This Week's Resources
Robin Hood Grants $36 Million for Economic Mobility in New York City (The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
‘The narrative has to change’: Local leaders seek ways to welcome migrants (Times Union)
City Harvest Takes a Big Swing at Food Drives (Food Bank News)
Confronting chronic absenteeism: NYC schools lean on data, tap peer-to-peer support (Chalkbeat)
TikTok Videos Spread Misinformation to New Migrant Community in New York City (Documented)
Documented's Affordable College Tuition for Undocumented, DACA Students and Asylum Seekers Guide
NYS COVID and MonkeyPox Updates (Plus Info about the Flu, RSV, and Norovirus)
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.
EC Grant Seekers' Meetings
In our ongoing efforts to demonstrate the ability to respond to acute needs, maintain flexibility to be responsive and better support our grantee partners, we have developed a new grants process that reflects our commitment to innovation and impact.
This new approach marks a departure from our previous grants we’ve come to know as BHN and YOG. It is designed to streamline the application requirements eliminating barriers that may have previously hindered submissions, ensuring that more programs can apply for funding.
We recognize that you are the heartbeat of our mission, and we want to ensure that you have the support you need to continue your valuable work. As such, to facilitate this transition, we will be offering a series of training workshops and information sessions. These will cover important aspects of the new process. The next Grant Seekers Information overview will be held virtually on Thursday, October 3rd at 6:00pm.
Please keep an eye on your inbox for further details about the training sessions and how to register. Your participation will be immensely valuable, and we encourage all our grantees to take advantage of these opportunities.
East Village Neighbors Who Care Resource Map
East Village Neighbors Who Care is a community organization based in the city that has been serving migrants/newcomers and has completed a resource map:
The map is now taking submissions, so that you can add your resources to the map. Submit via this form here
The Map has a corresponding Google Drive with translated versions of many of the resources, linked here
This map serves dual purpose: 1) for asylum seekers to use to find the resources they need and 2) for those serving asylum seekers to direct people to appropriate services. If that sort of outreach model works for your site, add your information.
Robin Hood Grants $36 Million for Economic Mobility in New York City (The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
"Here are notable new grant awards compiled by the Chronicle:
Robin Hood
$36 million to nearly 100 organizations for efforts to strengthen community and economic development, education, stable housing, health, and career advancement in New York City." See the other grants here.
‘The narrative has to change’: Local leaders seek ways to welcome migrants (Times Union)
"KINGSTON — The arrival of more than 100,000 asylum-seekers in the state over the last year and a half has left local officials looking for ways to meet their needs. Enter the Ellis Island Initiative, a bipartisan coalition of statewide leaders and advocacy groups that seeks to help communities realize the potential migrants present to stimulate the local economy.
On Wednesday, the coalition brought that message to a group of 30 local elected officials and labor, nonprofit and business leaders in a gathering at Kingston’s Good Work Institute to discuss how to welcome new immigrants." Our very own UIDN was highlighted in this article. Read more here.
City Harvest Takes a Big Swing at Food Drives (Food Bank News)
"City Harvest’s approach to food drives is to cast a wide net.
The New York City-based food bank – one of the largest in the country – sees food drives as an effective way for everyday New Yorkers to get engaged with its mission to end hunger in NYC. So it gives New Yorkers a multitude of ways to participate.
At the center of its efforts are four large traditional food drives that City Harvest runs every year. In addition, it works with corporate partners so their employees can make cash contributions that go toward food. And always available is the ability to contribute fresh and healthy produce using the #GiveHealthy platform." Read more here.
When College Kids Can’t Afford Food (Time)
"As fall semester of college is in full swing, nearly a quarter of students face a little-discussed, yet pernicious challenge: food insecurity.
According to a 2024 study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), in 2020, 3.8 million college students reported experiencing food insecurity. More than half of these students reported skipping meals or not eating multiple times a day because they couldn’t afford food.
This food insecurity crisis didn’t come out of the blue. College students have struggled to access sufficient food for decades. What used to be viewed as the college trope of a student eating ramen for four years has become a full-blown crisis. More students with lower incomes and less generational wealth are enrolling in college. The cost of attending has grown along with increased food, housing, and other living expenses." Read more here.
