Tasha Phifer became a full-spectrum doula in 2020, after an acquaintance sent her information about a free doula training. Once she learned about the transformative work of doulas, Phifer realized that she could promote racial justice by providing doula care to marginalized Black and Latinx families. Now, as a doula coordinator carrying out the Citywide Doula Initiative at The Mothership, a doula care provider in Upper Manhattan, Phifer connects residents to free doula services.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a plan on Feb. 1 to expand the number of charter schools in her 2023-24 fiscal year budget. The new plan would abolish the current cap on charter schools and allow for 85 new locations to open across New York City. There are currently 275 charter schools in New York City, and with 30 charter schools, School District 5, which includes West Harlem, has the second-highest number of charter schools in the city.

A school meant to support 438 students is now accommodating 515. Two weeks ago, parents at P.S. 145 in Morningside Heights petitioned Superintendent Kamar Samuels of District 3 for additional resources and space.

Naveed Hasan, SEAS ’00, ’02, a graduate of New York City public schools and resident of School District 3, was elected in January to serve as a Community Education Council representative on the Panel for Education Policy, the city’s highest education policy board.

Captain Jose Taveras last week was appointed commanding officer of the New York Police Department’s 26th Precinct, which services Morningside Heights and Manhattanville.

Tattoos are part of Nathaniel Rodriguez’s identity. Rodriguez has tattoos covering his head and body, and he currently runs a tattoo and body piercing shop in Central Harlem. He learned the trade from his uncle who was also a tattoo artist and now works alongside his cousin. Rodriguez now mainly gets tattoos to honor his relatives, but he said he first started getting inked to protect himself by intimidating others, aware of the stigma that comes with having tattoos.

The 142nd Street Dog Run volunteer board proposed to increase the amount of trash cans around the dog run and to enclose the existing trash cans in the dog run at the September Landmarks Preservation & Parks Committee meeting of Community Board 9.