This Week's Resources
Adams Administration Shelter Policy Disproportionately Evicts African Migrants (New York Focus)
2024 NYC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Application Open [Due March 1st]
Sadie Nash Leadership Project Summer Institute Application Open [Due March 12th]
NYS COVID and MonkeyPox Updates (Plus Info about the Flu, RSV, and Norovirus)
Scams pretending to be immigration agencies: How to protect yourself (Documented)
Documented's Mental Health Resources for Immigrants in New York
Documented's Immigrant Resources and Job/Housing Discrimination Guides
If you have resources to share with our network, please contact Tobi Mojeed-Balogun our Associate Director of Programs Support.
2024 Youth Opportunity Grant Application
We are thrilled to announce that we will be opening the application for our Youth Opportunity Grant on February 23rd at 9 am.
I will be holding information sessions and walkthroughs at 6pm on Tuesday, February 20th. Lastly I will have a virtual office hours on Thursday for any last minute questions from 2 pm - 4 pm. The Zoom link is here.
To learn about EC's grants (including BHN), see here. Please contact me (Tobi) for more information and if you have any other questions or concerns.
The Farm Bill Hall of Shame (Mother Jones)
"The farm bill is among the most important pieces of legislation that Congress is more or less obliged to pass. Yet to all but a handful of people whose job it is to parse its every incremental gain or loss, it is largely inscrutable. Every five years we’re treated to bitter fights over things like the use and abuse of agricultural subsidies; attempts to defund SNAP; the notion that environmental stewardship should guide farm policy as much as increasing production; and how (and sadly whether) to build equity into an agriculture system with a racist history.
But the backstories to these fights, some ill-fated and others shameful, can provide important context and help to clarify exactly what’s at stake. Over the last 90 years there have been several key farm bill moments, the consequences of which shape the debates ongoing today." Read more here.
House Ag Democrats hold closed-door farm bill meeting amid impasse with GOP (Politico)
"House Agriculture Committee Democrats gathered Tuesday afternoon for a closed-door update on the farm bill, amid a major policy impasse with Republicans.
Ranking member David Scott (D-Ga.) and his staff sought in a brief meeting to push back on GOP efforts to repurpose key climate and future nutrition funding in the farm bill to boost wider conservation projects, farm commodity programs and key Democratic priorities, according to Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), a ranking member of a House Ag subpanel, and three people familiar with the meeting." Read more here.
Small farms decline in New York, especially dairy (Times Union)
"ALBANY — Half of New York’s dairy farms from a decade ago no longer exist as rising production costs and national market changes have shuttered thousands of small- and mid-size dairies.
Despite the plummeting number of dairy and other farms in New York, the number of dairy cattle has remained about the same, suggesting smaller farms have either folded and sold their herds to larger competitors or have consolidated with other family farms." Read more here.
Adams Administration Shelter Policy Disproportionately Evicts African Migrants (New York Focus)
"Sokhona Khassa had heard that New York City would take him in. A migrant from Mauritania, Khassa, 29, had traversed Central America to arrive at the southern border of the United States, where fellow migrants told him he would fare better in New York. When he got there, he was disappointed.
“The staff treated us badly,” said Khassa, in French, of his time in a city shelter. “When they pass us, they cover their nose. It’s like you’re dirty or something.”
In July 2023, the same month Khassa arrived in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams capped migrants’ shelter stays at 60 days. Khassa got his first notice in August. In September, Adams reduced the shelter limit to 30 days for single adults." Read more here.
2024 NYC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Application Open [Due March 1st]
"Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experiences each summer."
The application is due March 1st. Must be a NYC resident. Apply or learn more here.
Sadie Nash Leadership Project Summer Institute Application Open [Due March 12th]
"Summer Institute is an award-winning 6-week summer program where participants explore their own leadership skills and build a strong community with other Nashers…because at Sadie Nash we believe that all young women and gender-expansive youth are leaders NOW!"
Only for "young women and gender-expansive youth who are enrolled in high school and live in New York City or Newark. There are no academic or skill criteria for admission." Apply or learn more here.
TD Charitable Foundation - Housing for Everyone Competition
"The theme for the 18th annual Housing for Everyone competition is affordable housing with services to support independent living for marginalized community members.
The impacts of homelessness are not equal across many populations. There are conditions that make it difficult for people to maintain a stable home without additional help. To address this issue, we'll fund a select group of organizations focused on housing solutions that lead to stable, independent living situations."
