Sunset Park
Three roundhouse kicks to borough daughter Chiara Dituri. Last year the black belter at AmeriKick Karate underwent double knee surgery that sidelined her from competing.
“I didn’t know if I would ever be able to fight again or be the same,” she said.
But her fears were unfounded and as it turned out, she’s back and better than ever. On Feb. 12, Sensei Chiara competed in the King of New York Karate Tournament and kicked butt.
“For the past year I have poured my heart and soul into every rehab session because although I had doubts about being the same fighter that I was I knew that with hard work and dedication, only positive things can happen,” she explained.
“Don’t be pushed by your problems, be led by your dreams,” she concluded. Standing O agrees.
The AmeriKick Karate system includes curriculums that are based on the traditional arts of Kenpo, bando, tae kwon do, Shotokan, wushu, jiujitsu, Filipino Arnis, modern boxing, kickboxing, and sport karate.
Amerikick Karate, [5815 Fifth Ave at 60th Street in Sunset Park, (718) 567–7099].
Borough Wide
Save the date
Let’s put our positive vibes in action and send them onto Brooklynite Kristin DeClara. The 29 year old is running the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon race on March 19.
This is the first time she is running, and is a year after losing her father to a stroke and suffering from Crohn’s disease.
DeClara decided two years ago that she would run her first half marathon. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract, at the age of 14, DeClara struggled with severe symptoms such as abdominal pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, and fluctuating weight. Troubled by the ability of the disease to disrupt her daily routine, she found that exercise eased her struggle throughout the years.
Running became a mental escape for DeClara. Alone with her thoughts, it became an outlet that made her feel stronger, empowered, and “being out on the race course grants me the normalcy life wasn’t kind enough to offer,” she said.
The race starts in Central Park and finishes at Wall Street in Manhattan.
Standing O is wishing Kristin good luck.
Borough Wide
Teens matter, too!
Cheers to the teens who attended Teensmatter 2017 summit on Jan. 29. Hosted by the Brooklyn Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, teens gathered at Borough Hall, registered to vote, and came together to discuss social injustices they experience and witness in their everyday life. Their needs were a cry out for coping mechanisms and tools to handle what they coined social violence.
“I am proud to serve our chapter, working with all teens to find solutions to the problems we are confronted with” said Carlos Mayers, Brooklyn Chapter Senior Teen President.
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D–Flatbush), Congressman Hakeem Jefferies (D–Canarsie), Borough President Adams, and Brooklyn Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez were on hand to talk about the priorities of the federal administration and local government to address these injustices.
Workshops were facilitated by the New York Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, New York Police Sergeant John Reives, and youth activists including Kenneth Shelton Jr., Youth Community Organizer for the Greater New York Black Lives Matter, and Sharon Pardales, Youth Organizer for New York Public Interest Group/NYPIRG.
Standing O says, “Thank you, teens.”
