New Visions Blog

Shine Foundation kicked off a new 4-week Financial Engagement workshop for residents at Barrier Free Living's  Freedom House  emergency shelter this March. The goal in the next 4 weeks, says Shine coordinators, is to "have clients set and achieve their savings goals for housing." The mission of Shine Foundation is to improve the financial health of homeless abuse survivors in NYC and Baltimore.  First session residents identified over $400 in savings. For additional… read more

Tom Obrzut, Director of Barrier Free Living Apartments (photo, at right)  and Jonathan Berkley, Social Worker at BFL Apartments (at left), attended Social Work in the City, the 2nd Annual National Association of Social Workers Conference held March 14 in New York City. The conference enables licensed social workers to obtain 6 continuing education contact hours while sharing in a collective experience with a large gathering of colleagues, peers… read more

Freedom House launched a training roster through the spring of 2016 to educate and empower staff at the domestic violence program. Trainings range from  DV 101, to Child Abuse Reporting Training to a presentation on deaf history.The staff also attended a Demystifying ACS presentation this spring.… read more

A Denim Day Rally and other related events are planned for New York City in April Denim Day Rally/Press Conference: April 27, 2016 11:00 a.m. City Hall Steps New York, NY 10007 Denim Day NYC is a coalition of community agencies, elected officials, students, and volunteers united to promote awareness around the issue of sexual assault. Denim Day grew out of a case in which a rape conviction was overturned because the judge reasoned the victim’s tight jeans meant that she had to have helped her… read more

Nyle DiMarco, an actor, model and spokesman is the first deaf contestant to appear on Dancing With The Stars and is already wowing the judges. He is a native New Yorker and was born into a large multigenerational deaf family. He is an alumnus of Gallaudet University, the only liberal arts university in the world for the deaf. He was the stand out star and winner of America's Next Top Model's Cycle… read more

Second Chance Toys & a group of teens with Hatch and SheKnows Media delivered toys to the kids of BFL Apartments this March. The teens brought pizza and cupcakes and delivered the toys to children living at the complex… read more

The 8th Annual ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival kicked off last Thursday night with opening remarks from actor Mark Ruffalo and a screening of the film Margarita, With a Straw. Closing night, which is March 16, features the NY premiere of In Harmony from director Denis Dercourt at 7 p.m.  at JCC Manhattan  334 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10023. The screening is followed by Q&A and closing night reception.… read more

The Barrier Free Living Leadership Team is engaged in a curriculum of Anti-Racism workshops led by MPG Consulting in 2016. MPG Consulting presents workshops which address the impact of structural racism as well as racial/cultural/gender identity and sexual orientation on the relationship between worker and client. The trainings, workshops and supervision are organized for professionals at various stages of their careers and with varying understanding and experience working with diverse racial, cultural and ethnic groups. More about MPG.… read more

Scott Hess, Director of Communications at Barrier Free Living, has joined the Denim Day NYC Executive Board as a Member-At-Large. Denim Day NYC is a coalition of community agencies, elected officials, students, and volunteers united to promote awareness around the issue of sexual assault. Denim Day is April 27. For the past 17 years, Peace Over Violence has run its Denim Day campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Month. The campaign was originally triggered by a… read more

Fred Alger Management Inc.  donated colorful Easter baskets to the young tenants of Barrier Free Living Apartments this March. BFL Apartments, which opened in 2015, offers permanent homes to survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and their families as well as veterans with disabilities. “On behalf of Fred Alger Management, Inc. and the Alger Candlelight Giving Committee, we are proud of the work you do to ensure the… read more

Leaders from nonprofits and government met in lower Manhattan February 25 to assess the systemic threats to New York’s nonprofit providers, the New York Nonprofit Media reports. At the panel discussion, hosted by the Association for a Better New York, the Human Services Council, a membership organization that represents many of the most prominent social services nonprofits, unveiled a new report that used the closure of FEGS as a springboard to… read more

Toward the end of Lady Gaga's powerhouse performance of the Oscar nominated "Til It Happens to You"  on Sunday night a curtain parted onstage, and dozens of men and women stepped forward, all of them survivors of sexual assault. They brandished phrases on their forearms like "Survivor," "You Are Love," "Unbreakable" and "Not Your Fault." The song, co-written by Gaga and Diane Warren, is from "The Hunting Ground," a CNN Films documentary about sexual assaults on American college and university… read more

Following sold-out runs at Stage 72, The Bijou Theatre, United Solo Festival, Barrington Stage Company (Tony-Award winning William Finn’s Cabaret Series) and a nationwide tour, the incredibly talented and inspirational Amy Oestreicher will bring her hit one-woman musical Gutless & Grateful back to NYC as part of the Emerging Arts Theatre’s New Works Series on March 11th at 9pm. In this moving evening of song, performer Amy Oestreicher weaves her near death experience and unique personal story with an… read more

Edward Solis, who originates from Lima, Peru brings a wealth of business and personal experience to his new position as bookkeeper at Barrier Free Living. We had a chat with Edward about what attracted him to BFL and what he hopes to achieve at the agency. BFL: What were you doing prior to working at Barrier Free Living? Edward: I worked in a small accounting firm. I took care… read more

David Kwon recientemente se unió al equipo Barrier Free Living Apartments. Originario de Seúl, Corea, David comparte con nosotros lo que lo atrajo a la agencia, sus metas como trabajador social frente a la falta de vivienda y su amor por los videojuegos. BFL: Gracias David por tomarse el tiempo para platicar. ¿Puede decirme un poco sobre su historia, qué le llevó a trabajar en servicios sociales? David: Nací en… read more

