Nonprofit Brooklyn Org (BKO) announced the recipients of the inaugural Neighborhood Collective Impact Project, where each project will receive $25,000 to support collaborations between community-based nonprofits.
Project areas of focus include gun violence in Brownsville, environmental justice in East Flatbush and the creation of a cultural hub in Kensington, according to a news release.
“We want everyone in Brooklyn to have a seat at the table in the work of building up the community,” said Brooklyn Org President Dr. Jocelynne Rainey. “The Neighborhood Collective Impact Project is a direct response to the concerns voiced by our Listening Tour participants and gives those stakeholders the resources they need to create and implement solutions.”
The 2024 Neighborhood Collective Impact Project winners are:
Beyond Memorial
- Brownsville and East New York
- Nonprofit partners: Liminal SP and Brownsville Community Justice Center
The Beyond Memorial project aims to reclaim public spaces associated with gun violence and community trauma by incorporating thoughtful solutions such as intentional lighting in place of NYPD light towers that cause sound and light pollution; hosting nighttime activations in under-utilized spaces to deter crime; and incorporating creative-environmental strategies to improve safety conditions at the Rockaway Ave. 3 train station.
Cultivate Green
- East Flatbush, Flatbush, Flatlands
- Nonprofit partners: Brooklyn Level Up and Wycoff House & Association
Studies found that soil in East Flatbush has the third highest level of lead contamination in NYC, potentially jeopardizing the health of homeowners and community gardeners growing and sharing produce; while asthma-related hospitalization rates in East Flatbush are higher compared to Brooklyn and NYC overall. Cultivate Green will conduct soil testing, air monitoring and remediation, host community workshops to raise awareness of health risks, sustainability and preliminary remediation tactics.
Kensington Cultural Council
- Kensington
- Nonprofit partners: Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY, Inc., The Singing Winds, Casa Cultural, Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts, Arts & Democracy and ArtBuilt
The Kensington Cultural Council will coordinate a series of multilingual public cultural events including family arts workshops, sewing circles, dance and ESL classes, storytelling, concerts and forums reflecting the traditional cultures of immigrant families. To address a lack of community space, the group will carry out a planning process for a neighborhood cultural hub that includes office and studio space for local artists and cultural organizations; a large conference room for public workshops, meetings and forums; and storage for shared equipment.