Confronting chronic absenteeism: NYC schools lean on data, tap peer-to-peer support (Chalkbeat)
"Bronx Principal David Liu did not notice an abrupt change in attendance when students returned to in-person learning three years ago after pandemic campus closures. Instead, the problem became clearer to him as the year progressed.
Students and staff at Gotham Collaborative High School became fatigued by five-day school weeks. Child tax credits and supplemental unemployment benefits also began to wane, forcing parents back into the workplace and requiring students to take on more responsibilities at home.
“The grind of what school was started to hit students at different times of the school year,” he said. “That’s when chronic absenteeism became kind of more like this slowly growing thing in our school.” Read more about how they dealt with it here.
Next NYC schools chancellor: Melissa Aviles-Ramos says it’s business as usual despite Adams’ charges (Chalkbeat)
"Mayor Eric Adams faces bribery and fraud charges and a growing number of calls for his resignation, but he has not lost the support of his incoming schools chancellor.
Melissa Aviles-Ramos was announced Wednesday as David Banks’ successor and is expected to officially assume the role after he retires on Dec. 31.
She reiterated her support for Adams during a Thursday interview with Chalkbeat, and she emphasized her commitment to continuing his education agenda, including an overhaul of literacy teaching in elementary schools." Read more here.
TikTok Videos Spread Misinformation to New Migrant Community in New York City (Documented)
"One video told viewers that new migrants easily get work permits and good jobs in the United States. Another warned viewers, once they are in the U.S., not to change their postal address or transfer their asylum case if they move to another state. Another instructed them to re-apply for asylum if they do not receive an acknowledgment letter within a few months.
These videos were all posted on TikTok in French or Wolof, the languages spoken by many of the West African migrants who have arrived in New York City in the last two years.
Documented reviewed hundreds of videos like these. Some aimed to inform, advise or persuade viewers and appeared to be well-meaning. Many featured migrants sharing their first-hand experiences of the asylum process to encourage others in their position, and some filmed candidly in supermarkets, on park benches, or in their cars.
Other videos, however, were not so well-meaning." Read more here.
Documented's Affordable College Tuition for Undocumented, DACA Students and Asylum Seekers Guide
"This comprehensive guide provides essential information for undocumented and asylum-seeking students on accessing education at CUNY and SUNY, including eligibility, tuition, financial aid, and available support resources."
Mid-Hudson Valley Community Profiles Website (CGR)
"The Mid-Hudson Valley regional profile provides a wealth of information at your fingertips to help inform decision-making and planning in order to drive positive community change for the seven-county region as a whole.
This web tool includes 59 separate indicators that provide insight into the trends of our community over time. Together, the collection of community indicators tells the story about where we are as a community and the direction in which we are heading.
In recent years, this project has expanded to cover additional counties (Columbia, Greene, Putnam and Sullivan) and added indicators, including data on drug-related deaths that show the spike in opioid abuse, food insecurity and the share of our residents who are foreign-born."
Map the Meal Gap 2024 Report (Feeding America)
"May 15, 2024
The extra amount of money that people facing hunger said they need to have enough food reached its highest point in the last 20 years, according to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study. People facing hunger said they need an additional $24.73 per week in 2022, a 9.5% increase after adjusting for increased prices. Nationally, the amount needed among all 44 million people facing hunger in 2022 hit a record high of $33.1 billion, up nearly 43%. This increase suggests that rising prices, especially food prices, likely contributed in part to the increase in need.
Map the Meal Gap is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district in the U.S. The study builds upon the USDA’s latest report of national and state data, which showed a sharp increase in food insecurity in 2022 amidst historically high food prices and the expiration of many pandemic-era programs. Map the Meal Gap emphasizes the urgent call for all of us to take action." Read more here.
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.
NYC COVID cases up 250% in 2 months — and this variant's harder to duck (Gothamist) - 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.
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.
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
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"
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.
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That's all for this week -- thanks for all you do!
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