Take A Tour Of Newly Renovated Roosevelt Island Youth Center, STEM Lab, Gaming Center, Learning Kitchen, Educational Garden, Music Room, Multimedia Theater & More - Why Did RIOC Try To Block Local Media And RIRA President From The Tour?

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) hosted a tour of the newly renovated Youth Center for a select group of invited RIOC Staff, Board Directors and politicians last Saturday, April 17. 

The new Roosevelt Island Youth Center facility includes a:

• STEM Lab,
• Gaming Center,
• Learning Kitchen,
• Educational Garden
• Music Room
  
• Activity Room and
• Multimedia Theatre
  

Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Ben Kallos was very impressed with the new Roosevelt Island Youth Center facility, particularly the Computer Center and state of the art video gaming consoles.

Roosevelt Island’s NYC Council Member @BenKallos is impressed with newly renovated Roosevelt Island Youth Center Facility @RIOCny @RiocCeo Particularly computer center, video gaming consoles and more. pic.twitter.com/TyXzc3CgCW

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) April 17, 2021

Take a look at the Youth Center Educational Garden

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A post shared by @rooseveltislander

and follow along as RIOC Project Manager Michelle Edwards gives a tour of the new Roosevelt Island Youth Center.

RIOC President Shelton Haynes adds:

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A post shared by Shelton Haynes RIOC CEO (@shelton_haynes_rioc_ceo)

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A post shared by RI Operating Corp. (RIOC) (@rooseveltislandrioc)

And:

This afternoon, I joined @BenKallos & @RIOCCeo for the grand reopening of the newly renovated Roosevelt Island Youth Center.

As a former NYC school teacher, I know firsthand the power of education and after school programming in a child’s life.

Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/EpSyrsy9Ve

— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) April 17, 2021

Had a great time earlier today at the grand reopening of the newly renovated Roosevelt Island Youth Center with @RepMaloney, @RIOCCeo and many more.

Proud to welcome this safe space for our youth back into the community at a time when they need it the most! pic.twitter.com/JZ7mE1PPnF

— Ben Kallos, NYC Council Member (@BenKallos) April 17, 2021

Thank you to the Roosevelt Island Youth Center for inviting our Neighborhood Coordination Officer Chavez and our Youth Coordination Officers Monestine and Rodriguez to your grand reopening today. We look forward to working together on many future events! pic.twitter.com/7gkCxbn1Vl

— NYPD 114th Precinct (@NYPD114Pct) April 18, 2021

The RIOC Communications staff did not invite the local Roosevelt Island media to attend the tour. I happened to be walking back from the Farmers Market when I noticed Mr Kallos talking to an assembled group at the Youth Center and stopped to see what was going on. 

Upon learning that a tour of the new facility was about to begin, I asked to be included in the tour to report on the new facility for the Roosevelt Island community. The RIOC Communications staff refused my request. Mr Kallos intervened and persuaded RIOC President Haynes to allow me to report on the Youth Center tour.

Neither was Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) President Rossana Ceruzzi invited to the renovated Youth Center tour. When she walked by the Youth Center and asked to be included in the tour as a representative of the community, the RIOC Communications staff refused her request.

More information on the Roosevelt Island Youth Center available at RIOC website.