement is a felony and a federal crime.
“This illegal alien broke our laws, resisted arrest, sent two ICE law enforcement officers to the hospital, and endangered the general public. Thankfully both our officers are expected to make a full recovery,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “This dangerous attempt to resist arrest comes after sanctuary politicians have encouraged illegal aliens to evade arrest by hosting webinars instructing illegal aliens how to avoid being caught. Sanctuary politicians must stop encouraging this reckless behavior that endangers illegal aliens, our officers, and the public.”
Alvarenga first entered the country in 2014 and was released under the Obama administration. In 2018, a federal immigration judged issued him a final order of removal. He had every chance to leave the United States but chose to continue to break the law and remain in the country illegally.
This avoidable incident comes after sanctuary politicians held webinars and provided resources and tips for how to openly defy ICE:
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted a webinar in February providing tips for illegal aliens to evade arrests at homes, workplaces, or in public.
- Dan Goldman posted an online video calling on illegal aliens to make a plan for ICE encounters.
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued multilingual flyers and online resources advising illegal aliens on how to evade arrest.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom released guides and sanctuary laws advising illegal aliens how to recognize ICE, block entry, and defy arrest.
ICE officers are now facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them and a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them. We are once again calling on sanctuary politicians, agitators, and the media to turn the temperature down and stop calling for violence and resistance against ICE law enforcement.
DEA Hosts 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day On Saturday, April 25th
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will host the 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at nearly 4,200 locations nationwide.
“Once again this is a great way to properly dispose of your unneeded, unwanted, or expired medications.” Every year, we collect tons of medications that would otherwise sit on a shelf, be thrown away, or flushed into our water systems.”
Twice a year, DEA joins forces with local law enforcement and community groups to host DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, giving the public a safe and anonymous way to dispose of expired and unused prescription medications. By getting rid of unnecessary medications in the home, families can help prevent prescription drug misuse and reduce the potential for accidental poisonings.
“Removing unused and expired medications from your home and disposing of them properly is a simple but powerful step in preventing prescription drug misuse,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a critical public safety initiative that we have hosted for 16 years. Its continued success is due, in large part, to our local and state law enforcement and community partners who continue to stand with us to make our communities safe.”
Since 2010, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has provided an easy and accessible way to dispose of medications that could pose a threat if misused. Over the past 16 years, National Prescription Take Back Day has removed more than 20 million pounds of unwanted medications from communities across the United States.
Opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine, are among the most misused prescription pain medications, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should be securely sealed in their original container.
Syringes, sharps, or illicit drugs are not collected. To learn how to properly dispose of these items we encourage you to visit FDA.gov.
To find the Take Back Day location nearest you visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
For those unable to participate in this month’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are more than 16,500 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses that offer safe medication disposal year-round. In addition, many police departments also provide permanent drop boxes to ensure Every Day is Take Back Day.