The Brooklyn Communities Collaborative Strong Communities Fund has awarded grants to youth, anti-violence, mental health, and other initiatives across Brooklyn.
BROOKLYN, NY (June 4, 2020) Brooklyn Communities Collaborative is committed to addressing the structural causes of inequality by creating the economic opportunities that leverage our collective resources. BCC is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization partnering closely with the City University of New York, Maimonides Medical Center, One Brooklyn Health System, 1199SEIU, and key community partners, focused on strengthening health, wealth, and leadership in Brooklyn communities. As recent events have painfully highlighted the gaping inequities and structural racism that continues to affect our Black communities, BCC’s mission is to address the toxic triggers of poor health in historically and currently underserved communities throughout Brooklyn. BCC’s work is driven by a commitment to ensuring that the voice of communities of color is strong and present in all advocacy, research, policymaking, and healthcare reform efforts.
While the recent events of the COVID-19 pandemic came suddenly; structural racism was centuries in the making. A central goal of BCC has been to foster the development of durable, healthy, vibrant, and economically strong communities. It is easy to say we stand in solidarity with Black communities, but it is far more important that we demonstrate it in tangible ways by continuing and amplifying the partnerships and programs we have built together. What matters now is how we respond, both individually and collectively, and we are determined to continue that work. What we do now matters.
“BCC stands in solidarity with all people of good conscience who are peacefully demonstrating and voicing their determination to challenge the structural barriers that prevent a more just society and a beloved community,” said Roger L. Green, Vice Chair, BCC Board, and former member of the NYS Assembly representing Brooklyn. “To this end, we propose that our Strong Communities Fund will be embraced as a constructive tool to advance the moral imperatives of equity and social solidarity during these momentous times.”
BCC made $3M available to nonprofits through the Strong Communities Fund at the end of April to address the immediate needs of organizations most affected by COVID-19. While this crisis has heightened health and safety risks for the poor, hungry, homeless, and other vulnerable populations, it is more important than ever to support the nonprofits that provide critical services to these people.
Today, we are proud to announce the first round of grants from the Strong Communities Fund in support of community-based organizations serving those most affected by COVID-19. These grants improve equity in access to physical and behavioral healthcare services, strengthen programs focused on social determinants of health and support opportunities for economic advancement.
Each recipient organization aligns with BCC’s mission by promoting health and wealth in underserved communities and fighting back against inequities.
“exalt works toward achieving justice and freedom for justice-involved young people through court engagement and educational and career development. We know that it is our moral obligation to speak up in these times, as the ongoing injustices inflicted on black men, women, and children continue to unfold. We also know that in the United States, this moment of anger and outrage is built on a legacy of criminalization and incarceration of our families. We will not remain silent, we will not remain neutral,” said Gisele Castro, Executive Director at exalt. “At the core of exalt’s tenets is to “humanize”, and we are calling on our partners to meaningfully work together to move towards justice and to protect the humanity of black lives. exalt was born in Brooklyn and serves over 70% of youth who reside in Brooklyn. We are grateful to BCC for supporting exalt, and forming a partnership with us to create lasting change in the lives of our youth and families.”
BCC seeks proposals from all community-based organizations and projects that ensure equitable access to care, social services, and/or economic development opportunities. Eligible organizations are invited to apply here. For more information, please visit https://www.brooklyncommunities.org/.
About Brooklyn Communities Collaborative (BCC)
BCC is a New York State 501(c)(3) not-for-profit focused on strengthening health, wealth and leadership in Brooklyn communities. Leveraging the power of anchor institutions and knowledge of community members, BCC convenes and supports stakeholders to collaborate, integrate services, build resources, and inform the policies and practices that most affect health and wellbeing. The Strong Communities Fund is one of BCC’s four interrelated key initiatives, which also include projects to expedite affordable housing, develop unionized cooperatives to supply anchor institutions, and coordinate care management and community efforts to connect Brooklynites to services.