When And Where is YSS 2002?

This year's Youth Solidarity Summer will be held from Sunday, August 11th, 2002 to the following Sunday, August 18th. 

YSS is structured as a series of day-long activities. We usually plan a number of evening trips as well -- to performances, concerts, film screenings, or just to hang out in NYC. You can see a sample program from last year, by going here.

YSS happens at the Brecht Forum, a great NYC space for people who are working for fundamental social change. We'll meet at the Brecht Forum at 9:30 AM on August 12th. Of course, you have to be registered beforehand.

Brecht Forum, 122 W. 27 St., 10th floor,
Manhattan, NY 10001
Phones : (212) 242-4201 (Brecht Forum)
917-415-0659 (YSS 2002)

Directions
 

Please keep the address and phone number handy at all times should you need to reach the organizers during the week. The phone number also serves as one of your emergency contact numbers for the week.

 

The program sounds great but I cant come the whole week. Is it ok to register?

The best part of YSS is the relationships we develop within the progressive desi community. In order make possible an environment where strong bonds of comradeship may be forged, we expect you to be pretty serious in terms of attending all days. We want you with us pretty much the whole week!
 
 

 

How do I register for YSS 2002 and how much does it cost?

There are two parts to registration -- submitting registration materials and paying the fees

Registration material

YSS 2002 registration material may be found online or you may request that we send it to you by mail or email. You can fill in and submit registration material online, through email or by postal mail. 

Registration Fees

The registration fees are $50 on a sliding scale, to be sent in after you register online (web-site registration) or together with your registration form (mail-in registration). If you cannot afford to pay the full registration fees, you may send us payment for a partial amount with a brief explanation. 

You will be registered in the order we receive your fee and/or request for abatement. If we're full (reach 30 registered participants) by the time we get your mail, we'll put you on a waiting list and let you know as soon as space opens up. In any case, we'll send you email or call you to notify you of the registration decision.

 

How do I pay my registration fee?

Please send us a check on a U.S. based bank or an international money order in U.S. dollars for the amount. The payment must be made out to SINGH FOUNDATION earmarked for "YSS 2002". The payment should be mailed to 

Youth Solidarity Summer
c/o Ashwini Rao
570 Ft Washington Avenue, Apt #75A
New York, NY 10033 

Note that we only accept checks on US-based banks or international money orders in U.S. dollars, as your bank charges us huge fees for checks on non-US banks.

 

Why does YSS charge a registration fee? Can I get a fee abatement?

YSS is run by an all-volunteer collective that raises money to pay for space, supplies, stipends, food and other expenses. We do not accept corporate dollars. We rely on the free labor of volunteers, small community-based grants, individual donations and registration fees. So your money means a lot to us.

The fees are on a sliding scale -- if you can afford to pay more than $50, we welcome it. But at the same time, if you cant afford the fees, we don't want that to stop you from attending YSS.
 
 

 

I registered for YSS and sent my fee in. But now I can't make it. What should I do?

Please notify us ASAP. 

If you let us know before July 1, 2002, we promise to refund your full fees. We would like to notify people on the waiting list as early as possible that they may make arrangements to come to New York. So please cancel promptly as a matter of courtesy, if at all you have to. 
 
 

I would love to come but I'm short of cash. Do you offer stipends?

We have a limited amount of money set aside for stipends for YSS! They are awarded based on need, as well as your level of interest in the program. To apply for the stipend you must have submitted your registration form and indicated that you need a stipend.

We will talk to you over the phone to find out how much you need and how desperately you need it. This is meant to be an informal and friendly process, not an intrusive grilling. So if you're hard up for cash, please do apply. If you are not, please give someone else a chance :)

Let us know if you have not heard back from us by July 15, 2002.

Contact InformationPlease get in touch with us to obtain registration material by mail or email, or for any other clarifications.

Email: yss-info@proxsa.org

Phone: (917) 415-0659

Mail: 
Youth Solidarity Summer
c/o Ashwini Rao
570 Ft Washington Avenue, Apt #75A
New York, NY 10033 

