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BFL’s Freedom House Emergency Shelter held the annual Handprints of the Heart event this May, working with volunteers from Goldman Sachs. Resident families and children took part in crafts, empowerment activities and enjoyed a live performance.

On Thursday, May 16th the HOPE Program hosted its second annual A Taste of HOPE event, a celebration of tastings, toasts and transformations at Steelcase in Manhattan.

Barrier Free Living’s HR/Organizational Development Team attended, joining a packed crowd at the stunning Steelcase venue overlooking Columbus Circle. Guests included the founder of HOPE Deborah Antoine, (pictured with Dr. Clarel Antoine).

Taste of Hope featured a host of award-winning partners, including: Inside Park at St. Bart’s, Murray’s Cheese, Neuman’s Kitchen, Chelsea Market Baskets, Jimmy’s 43 and many others.

HOPE empowers New Yorkers living in poverty to achieve economic self-sufficiency through employment and advancement. Our innovative programs and individualized services help those with the deepest barriers connect with the workforce with results among the strongest in the industry.

BFL’s Secret Garden Domestic Violence Program held its annual Women’s Day Celebration this month. The event heralded the courage and triumphs of survivors who have grown and healed through the program. The celebration included a poetry reading, piano recital and lunch. Special gift bags were provided by The Body Shop.

Click here to view the latest behind the scenes photo shoot with Alex on vimeo.

The residents of  BFL’s Transitional Housing program, formerly homeless men and women with disabilities, were treated to a sumptuous May Day feast this month. The 24 women of the shelter received special Mother’s Day gift bags courtesy of The Body Shop.

BFL’s Occupational Therapy team coordinated the event, which included a baking class and cupcake decorating workshop. The Body Shop choose Transitional Housing as the featured charity in it’s ‘Another For a Mother’ drive where customers were encouraged to buy and donate items to shelter programs.

Prince Harry of Wales attended a recent Warrior Games exhibition volleyball match between the U.S. and U.K.

Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor, Missy Franklin and Paralympic medalists Kari Miller and Brad Snyder were in attendance to support the wounded athletes. From May 11-16, more than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from the U.S. Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy, as well as a team representing U.S. Special Operations Command and an international team representing the United Kingdom, will compete for the gold in track and field, shooting, swimming, cycling, archery, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and U.S. Air Force Academy here. The military service with the most medals will win the Chairman’s Cup.

Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/image/929574/prince-harry-competes-warrior-games-volleyball-exhibition#.UZJ0lqKG2So#ixzz2TI0KrShF

Check out Dr. Young’s blog here.

More than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans are expected to participate in 2013.  They will comprise five U.S. teams representing the Army, Marine Corps, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force and Special Operations, as well as one international team from the U.K.  Teams will compete in seven sports including archery, cycling, shooting, sitting-volleyball, swimming, track and field and wheelchair basketball.

The Bureau is  made up of women with disabilities  “some who had been rejected by their families, some had decided to end their  abuse and go into shelter, and many who had to stop pursuing their educational dreams,” said Theresa McIntosh, Senior coordinator and founder of the Barrier Free Living Survivor’s Speaker’s Bureau.

The Bureau serves as a platform for survivors to share their stories, and educate the public on issue of domestic violence and disability.

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