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Language, childcare, food insecurity, job insecurity, housing insecurity. Services need to be available not just 9am-5pm, but at times when folks aren't working in the evenings and on weekends

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Language, childcare, food insecurity, job insecurity, housing insecurity. Services need to be available not just 9am-5pm, but at times when folks aren't working in the evenings and on weekends

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Life Skills opportunities for Young Adults

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Life Skills opportunities for Young Adults

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We do not have enough activities available for our young adults and things like financial literacy, resume writing and applying for housing are all areas our young people need more access to.

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Yes. The young adults that attended expressed the lack of job and housing opportunities

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Our SP community faces noise and garbage pollution in addition to limited walking space due to the BQE. 

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Our SP community faces noise and garbage pollution in addition to limited walking space due to the BQE. 

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Another issue to highlight is the effects of limited affordability for essential needs

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Increasing access to basic necessities such as education and resources for upward mobility is essential.

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Increasing access to basic necessities such as education and resources for upward mobility is essential.

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Yes. Adding workforce development opportunities and continuing education opportunities to all adds a way to combat inequality.

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We need to declare Sunset Park a Special Purpose district and adopt the GRID which is a plan to decarbonize Sunset Park which addresses renewable energy , food sovereignty , drinkable water, wellness and community wealth

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We need to declare Sunset Park a Special Purpose district and adopt the GRID which is a plan to decarbonize Sunset Park which addresses renewable energy , food sovereignty , drinkable water, wellness and community wealth

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There is not enough funding available to hire the necessary staff that provides this service now.

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The primary challenge facing our community is the urgent need for immediate employment upon arriving in the United States to cover essential expenses like rent and food. As you may know, immigrants with green cards for less than five years are ineligible for food stamps or cash assistance. Additionally, immigrants without underage children are also excluded from these programs. Workforce development services often cater to individuals with intermediate language skills, leaving those with limited literacy behind. This gap is why we are prioritizing foundational training programs tailored to support the most vulnerable members of our community who struggle to find assistance elsewhere. Also civic engagement programs.

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I would also add that communication materials and flyers are often inaccessible to one's community, and often not inclusive towards one's spoken language. Social media and point staff also need to reflect the community to allow for access to these services.

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Access to affordable, safe housing, basic needs like food and clothing. Except for housing, these are areas we can address in the school. Financial literacy, language classes that accommodate work schedules, supportive services to students with IEPs in the after school setting

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Access to affordable, safe housing, basic needs like food and clothing. Except for housing, these are areas we can address in the school. Financial literacy, language classes that accommodate work schedules, supportive services to students with IEPs in the after school setting

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SP community faces a series of interconnected challenges, much like pieces of a puzzle that influence one another. Affordable housing is a significant concern, with many immigrant families living in overcrowded spaces due to high rents, which can affect their overall well-being and sense of safety. Language barriers add complexity, limiting access to essential services such as healthcare and legal assistance. Economic difficulties, including job insecurity and limited opportunities for training or entrepreneurship, make it challenging for families to achieve financial stability. Schools, often lacking culturally responsive programs, further complicate the education experience for immigrant families in SP. Additionally, environmental factors like air quality, occasional pest issues such as cockroaches, and gaps in street cleaning management can affect the quality of life and contribute to health challenges.

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Waitlists for public housing and affordable units can span several years, making access to stable housing a prolonged challenge. Programs are often underfunded and unable to meet the high demand, leaving many residents without timely language support. Limited outreach to immigrant families (But honestly, residents are sometimes too busy trying to survive to participate or consistently engage in services, making it difficult for them to truly benefit.)

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Community members need the tools, education, and onboarding process to help prepare them for civic engagement

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workforce development, comprehensive wrap-around social services that help people move from precarity and lack into security and abundance so that they can focus on living and transforming themselves and society 

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workforce development, comprehensive wrap-around social services that help people move from precarity and lack into security and abundance so that they can focus on living and transforming themselves and society 

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Access to culturally responsive services within schools, immigrant parents have shared that their schools often don’t have enough staff capacity or translation support staff available thus impacting their access to important resources. Also more accessible resources supporting immigrant families intergenerationally in college preparatory support resources/programs.

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Economic Development Mindful of Capitalism / Small Business

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Economic Development Mindful of Capitalism / Small Business

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Platform for learning/providing resources 

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Platform for learning/providing resources 

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We have alignments on wanting economic development in SP, and wanting it done in ways that benefit EVERYONE and not at the expeense of ANYONE, so focusing on economic justice, economic wellness and economic access, as well as developing cross (as opposed to inter) cultural healing, understanding and solidarity among the many communities that live in SP; the Asian, Latino, and others from an intersectional grounding that accounts for all of our issues, climate, immigration, youth, education, and more.

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The challenge of this work is finding a unified front for the siloed points of contact (even in our group) and addressing the many issues perpetuated by extractive systems in SP. We must look deeper beyond our roles within our organizations and ask ourselves the world we'd like to imagine and build together. The work at a local scale, bringing the just transition framework towards economic, social, and environmental justice looks like the wellness of our communities. THRIVING! Unified in healing, understanding, action, and solidarity of the multicultural beauty in SP; Asian, Latin, Black, and Brown communities and more affected by the lack of intersectional grounding which we need to find together in this work, accounting for the issues we see impacting our frontline community (climate, immigration, policing, youth, education, and more). We must divest from the extractive economy's power to invest in our power-- communities, knowledge, strengths, resilience, and skills.