New York Common Pantry Personal Care and Hygiene Wishlist
Here's a message from our friends at NY Common Pantry:
"Dear Friends of NY Common Pantry,
As you may have read, a building in the Bronx collapsed [December 11th]. NYCP was asked by the Bronx Borough President's office to provide hygiene kits for the residents that were displaced by this event. While we could answer the need, it meant that all our supplies have been depleted and we need these kits for our participants who come daily. While we should manage through the holiday - we will need these in the new year.The kits consist of a mix of toothpaste, shampoo, shaving kits, toothbrush, soap and chapstick etc. They can be made into kits or items can be collected and donated to NYCP where kits can be made. It might be a perfect January event after the holidays if your schools could help us out with a much needed collection. If your students will travel or parents travel for work, those hotel size toiletries are perfectly fine.This is the link on Amazon to make it even easier to see what is needed and how easy it is to create the kits at home or at work - https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1DM1TOXUVSRL7?ref_=wl_share."
NYS COVID and MonkeyPox Updates (Plus Info about the Flu, RSV, and Norovirus)
A lot of the news around mandates, vaccines and restrictions have been a little confusing so I will list some resources below that might help.
Interview with NYC Health Commissioner on COVID bump. Link here.
NYS Department of Health COVID website - It's a one stop shop with an info summary at the top. Link here.
NYC Department of Health Monkeypox Webpage - lots of information and resources about the virus with pictures of the rash included. Find the link here.
With Mpox at Risk of Flaring, Health Officials Advise, ‘Get Vaccinated’ - New York Times - Read here
COVID vs Flu vs RSV info - I found a good article from the Washington post that gives information about three viruses that have been spiking this winter. Read the article here.
The Time Magazine article on the new variant (XBB.1.5) - Link Here
US News and World Report article on newest variant (BA.2.86) - Link Here
COVID is back in NY. What to know about schools, nursing homes and more (lohud.) - link here
How to Keep Tabs on COVID Through Wastewater Testing in NYC (The City) - link here
Scams pretending to be immigration agencies: How to protect yourself (Documented)
"Fraudulent emails and messages have circulated social media, masquerading as communications from federal immigration agencies, that falsely promise migrants legal representation for obtaining a Green Card in exchange for a small fee. Scammers specifically target Spanish-speaking, migrant New Yorkers who are in the process of adjusting their immigration status.
Rosa Santana, the Bond Director at Envision Fund, contacted Documented regarding scam messages circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp. The emails also falsely claim that failure to respond to the correspondence could result in a “negative report in the migration system,” making individuals “prone to deportation.”
Scam messages that target migrants are nothing new, as Documented reported in the past during the Excluded Workers Fund. However, these new scams exploit the necessity of migrants as they seek asylum in the United States. Here are some of the common scams targeting migrants with immigration cases and how to avoid them." Read the rest of the guide here.
Safe Church Training
Safe Church is handled by the Diocesan Human Resources Department which can be reached at safechurchinfo@dioceseny.org. You can also call 917 414 0156.
For more information on Safe Church, visit https://dioceseny.org/administration/congregations/recruiting-and-employment/sexual-misconduct-awareness-2/safe-church/
Documented's Mental Health Resources for Immigrants in New York
"A list of organizations that provide free or low-cost mental health care services to immigrants in New York
It can be overwhelming to find mental health care services, so Documented compiled a list of organizations and groups that offer low cost options, accept Medicaid, or render free services to individuals who are seeking counseling.
Most of these locations provide services in English and Spanish. We recommend reaching out to the location for more information, as some of the prices for services given are based on the level of income. For emergencies always call 911.
You can also contact NYC Well for free, confidential crisis counseling, mental health, and substance misuse support, information, and referral. You can reach the toll-free helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone, text and online chat. Mental health professionals there can link you to the services you need. Phone: 888-692-9355 | (Espanol): 888-692-9355"
NYC migrant crisis: Where to volunteer and what to donate (Gothamist)
"Mayor Eric Adams has repeatedly urged New Yorkers to volunteer or donate to help ease the asylum-seeker crisis, but figuring out where to go to help or what items to give can be difficult.
For information on how New Yorkers can help, Gothamist spoke with the mayor's office as well as several organizers involved in daily efforts to aid migrants who have recently arrived in the city." Read more here.
Documented's Immigrant Resources and Job/Housing Discrimination Guides
"Documented has gathered all of the resources we can find to help immigrant New Yorkers. New links will be added and the following pages will be constantly updated. If you would like us to add information to this list or have questions, please reach out to us at info@documentedny.com."
"The New York City Human Rights Law is one of the most comprehensive anti-discrimination laws in the country, prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on race, color, religion/creed, age, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, gender (including sexual harassment), gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, military service, marital status and partnership status. As a newsroom that serves immigrant communities, Documented has written a comprehensive guide for immigrants."
Hudson Link Employer Toolkit
Our friends at Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison put together an employer toolkit for hiring formerly incarcerated people. Thank you to Sean Pica, Eldredge Blalock, Elisabeth Santiago, and the rest of the team at Hudson Link for this important resource. The toolkit can be found here. If you have any questions about hiring formerly incarcerated people, please contact Elisabeth Santiago from Hudson Link's Alumni Services at esantiago@hudsonlink.org.
+++
That's all for this week -- thanks for all you do!
Comments