Five Brooklyn Nonprofits Receive More Than $1M in Grants to Combat Effects of COVID-19, Climate Change and Election Issues

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Five Brooklyn nonprofits are amongst the 42 that have been granted $6.1 million in funding from New York Community Trust to address the impacts of COVID-19, climate change and city election mechanisms. More than $1 million has been awarded to BRIC Arts/Media, Brooklyn Legal Services Corp A., Flatbush Development Corporation, Brooklyn Hospital Center, Hope Program and Kings Against Violence Initiative. The New York Community Trust Vice President for Grantmaking Shawn Morehead, a Brooklyn resident, said the grants were targeted to support great nonprofits as they helped Brooklynites adjust to the lasting effects on their health, economy, and quality of life. “Communities across Brooklyn continue to struggle with the wide-ranging impacts of the pandemic as we have moved from the initial crisis phase to the recovery stage,” she said. BRIC was given $200,000 to go towards technical support for ten arts nonprofits building virtual programming, and to its own training and resources used to develop its production capabilities. Brooklyn Legal Services Corp. A was granted $400,000 for services to small businesses in low-income communities, to aid them in negotiating commercial leases, applying for public and private pandemic relief and working towards complying with COVID-related regulations. Flatbush Development Corporation got $125,000 to help tenant associations in rent-stabilized buildings continue their assistance during COVID-19. The nonprofit will hold forums to educate people about housing rights during the pandemic, connect households with legal counseling and further develop housing advocacy efforts. Brooklyn Hospital Center was granted $150,000 to train healthcare workers to use telehealth for primary and mental-health care for low-income Brooklyn residents during COVID-19. Hope Program received $100,000 to expand its employment services for young people living in shelters and public housing. The group will increase access to technology, engage with community groups to enroll more young people in Bed-Stuy and continue offering courses in construction, culinary arts, and other fields. Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI) was granted $140,000 to expand a violence-prevention program at Brooklyn high schools. Fifty young people already participating in the program will be trained as paid anti-violence peer educators. The Brooklyn nonprofits are just five of the 42 that were granted the funding to deal with the current and emerging effects of the pandemic and other pressing challenges the city is facing, including climate change, new city election mechanisms and the rising call to engage young people as advocates for change. The New York Community Trust is a public grant-making foundation dedicated to improving the lives of city residents. It connects generous New Yorkers with nonprofits working to make a healthy, equitable and thriving community for all.

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