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How can we achieve economic justice and stability for all members of Sunset Park to prosper while addressing systemic issues of racism, gender inequality, gentrification, immigration, climate, and more? This includes access to safe and affordable housing, living wage jobs, health care, child care, and education. We believe that this can not be achieved without addressing the cross cultural healing, understanding, and solidarity among the many communities that makeup Sunset Park from an intersectional grounding that accounts for all of our issues.

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In our community, I see a real need for programs that can make a difference, like “Know Your Rights” workshops, civic engagement activities, youth programs, and English classes. They also need job readiness support, access to a food pantry, job readiness and help with social services to ensure everyone has the resources they need to thrive.

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Language Language Barriers: Many community members face difficulties navigating services due to limited English proficiency. Without adequate translation or interpretation services, crucial information about healthcare and resources becomes inaccessible.

Lack of Accessible Information: Insufficient outreach and poorly disseminated information leave residents unaware of available programs, eligibility criteria, or how to access services.

Cultural Differences: Cultural norms and beliefs may affect how individuals perceive and utilize healthcare. A lack of culturally sensitive approaches can discourage people from seeking care or trusting providers.

Mistrust in the System: Historical inequities and systemic biases have eroded trust in healthcare institutions, particularly among marginalized groups. This mistrust often leads to hesitation in engaging with services, even when available.: Many community members face difficulties navigating services due to limited English proficiency. Without adequate translation or interpretation services, crucial information about healthcare and resources becomes inaccessible.

Lack of Accessible Information: Insufficient outreach and poorly disseminated information leave residents unaware of available programs, eligibility criteria, or how to access services.

Cultural Differences: Cultural norms and beliefs may affect how individuals perceive and utilize healthcare. A lack of culturally sensitive approaches can discourage people from seeking care or trusting providers.

Mistrust in the System: Historical inequities and systemic biases have eroded trust in healthcare institutions, particularly among marginalized groups. This mistrust often leads to hesitation in engaging with services, even when available.

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South Brooklyn’s immigrant communities face significant challenges due to a lack of accessible immigration and mental health services. There is a particularly critical need to expand programs for the Arabic-speaking community, where existing services are minimal despite a growing demand.

Immigration Services

1. Legal Aid and Immigration Counseling

• Many immigrants in South Brooklyn face challenges navigating complex immigration processes, such as applying for Asulym, TPS, visas, work authorization, and citizenship.

• Expand free or low-cost legal aid and immigration counseling to help individuals manage these processes and avoid misinformation.

2. English & Citizenship Preparation Classes

• Expand citizenship test preparation classes, integrating civics and English language training that address the specific needs of Arabic-, Chinese-, Spanish-, and Russian-speaking communities.

3. Outreach and Know-Your-Rights Education

• Host multilingual workshops in neighborhoods like Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, and Sunset Park to educate immigrants about their rights and resources.

• Develop mobile immigration services in partnership with schools, libraries, and community organizations to reach underserved populations.

Mental Health Services for Arabic Speakers

1. Critical Need in the Arab Community

• Mental health services for Arabic speakers are extremely limited, leaving many without the support they need.

• Despite the growing demand, there are only a few small programs addressing mental health for Arabic speakers, which are insufficient for the community’s needs.

2. Culturally Competent Services

• Expand mental health services tailored to the Arabic-speaking community, including culturally sensitive therapy and counseling for individuals, families, and youth.

• Hire more Arabic-speaking mental health professionals who can address cultural stigmas and provide care in a familiar language.

Why This Matters

Immigration Services:

• Stabilizes families by helping them secure lawful status and work authorization.

• Alleviates fear and anxiety caused by misinformation and bureaucratic barriers.

• Empowers immigrants to fully participate in civic and economic life.

Mental Health Services:

• Addresses the critical gap in mental health support for Arabic speakers in South Brooklyn.

• Improves the overall well-being and resilience of families and individuals within the community.

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In South Brooklyn, Immigrant communities face significant barriers to accessing mental health services, immigration support, and legal education, all of which are vital for their well-being, safety, and empowerment. Culturally competent mental health programs are minimal, leaving a critical gap in care for those who need it most, while stigma around mental health especially within the Arab community further discourages individuals from seeking help.

Moreover, there is an urgent need for “Know Your Rights” education in Arabic, focusing on reporting hate crimes, navigating legal protections, and learning self-defense strategies to ensure community safety. Many residents lack access to these resources, leaving them vulnerable to discrimination and violence.

In addition to addressing these gaps, there is a pressing need for multicultural programs for youth and adults Which we started doing some gathering in WECNYC that bring communities of color together to foster mutual understanding and solidarity within South Brooklyn. These programs can serve as a platform for building bridges across diverse cultural groups, promoting dialogue, and ensuring that residents of different backgrounds know and support one another. By creating opportunities for connection, we can build collective power to protect and uplift the entire community.

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Sunset Park’s working-class and immigrant communities are under growing pressure from pollution, food insecurity, lack of clean water, worsening health issues, and economic instability. Rising real estate and utility costs are forcing out long-time residents and small businesses, weakening the neighborhood’s industrial base and limiting its chance to lead in the green economy. Even with its strong infrastructure and industrial roots, high costs and lack of investment make it hard for local manufacturers and green businesses to succeed. Without stronger protections and community-driven solutions, Sunset Park’s future as a fair, sustainable, and resilient neighborhood is in serious danger.