Airport Information

JFK International Airport: From JFK, the easiest is subway from long-term parking lot. Take the free shuttle to Howard Beach station where you can catch the A train to points in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Bronx. Carey Airport Express is the private bus line that that goes from JFK to Grand Central and Port Authority (every 30 min, very hour late nights for $13). Beware at peak traffic hours, the subway is much better! 
Laguardia Airport: From LGA, the private line is also Carey which goes every 30 minutes to Grand Central and Port Authority also for around $10. Forget about taking public transport here, more hassle than its worth! But for what its worth the M-60 city bus ($1.50) goes straight to Broadway from 125th to 106th streets in Manhattan (in case participants are staying in that area.)
Newark Airport: From Newark the private bus line is Olympia Trails every 15-30 minutes in the day less often at night for $10 or so, It goes to Grand Central. New Jersey Transit Authority (NJTA) offers an efficient bus service to Port Authority every 15-30 minutes in the day, less often at night for $7. Take a shuttle bus to Penn station, or to Newark train station ($4-5, I think) from where you can catch a PATH train ($1) to World Trade Center in NY 2. Taking the bus directly into New York is a simpler and quicker route. 

Private bus line info (Grand Central, Port Authority bus terminal)

1. New York Airport Service.125 Park Avenue b/t 41st and 42nd $13 (718) 875-8200
2. Carey Bus Service: On the web at www.careyint.com. Email: cbockus@careyint.com 

Housing Information
 

We do not guarantee any pre-arranged accommodations for out of town participants. At this time, we are soliciting volunteer-hosts who can put up one or two students each. We encourage you to contact us at yss-info@proxsa.org. Usually we do end up getting sufficient hosts to satisfy everyone. The key is to let us know early. But that is no guarantee; so please do your best to find a friend, relative, whomever you can in NYC as well.

Below is a list of relatively inexpensive housing options. Ask each place that you call for detailed information about the accommodation and for a brochure. This list is just to provide some ideas for out of town students but we cannot, naturally, guarantee that these hostels/hotels will be what you are looking for! (Unfortunately, Manhattan is not known for affordable housing so it is possible that the accommodation prices may seem a bit unreasonable at first, but we do hope that something will work out for you). We urge you to consult a New York city travel/student guide for further listings and more detailed information, and to speak to friends/relatives who may have stayed in New York City for more suggestions.

The venue for Youth Solidarity Summer, the Brecht Forum, is on West 27th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, which is in Chelsea, on the west side of Manhattan. Manhattan is very easily navigable by subway and bus; subway fares are $1.50 (the listings below have subway directions as well the numbers or alphabets refer to different subway routes). In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. Hope you have a wonderful summer!
 

BUDGET ACCOMMODATION IN MANHATTAN 
 

Carlton Arms 212-679-0680
160 E. 25 St.
(6 train to 23 St.)
Chelsea International Hostel

212-243-4922
511 W. 20 St.
(C or E train to 23rd St.)
De Hirsch Residence (at 92nd St. Y) 

212-415-5650
1395 Lexington Ave. (at 92nd)
(4, 5, or 6 trains to E. 86 St.)
International House, Long-/short-term stays: 
Columbia University 

212-316-8436
500 Riverside Drive Hotel-style rooms/suites:
(1, 2, 3 trains) 212-316-8473 
New York International House Hostel

212-932-2300
891 Amsterdam Ave. (at W. 103 St.)
(1 or 9 trains to 103 St.)
Off-Soho Suites 800-OFF-SOHO,

212-979-9801
11 Rivington St.
(F train to 2nd Ave.)
Urban Ventures

212-594-5650
No address given: 
rooms/apt's in different locations.
Vanderbilt YMCA

212-756-9600
224 E. 47 St.
(#'s 4, 5, 6, or 7 train to Grand Central)
Washington Square Hotel 

800-222-0418, 212-777-9515. 
103 Waverly Place (near NYU)
(A, B, C, D, E, F, or Q trains to W. 4 St.)
Wentworth Hotel 800-223-1900, 212-719-2300
29 W. 46 St.
(B, D, F, or Q trains to 47th-50th St/Rockefeller Center)
West Side YMCA 212-787-4400
W. 63 St.
(1 or 9 to W. 66 St/Lincoln Center)

Here's How to Get to the Brecht Forum 

By Subway: Lines 1 or 9 to 28th street stop which will leave you at 28th st. and 7th avenue. Walk south (downtown) one block to 27th st. and east towards 6th avenue. N/R to 28th street stop which will leave you at 28th street and Broadway. Walk south one block to 27th street and west heading towards 7th avenue. 

By Train: If you are arriving into Pennsylvania Station, the Brecht Forum is within walking distance. Exit Pennsylvania Station at 7th avenue, and walk south to 27th street and east towards 6th avenue. The building will be on 27th street on your right between 7th and 6th avenues. If you are arriving into Grand Central Station, you can take the S train (shuttle) to Times Square station and from there transfer to the 1/9.