David Kwon recently joined the Barrier Free Living Apartments team. Originally from Seoul, Korea, David shares with us what drew him to the agency, his goals as a social worker addressing homelessness, and his love for video games. BFL: David thanks for taking the time to chat. Can you tell me a bit about your history, what led you to work in social services? David: I was born in Seoul… read more

Photo Alice Sheppard . Credit: Jeffrey Lee/On the Spot Image Registration for Dance/NYC's 2016 Pre-Symposium Sessions is Now Open! When: Saturday, February 27, 2016, 10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Where: Gibney Dance Center, 280 Broadway (enter at 53 Chambers) How: Register Now. Symposium Registration is required. Pre-Symposium - FREE for Symposium attendees Full Symposium Registration - $125 Artist Rate - $50 A Pre-Symposium program, part of Dance/NYC’s initiative to increase access and inclusion to the art form, is presented in partnership with Art Beyond Sight… read more

Presented by JCC Manhattan, the 8th Annual ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with different abilities. The festival presents award-winning films in various locations throughout the NY metropolitan area. Discussions and other engaging programs bring the community together to explore, discuss, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience. Tickets go on sale on Feb 11! The Opening… read more

The newly formed Tenant Advisory Committee held its inaugural meeting on January 22, 2016 at Barrier Free Living Apartments. Ten members attended to discuss issues relating to holiday events, support groups and building environment issues. The group's elected officers thus far are: public relations,Carol Johnson; public relation assistant, Myra Ormond-Pitts; secretary/party coordinator, Soloma Drumo.… read more

Freedom House Emergency Domestic Violence shelter continues its ongoing commitment to increased education and awareness around Domestic Violence issues with a roster of  DV 101 Trainings this winter. "It's a rich curriculum that focuses on the basics including types of domestic violence, understanding power and control, and the psychology of a domestic violence survivor," says Cynthia Amodeo, Director of Social Services at Freedom House.  "It has been great for staff on many levels. We will be providing a DV 102 class as… read more

Tan orgullosa como ella es de su propio jornada trabajando con nuestro programa de violencia doméstica Secret Garden BFL-Pay-It-Forward, Zenaida T. habla más apasionadamente sobre el impacto que su libertad del abuso ha tenido en sus hijos. Después de años de violencia doméstica que "se sintió como una camisa de fuerza que nunca fue removida" Zenaida encontró seguridad, consejería y curación en el Jardín Secreto. Mientras recuperaba su propia vida y dignidad, empezó… read more

As proud as she is of her own journey working with our Secret Garden domestic violence program, Zenaida T. speaks most passionately about the impact her freedom from abuse has had on her children. After years of domestic violence that “felt like a strait jacket that was never removed” Zenaida found safety, counseling and healing at Secret Garden. As she reclaimed her own life and dignity, she began to see the changes… read more

Freedom House Emergency Domestic Violence shelter hosted a book fair for young residents in January, trumpeting the call that "Today's Readers will be Tomorrow's Leaders." The fair, which drew shelter residents aged 4 to 12, was made possible due to an In-Kind donation of dozens of  books, workbooks and other literature.  Children shared ideas and perused books, discussing the merits of reading. The event was led by the… read more

The Blaze reports: Justin Anderson, an Iraq War veteran from Omaha, Nebraska, is not finished serving his fellow citizens. The amputee has found a way to alleviate his neighbors of the burden of heavy Omaha snowfall — all while confined to a wheelchair. Last winter, Anderson converted his off-road wheelchair into a one-man snow plow. He added a blade to the front and used the chair’s on-the-fly tilt as a lever to adjust the blade as he pushed snow. Read the story… read more

Nicolyn Plummer, Social Worker at Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden Domestic Violence Program, was one of three Deaf/Hard of Hearing advocates who testified on communication access for the Deaf/Hard of hearing at the council committee on technology and public safety on 1/14/2016 in New York City. Plummer says part of the mission is "making text to 911 accessible for everyone." View testimony video here.… read more

In the thought provoking article, Why Barrier Free Living,  Christofer Pierson, Director of Member Communications at Independent Care Systems offers insights into Barrier Free Living's long, successful history working with people with disabilities and survivors of domestic violence with disabilities. Read the article here.… read more

Barrier Free Living honored the life of Theresa McIntosh (pictured here) at a special event that drew friends and supporters on January 12, 2016. Read about Theresa here. At the event, poet and tenant of Barrier Free Living apartments Felicia Ridges performed her moving poem, Knock Knock. View a performance of Knock Knock here.… read more

Barrier Free Living's (BFL) Occupational Therapy team kicked off the new year with a grooming program for residents at the Transitional Housing Shelter. Barber Nicholas Naranjo (pictured with resident Carlos Cano) stopped by and set up shop, performing sharp cuts on residents the first week of January. The Occupational Therapy team works… read more

El día en que Olga encontró un resguardo seguro para ella y sus tres hijos en el refugio de Violencia Doméstica Freedom House de Barrier Free Living, es un momento que ella siempre apreciará. Ese momento, sin embargo, fue sólo el comienzo de una camino que tomaría varios giros en los próximos años. "Mi abusador me golpeó muy mal en la calle. La policía vino y lo llevó a la… read more

The day Olga found safe haven at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House Domestic Violence Shelter for herself and her three children is a moment she will forever cherish. That moment, however, was only the beginning of a journey that would take several twists over the next several years. "My abuser beat me up very bad on the street. The police came and took him to jail. That was in 2012,"… read more